The Cluj Cultural Centre is launching an open call for artists active in Romania whose practices explore the connections between art, health, and well-being.
Art and culture can significantly improve our physical and mental health by stimulating reflection and action. The World Health Organization study (2019) and the CultureForHealth report (2022) highlight the beneficial impact of cultural activities in preventing certain illnesses, complementing medical treatments, and inspiring healthier, more creative lifestyles. Artistic practices help raise awareness of certain states, reimagine healthy lifestyles, build social connections, and improve the ability to interact and be part of a community.
The call is open to individual artists or collectives made up of artists and/or other professionals – such as public health specialists, psychologists, social workers, and educational facilitators in Romania – who propose collaborative artistic processes oriented towards health and well-being.
Eligible project types (including but not limited to):
- Participatory art activities for people facing specific physical or mental health conditions;
- Artistic activities that can contribute to well-being, healthy behaviours, or the prevention of certain conditions;
- Artistic activities in medical or social contexts aimed at improving the well-being of staff and/or patients;
- Artistic productions—e.g., performances, installations, exhibitions—that improve the quality of spaces in hospitals or care centres, or address health-related themes;
- Artistic residencies in healthcare or social care settings;
- Artistic research based on practical and participatory experiences.
You may propose new interventions or already tested practices from visual arts, performing arts, music, dance, circus, or any other artistic discipline that aims to improve participants’ well-being.
Two funding categories
- Projects developed and carried out in partnership with an institution or organisation in health, education, or care, targeting beneficiaries within those communities. Maximum grant per initiative: €6,000 gross
- Projects implemented in communities, cultural, educational, healthcare or social spaces, professional environments, or other contexts that seek to initiate or develop artistic practices for well-being or health. Maximum grant per initiative: €2,000 gross
Up to 6 projects/interventions will be selected: 3 in Category I and 3 in Category II.
The purpose of the call is to encourage artists who want to build or strengthen a practice in this area to develop and bring artistic practices addressing specific health or well-being needs into communities, hospitals, social care centres, nursing homes, or other disadvantaged environments.
All details about this call, as well as the application form, are available here.
Between 2025–2028, the Cluj Cultural Centre will launch several such initiatives; however, selected artists can only receive financial support once.
This is an open call for health- and well-being-oriented artistic interventions, organised by the Cluj Cultural Centreas part of the CultureAndHealth Platform project – a four-year initiative designed to support over 200 emerging European artists working at the intersection of culture, health, care, and education. The initiative provides financial support, mobility and networking opportunities, and aims to highlight the vital role of culture in promoting health, well-being, and social innovation in Europe.
Project consortium coordinated by Culture Action Europe:
Cluj Cultural Centre (organiser of this call), European Regional and Local Health Authorities EUREGHA, Arts for Health Austria, Pôle Culture & Santé en Nouvelle-Aquitaine, Stockholm Region, Competence Centre for Culture and Health, Cavan County Council Arts Office, HumaQ / Healing Culture Network, Stichting Kunstloc Brabant, Asociacija Drustvo Nevladnih Organization In Posameznikov Na Podrocju Kulture, Northern Dimension Partnership on Culture Secretariat NDPC, RED NOSES International, Associazione Culturale Oltre, ARC Research & Consultancy, Urban Culture Institute – City of Weaves, Taikusydän – Arts & Health Coordination Centre in Finland & Turku University of Applied Sciences.
Funded by the European Union. The views and opinions expressed are solely those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or the European Education and Culture Executive Agency (EACEA). Neither the European Union nor EACEA can be held responsible for them.
