The Perform Europe consortium will be responsible for allocating 70% of the EU funding to at least 35 artistic projects through cascading grants. The project supports cross-border touring and digital distribution of performing art works and will run for 36 months in participating countries of the Creative Europe programme. Perform Europe is the EU’s response to the fact that the performing arts sector was among the worst hit by the COVID-19 pandemic. It follows the Perform Europe pilot project, a €2.25 million grant which ran between 2020-2022.

The cascading grants will be granted through an open Call to the most relevant and exemplary projects that reposition the cross-border touring and digital distribution in a more sustainable, inclusive, fair and innovative way. Perform Europe will also support inclusion, diversity, gender equality, the environment and the fight against climate change.The eligible sub-sectors are theatre, dance, performance, circus, outdoor arts and puppetry sectors (live music excluded).

An online platform will facilitate networking and matchmaking, collect data, explore, map and analyse how performing arts works are presented across borders and bring visibility to performing and distribution opportunities and be a repository of learning tools.