Balkans Arts and Culture Fund (BAC)
www.balkansartsandculture.fund

With the closure of art∡ngle in July 2016, the management of the Balkans Arts and Culture Fund (BAC) is no longer performed by art∡ngle or its team members.
Future communication on BAC will be with the European Cultural Foundation. 
Balkans Arts and Culture Fund - BAC is designed particularly for independent cultural organisations and artists from Albania, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Montenegro, Kosovo, Macedonia and Serbia. Their socially relevant, responsible and change-oriented contemporary artistic and cultural projects are in the focus of BAC work. 

BAC aspires to advancing the independent cultural scene, while in the same time seeking a supportive environment to its growth. Specifically, BAC aims towards the following
  • broadened accessibility and participation of/to qualitative, innovative, engaging culture programmes; 
  • increased collaboration and long-term partnerships between independent cultural organisations in the region; 
  • increased cross-sectoral collaboration; and 
  • increased capacities of independent cultural actors.
Balkans Arts and Culture Fund (BAC) evolved from the Balkan Incentive Fund for Culture (BIFC), founded by the European Cultural Foundation (ECF) in 2006. ECF entrusted the management and ownership of the Fund to art∡ngle – Balkans | Culture | Development in 2013, when the Fund has relocated to the region and has become recognisable under its current name. art∡ngle managed the Fund from Sarajevo, Belgrade, and Skopje, until the closure of art∡ngle in July 2016.

​BAC is financially supported by the Swiss Government through Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC), the European Cultural Foundation (ECF), Amsterdam, and art∡ngle - Balkans | Culture | Development.

BAC Grants

Further strengthening of the independent cultural sector through encouragement of collaborative practices and networking and by supporting various levels of capacity building is the important priority for BAC.  Grants will continue empowering independent organisations thus strengthening their role as driver of social, economic and political, processes. Integrated capacity-building would enable targeted organisational growth. Participative approach in project design and management fosters shared ownership and genuine partnership in social developments. 

Funds will be distributed through complementary grant instruments: 
All types of instruments will incorporate an obligatory co-financing (matching) component. Given that BAC takes into consideration specific cultural contexts in the countries of the region, including needs and potentials, the Fund will remain open to adjustment of the existing and introduction of new instruments on the basis of needs in future.
Balkans Arts and Culture Fund (BAC) is supported by the Swiss Government, the European Cultural Foundation (ECF) and art∡ngle - Balkans | Culture | Development.