One of the missions of the Azores 2027 – the candidacy of Ponta Delgada | Azores as the European Capital of Culture - is to promote inspiring ideas for local communities.

“Hand in Hand”, a pilot project of Azores 2027 in partnership with CRESAÇOR – Regional Cooperative for Economic Solidarity, aims to challenge people, informal groups and associations from various areas to present small cultural, social and educational projects. Each proposal will receive a grant of 1,500.00 euros and must be completed by January 1, 2022.
The call is closed. Get to know the selected projects here.

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Proposals should promote one or more of the following strategic lines: cooperation and collaboration between islands and municipalities; proximity between different generations; inclusion practices, active participation and/or empowerment of different communities; connecting culture, well-being, nature and sustainability; and new ways of telling the narratives from the Azores to Europe and the World.

Proposals can have any format imaginable in order to promote animation, social and educational activation, and connect in a broad sense with all fields of the arts and other cultural activities: workshops, meetings, events, experiences, conversations, exhibitions, poetic events, publications and urban games, among others.

“Hand in Hand” is a creative project to strengthen communities, by opening the door for leaders, coordinators, animators, art teachers and activists to take responsibility into their own hands and create their own basic initiatives to promote decentralisation, appreciation of our narratives and equal access to culture for different audiences.

From the 2st of July to the 31st of July, individuals or entities are invited to submit their idea (and what motivates it) online at http://www.azores2027.eu/ and, after this deadline, a jury will analyse and select the nine most relevant proposals.

REGULATION

1- WHAT IS THE CONTEXT OF “HAND IN HAND”?

Azores 2027 is the Ponta Delgada candidacy project to be the European Capital of Culture, in collaboration with other municipalities and islands of the Azores, and with the support of the Government of the Azores, in an inclusive and collaborative project.

This candidacy aims to position Ponta Delgada as a European city open to the world, and the Azores as a region at the forefront of the main discussions of the contemporary world in the implementation of cultural public policies that contribute to social and economic cohesion. We want this to be a participatory process, embracing the entire community, from artists and cultural agents, through associations, companies, schools and all audiences, strengthening ties and creating new relationships between the islands and the world.

“Hand in Hand” is an open call, within the scope of Azores 2027, and in partnership with CRESAÇOR – Regional Cooperative for Economic Solidarity, which will support nine (9) projects to be developed in the region under a micro-financing regime promoted by agents from the Azores. This pilot program supports activities and projects that promote cooperation and collaboration between the islands and municipalities; closer ties between different generations; social inclusion, active participation and/or empowerment of different communities; the relationship of culture with well-being, nature and sustainability; and new ways of telling the narratives from the Azores to Europe and the World.

“Hand in Hand” was created to respond to some of these needs and promote projects that connect culture to other areas of society, by sharing resources in the form of financial micro-support.

The proposals must be submitted until 31st July 2021 (date to be determined) for activities to be carried out until January 1, 2022. Only one proposal will be accepted per applicant.

2-  WHAT IS AZORES 2027? WHAT IS CRESAÇOR?

Azores 2027 is the candidacy of Ponta Delgada | the Azores as the European Capital of Culture.

The main objective of Azores 2027 is to make culture a catalyst for transformation and development, through a growing and lasting investment in the tourist, urban and social sectors. We want Azores 2027 to be a mirror of the European Union, creating a new centrality based on cultural democracy, dialogue, artistic experimentation and unity through diversity.

Azores 2027 should reinforce the region's cultural identities; unite and challenge the living forces around a common project; and improve regional and external cooperation and the region's international attractiveness. A common mission: To organize a candidacy to be the European Capital of Culture, a major inclusive, participatory and transformative cultural event, with international visibility.

The Azores 2027 mission has 9 objectives:

  • to promote the cultural and artistic potential of the Azores and increase its international visibility;
  • to present an archipelagic cultural experience involving different communities, taking the islands as stages through a cooperative cultural program open to all and with a European dimension;
  • to create a movement of cultural exchange, democratic participation and mutual understanding, opening a bridge to Europe and the Azorean diaspora;
  • to develop a program with a clear theme and artistic framework, but still remaining independent, flexible, transformable and open to suggestions;
  • to reach new audiences through new forms of participation that empower, give voice, include, generate knowledge and make culture accessible to all;
  • to promote our geography, history and heritage, as an outermost European region whose culture stems from its direct relationship with nature;
  • to bring art to nature and nature to art, while being responsibility and protecting nature, in line with international sustainable development goals;
  • to make room for culture in the public space and strengthen the identification links between society and culture;
  • to increase and improve cultural, creative and transformative tourism in the Azores, and work towards making this increase in the quality of experience permanent.

Azores 2027 can be found on the internet at www.azores2027.eu and on social networks Instagram/Facebook/Youtube: @azores2027

The Cresaçor - Regional Cooperative for Economic Solidarity, CRL, established in 2000, is headquartered in São Miguel Island, but its areas of intervention cover the whole territory of the Azores. It was created within the scope of the Fight Against Poverty Project and by the creation of a program for the development of socio-professional companies in the Azores – The IDEIA Project, initiated in 1999.

The CRESAÇOR mission is to promote Solidarity Economy and Local and Community Development in the Azores, sustaining the values ​​of Cooperation, Identity, Sustainability, Location, Tradition, Culture, Environment and People. CRESAÇOR has these general objectives:

  • To increase access to education, training and job incubation, within the scope of the Social Employment Market and with access to Microcredit;
  • To support the creation and sustainability of Solidarity Economy initiatives, by promoting, improving, marketing and distributing its products;
  • To provide economic and financial consultancy services with the objective of sustainability and autonomy, particularly for the social inclusion of micro-enterprises. 

