This pilot project is based on a "specific approach" to the preservation and promotion of overseas culture. The programme aims to implement a viable and effective financial support mechanism for both artists and cultural institutions in the European overseas territories. Archipel.eu complements existing mobility and support programmes for cultural operators at local, regional and/or national level.

In order to carry out this mission, the Institut français, leader of Archipel.eu, is accompanied by the OCTA (Overseas Countries and Territories Association of the European Union) and the APCA (Agência de Promoção da Cultura Atlântica).

Archipel.eu is aimed at the 9 ORs and 13 OCTs

Outermost Regions

• Spain: Canary Islands
• France: Guadeloupe, French Guiana, Martinique, Mayotte, Reunion, Saint-Martin
• Portugal: Azores, Madeira

Overseas Countries and Territories 

• Denmark: Greenland
• France: New Caledonia, French Polynesia, St Pierre and Miquelon, French Southern and Antarctic Territories, Wallis and Futuna, St Barthélemy
• Netherlands: Aruba, Bonaire, Curaçao, Saba, St Eustatius and Sint Maarten.

Archipel.eu aims to achieve four specific objectives

1.  Implementation of activities aimed at preserving, supporting, fostering and promoting local and indigenous culture, folk arts and practices and the ancestral culture of the ORs and OCTs (→ 1 dedicated call for projects)
2. Implementation of activities aimed at improving dialogue and cultural exchanges between the ORs and OCTs and within the European Union as a whole (→ 1 mobility fund + 1 dedicated call for projects)
3. Implementation of activities to promote the dissemination of cultural and creative works (→ 1 Call for projects dedicated to the creation of a special edition of the Collection)
4. Analysis and recommendations on funding opportunities for the mobility of artists and/or cultural professionals

Several institutional partners and cultural operators are associated with the Archipel.eu programme. These include the Tjibaou Cultural Centre, the Region of Reunion, Relais Culture Europe, the artistic mobility network On The Move, EUNIC, the University of Madeira (UMA), the Fundación La Caja de Canarias, the Instituto Açoriano de Cultura dos Açores and the Directions des affaires culturelles of Martinique and Guadeloupe.

The pilot project will run for 24 months (01/06/2021 to 31/05/2023).

It aims to support at least 65 projects as follows:

• 18 projects via the Fund for the preservation and enhancement of European overseas cultures
• 32 projects via the Support Fund for Exchange and Cooperation Projects (at least 22 mobility and 10 networking projects)
• At least 15 projects supported through the Archipel.eu Collection

Based on the experience and lessons learned from the implementation of this pilot project, the Archipel.eu consortium of partners will make recommendations to the European Commission on how to further support OR and OCT culture, with reference to other existing instruments and programmes.

The launch of the Archipel.eu programme will take place in the form of a webinar on Wednesday 13 October 2021 at 14:00 (Paris/Brussels time). Three calls for projects will be launched simultaneously on this occasion.