UK leads the way in Creative Europe application success

The UK’s success rate in applying for funding from Creative Europe, the European Union’s €1.46 billion programme to support the cultural, creative and audio-visual sectors, is considerably above the European average, according to figures released by the international body. 24% of applicants from the UK – with specialisms ranging from contemporary dance to the visual arts – were successful, compared to the Europe-wide average of just 13%.

Creative Europe funding is intended to facilitate travel and to help participants reach international audiences. Organisations can apply to be either lead or non-lead partners in cooperation projects and, in total, 48 UK-based organisations achieved backing. LIFT (London International Festival of Theatre), one of the UK organisations selected to lead a large cooperation projects, was granted just under €1m to work alongside nine European counterparts. ENO (English National Opera), receiving €200,000 to lead a small cooperation project, have used the money to stage Mike Leigh’s operatic directorial debut, which will play in the UK then tour to three co-producing theatres in Western Europe.