European Cultural Foundation
Budget
€9,615,043
EP Access
2
accredited persons
Staff
2
1.75 FTE
EU Grants
€2,399,841
Mission & Goals
European Cultural Foundation is an independent foundation based in the Netherlands founded in 1954 and operating across Europe for 70 years. ECF's vision is that the connecting power of culture is essential for creating open, inclusive and democratic societies, and as such is invaluable for building Europe. We promote a European sentiment through developing and supporting cultural initiatives that let people share, experience and imagine Europe. We initiate and support cultural exchanges and civic initiatives across wider Europe. ECF advocates for arts and culture on all levels of political decision-making. We link policy and practice, create multi-stakeholder partnerships to maximise impact on European cultural policies and strategies. We do this through our programmes, grants, advocacy, publications and digital platforms. Since 2020 we developed the Culture of Solidarity Fund for flexible support for resilience.
EU Legislative Interests
Media Freedoms Act; REPORT with recommendations to the Commission on an EU framework for the social and professional situation of artists and workers in the cultural and creative sectors (25.10.2023 - (2023/2051(INL)); JOINT MOTION FOR A RESOLUTION on the cultural recovery of Europe (2020); European Parliament resolution of 20 October 2022 on cultural solidarity with Ukraine and a joint emergency response mechanism for cultural recovery in Europe (2022/2759(RSP))
Communication Activities
A Cultural Deal for Europe campaign (together with Culture Action Europe and Europa Nostra). https://culturaldeal.eu/ Pop-the-vote campaign (CAE) partner Together.eu - partner of the EP for the 2024 EP elections European Sentiment Compass (2024) in partnership with ECFR publishes a survey on the European sentiments in EU27 which is quoted widely by international media https://culturalfoundation.eu/stories/european-sentiment-compass-2024/ Europe Day 2024 - we advocate Europe Day 9 May to become a public holiday in EU27. Common Ground magazine 2024 collects articles from across the continent on topical issues https://culturalfoundation.eu/stories/common-ground-our-2024-annual-magazine-is-here/
Interests Represented
Does not represent commercial interests
Member Of
By 2024 ECF is an active member of: Philea - Philanthropy Europe Association (former European Foundation Center) - international network of foundations, philanthropic organisations and networks working for the common good. European cultural networks: Culture Action Europe, Europa Nostra & European Heritage Alliance; On the Move - the international network for information on cultural mobility; Think tanks: European Policy Center (EPC), Friends of Europe Other Philanthropic initiatives: EDGE Europe, Dutch philanthropy associations Goede Doelen Nederland & FIN. ECF is a core partner to the EIT Culture and Creativity since 2023, and since 2025 will be a cooperation partner.
Organisation Members
N/A
Additional Information
Full details on ECF's financial incomes and expenditures, audited annual accounts, balance sheet etc. for the last closed financial year (2024) are in the publicly available Annual and Financial Report 2024: https://culturalfoundation.eu/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/Annual_Report_2024_FINAL.pdf
Commissioner Meetings
No recorded meetings with EU commissioners.