Currently 6 active cross-disciplinary and social impact grants, fellowships and residencies open to applicants in Worldwide. Hand-curated and updated weekly. Almost every entry is funded; a few notable unpaid open calls and festival submissions are included as clearly flagged exceptions. Browse the list below, or use the interactive desk for filtering and shortlisting.
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The Democracy Stories Lab, an initiative of People Powered (a global hub for participatory democracy) in partnership with the Democracy Narratives Alliance, invites creators worldwide to submit visual content -- short videos, illustrations, or graphics -- that tells a compelling story about democracy, voice, fairness, belonging, and community power. Content can be original or already published, as long as it is the applicant's own work and engages with narrative frameworks from the Democracy Narratives Alliance's research on 'How to Talk About Democracy.' Tone is open; serious and comedic approaches are both welcome. SUBMISSIONS: up to two finished visual content pieces per applicant, answering the prompt of what the future would look like if people had a real say in the decisions that shape their lives. FORMATS: primarily visual social media content, including short videos (under 3 minutes, vertically oriented) and illustrations; written or audio pieces are accepted if presented in a visual format, for example as a filmed performance. Each submission should build on one of five narrative types from the DNA research brief 'How to Talk About Democracy': outcome-oriented (how democracy shows results), intrinsic-value (why democracy is the best choice), collectivist (the importance of diverse voices), individual (how democracy is empowering) and process-oriented (showing democratic institutions work); a short creative brief gives further guidance. AWARDS: 4 winning entries receive USD $1,000 each; 5 honorable mentions receive USD $500 each; all winners receive amplification across People Powered and Democracy Narratives Alliance communications networks and are featured in a global screening event. WHO CAN APPLY: individual creators and small teams anywhere in the world; especially welcomes creators who reach audiences outside usual democracy circles, who come from communities traditionally with less of a say in public discourse, and who work in civic tech, advocacy, community organising, comedy, art, illustration, games, or lifestyle content. Applications opened 14 July 2026 and are submitted through the official form on the People Powered Democracy Narratives Alliance page. Submission deadline: 14 September 2026. Winners announced October-November 2026. Note: the initiative was itself voted into existence through People Powered's participatory budgeting process (PP Decides).
A fully funded art-science residency from Ars Electronica and Ceske Budejovice, European Capital of Culture 2028, exploring how art and science can collaborate on urgent environmental challenges: climate emergence, sustainable agriculture, geoengineering, permaculture, water resource management, and the broader ecological impacts on local communities. Selected residents work in direct collaboration with local scientists in Ceske Budejovice. WHO CAN APPLY: artists, designers, creatives and artist collectives with more than 5 years of professional creative practice and documented interdisciplinary work; experience in community engagement and science collaborations is essential; applicants must be 18+, of any nationality, and legally eligible to work and travel in the EU. WHAT YOU GET: a EUR 24,000 package (EUR 6,000 artist fee, up to EUR 15,000 production, up to EUR 3,000 travel and subsistence) plus one month of housing covered separately; two winners are selected. STRUCTURE: the residency runs January 2027 to April 2028, with a required on-site stay of up to one month in February/March 2027, an optional stay in August/September 2027, and a March 2028 stay for festival installation, exhibition and deinstallation. HOW TO APPLY: online form with project title, a written proposal of max 250 words, a scientific direction statement (max 100 words), artistic vision (max 100 words), community connection plan (max 100 words), a super short pitch (3 to 30 words), 3 to 7 images, an optional 1-minute video, a portfolio link and contact information. Two-round selection (online application then interview); winners notified by November 2026. Deadline 28 September 2026 at midnight CET.
The Ernest Solvay Fund provides financial support for local-impact initiatives in three areas: scientific education (science, technology, engineering and mathematics), planet progress (environmental initiatives) and better life (community well-being). ELIGIBILITY: organisations submitting a project must implement it within a 100 km radius of a Solvay industrial, R&I or administrative site. FUNDING: up to EUR 10,000 per initiative; the Fund covers expenses incurred only after the results are announced (mid-December 2026) and will not reimburse expenses incurred beforehand. APPLY: create or log in to an account at https://candidate.kbs-frb.be and complete the online application form (it can be saved and completed in several stages). Applications are open 15 April 2026 to 30 September 2026; results announced mid-December 2026.
Slamdance's DIG (Digital, Interactive and Gaming) showcase presents work at the edges of cinema and interactivity: interactive documentaries, VR/AR, experiential installations, and experimental games, a strong fit for interactive AI and data-driven work. Film categories run on similar deadline tiers. DIG deadlines: regular 10 August 2026 (USD 60), late 14 September 2026 (USD 70), extended 6 October 2026 (USD 90).
Travel voucher for Dutch-based professionals in design, architecture and/or digital culture who have been invited by a foreign party to give a presentation, lecture or workshop. To apply you must have submitted an application to the Fund in the past five years that was positively assessed (previous International Vouchers do not count). The inviting foreign party must cover a proportionate share of the costs. Covers hourly fees, travel and accommodation directly related to the activity. IMPORTANT TIMING RULE: applications are accepted from 5 months to a minimum of 7 weeks before the activity begins, and processing takes about 6 weeks. This lead time can rule out activities that fall shortly after a round opens. Round 2 (4 May to 22 June 2026) has closed. Round 3 runs 8 September 2026 15:00 CEST to 27 October 2026 16:00 CEST, with a budget of EUR 33,000; given the 7-week rule it effectively serves activities starting from late October 2026 onwards. IMPORTANT PREREQUISITE: you must already have had an application to the Fund positively assessed within the past five years, and a previous voucher does not satisfy this, so this is not a viable first approach to the Fund. The window runs 8 September 2026, 15:00 CEST to 27 October 2026, but closes early once 20 complete applications are received. Maximum one voucher per applicant per calendar year.
Emergent Ventures funds entrepreneurs and thinkers worldwide with highly scalable, zero-to-one ideas for meaningfully improving society. It is aimed at individuals (applicants must be 13 or older) rather than institutions, and international and non-US applicants are eligible; grants are awarded to people around the world. Dedicated support is available for projects focused on India, Africa, the Caribbean or Ukraine. Grant amounts are not disclosed and are set per project. Applications are accepted on a rolling, continuous basis through an online form. The programme launched in 2018 and is administered by Tyler Cowen at the Mercatus Center.