3. WHAT IS THE IMPLEMENTATION SCHEDULE OF THIS PROJECT?       

  • 1st of July: Project announcement

  • 31st of July, 6 pm (Azores local time): Deadline for the submit proposals

  • 23rd of August:​ announcement of the 9 “Hand in Hand” proposals on the Azores 2027 official pages

  • 1st of September of 2021 - 1st of January of 2022:​ deadline to carry out the activities

Note: Requests for clarification will be possible until 28th of July 2021, at 6 pm, through the email info@azores2027.eu. Proposals submitted after this deadline will not be accepted. Only the nine proposals chosen by the jury will be contacted by email.

4. WHAT ARE THE GENERAL CONDITIONS TO PARTICIPATE/FOR PARTICIPATION?

  • By participating in the “Hand in Hand” project, the bidders grant the right to reproduce the materials (text and image) that make up their proposals for communication purposes, produced and disseminated by the organization and partners; 

  • The copyright of the materials that make up the proposal must belong in full and without exception to the applicants who present them;

  • Failure to present and comply with all the requirements of these Regulations implies being excluded from the “Hand in Hand” project;

  • All situations not covered by this regulation will be decided on a case-by-case basis by the Azores 2027 team.    

5. WHO CAN APPLY?   

  • 1 Individuals, groups and collectives originally from or residing in any of the 9 islands of the Autonomous Region of the Azores, whose activities are based in the territory of the Azores archipelago, can apply.

  • 2 There is no age limit to apply. Applicants must be singular persons;

  • 3 Each applicant can only submit one proposal;

6. WHAT KIND OF PROPOSALS CAN BE SUBMITTED?

Proposals that promote one or more of the following strategic lines: cooperation and collaboration between islands and its municipalities; the approximation between different generations; inclusion practices, active participation and/or empowerment of different communities; the relationship between culture and well-being, nature and sustainability; and new ways of telling the narratives from the Azores to Europe and the World.

Proposals can have any format imaginable in order to promote animation, social and educational activation, and connect in a broad sense with all fields of the arts and other cultural activities: workshops, meetings, events, experiences, conversations, exhibitions, poetic events, publications and urban games, among others.

7.  WHAT ARE THE AMOUNTS TO BE ASSIGNED?

  • 1 The “Hand in Hand” project has a total allocation value of €13,500.00 per year​.

  • 2 The programme will award nine grants in the amount of €1,500.00 each (including the current VAT rate, if applicable, and other charges). 

  • 3 The amounts allocated to the proposals will be paid within 45 (forty-five) days after the publication of the results, upon presentation of an invoice or receipt by the proposers of the projects awarded.

8. WHO IS THE JURY? WHAT ARE THE EVALUATION CRITERIA?

The "Hand in Hand" jury will be composed of three people: one member of the Azores 2027 Advisory Council, one member of the Azores 2027 Public Participation and Development team and one member from Cresaçor – Economic Solidarity Cooperative.

Proposals are evaluated and ranked based on the highest score and the following criteria, with scores from 1 to 10:

  • the theme of the proposal, justification, originality and capacity to implement the proposal ; 50%

  • the involvement of different communities and the creation of collaborations; 10%

  • the communication strategy; 10%

  • an estimate of expenses and the reasonableness of the budget; 10%        

  • the potential for the continuity of the project; 10%    

The proposals are evaluated by the jury based on the materials presented by the proposers. The final classification of each proposal will be calculated from the total votes of each criterion.

  • The Jury reserves the right to request additional information from the proposers;

  • There will be no appeal for a decision on the admission and selection of proposals by the Azores 2027 and the Jury.

9.  HOW TO SUBMIT A PROPOSAL?

  • Proposals must be submitted using the form available at www.azores2027.eu;

  • Proposers must include all the mandatory elements of this regulation​, as well as answer all the questions on the form;

  • Elements to include in the Proposal:

    • 1) Identification of the proposer: Name (as indicated in the identification document); Biography - up to 1000 characters, in Portuguese and English; Address, telephone number and email address; VAT number, ID document, IBAN, website links, social networks and/or projects already developed;   

    • 2) Presentation of the proposal and justification under the objectives of the “Hand in Hand” project; 

    • 3) Activity plan (in line with the “Hand in Hand” calendar);

    • 4) Communication - how will the project be publicized and promoted, pointing out the platforms and ways of reaching the target audience;

    • 5) Oudget - the financial application of the project, in which the money will be invested, as well as any other income and/or financing;

    • 6) Permission for data management.    

10. HOW ARE THE PROPOSALS SHARED AND COMMUNICATED WITHIN AZORES 2027?

  • The selected proposals must reference the support under the “Hand in Hand'' project as follows: Proposal developed with the support of the“Hand in Hand'' project, including the Azores 2027 logo – Ponta Delgada Candidacy | Azores as the European Capital of Culture and CRESAÇOR - Regional Cooperative for Economic Solidarity according to the application rules;

  • The proposals selected must share images, texts and promotional materials with Azores 2027 and CRESAÇOR for the execution of the project, so that the purpose is expanded, communicated and shared

  • The applicants of the proposals selected will take part in a webinar, on a date to be determined during the current year of 2021. The webinar aims to bring together the various applicants to share projects through texts, images, videos and stories.    

11. MUST A REPORT BE SUBMITTED AT THE END?

Yes. Once the execution of the proposal is concluded, a simple report must be delivered with photos, texts, videos, press clippings and/or materials from the development of the project; along with documents of expenses (invoices and receipts) pertaining to the budget execution.