#Bourges2028

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Make Your CR! Heard!

The first call for creative projects across Europe. Let's reinvent together the imaginaries of human-scale territories!

Sign up for CR!
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With a budget of 5 million euros and a free Academy to support all participants, Bourges 2028 aims to bring creative and civic inspirations to life!

With Bourges 2028, everyone can make their CR! heard! Open to artists and project leaders from the Centre-Val de Loire region as well as the cities in the Matrix, CR! is Bourges 2028’s creative call for projects. Together, let’s bring your Contributions to Reinvent Imaginaries to life and shape hundreds of artistic and cultural projects that, for the first time since 1985, will be included in the official program of a European Capital of Culture. A breath of fresh air for the European creative scene!

In 2025, we are opening CR! with the Open Themes call for projects! Starting in 2026, new frameworks will be introduced to involve you in the realization of numerous artistic projects for our European Capital of Culture.

Create

Contribute to Bourges 2028 with an artistic project that aligns with one or more of the following themes:

  • Combating climate change
  • Biodiversity preservation and nature rights
  • Symbiocene
  • Art in rural spaces
  • Spaces of democracy
  • Music and celebration
  • Renewed heritage
  • Sustainable food
  • Craftsmanship and design
  • Artificial intelligence and digital art
  • Youth challenges
  • Cultural rights
  • Cultural diversity
  • Health and culture

Participate

Launch your CR! and take an active part in our European Capital of Culture!

  •  I am working on an artistic project from Centre-Val de Loire or France: I can apply directly to CR! The CR! Academy workshops will help me find a European partner if I am interested.
  • I am an individual or organization based in Europe but outside France: I will contact Bourges 2028 (contact@bourges2028.org) to find a local partner to carry the project or join a project led by a local partner. This matchmaking will take place during the CR! Academy workshops from May to July 2025.
Check out the CR!’s handbook

How to participate?

March 15 - April 15

CR! Registration Phase

April 15 - July 15

CR! Academy Support Phase

September 30

Final Project Submission

December 13

Announcement of Winners

Questions about participants

All participations are accepted as long as you have a SIRET* number and are domiciled in the Centre-Val de Loire Region or in one of the Matrice cities (Angoulême, Avignon, Béthune, Guingamp, Nevers).
If you do not have a SIRET number or are not domiciled in the Centre-Val de Loire Region (or one of the Matrice cities), you can partner with a project leader who meets these two criteria.
You can also create your own association or join a project led by an eligible structure. Additionally, you can collaborate with a project leader who will submit your proposal with you!

*SIRET (« Système d’Identification du Répertoire des Établissements ») is a unique code used to geographically identify each company, legal entity, and each of its establishments. It plays an important role in communication with social and tax organizations.

All artists, regardless of their place of residence, are invited to submit their artistic project to the CR! as long as they collaborate with a local project leader.

Indeed, the CR! call for projects is open to all local, national, and European artists, provided they build a partnership with an artist or association from the Centre-Val de Loire Region or one of the Matrice cities.

All local authorities  (as well as their services) in the Centre-Val de Loire Region with fewer than 5,000 inhabitants can apply to the CR!. Bear in mind the projects have to take place within the territory, have an impact in 2028, and meet the eligibility CR!teria.

You can participate in CR! even if you are under 18 by creating your own association or joining a project led by an eligible structure such as an association, organization, or collective with a SIRET number. You can also collaborate with a project leader who will officially submit your proposal!

Each project leader can only apply once per year and submit a single project per year.

Questions about projects

An artistic or cultural project is an initiative for the creation or dissemination of works in an artistic discipline (music, theater, visual arts, literature, etc.). It must align with the values of Bourges 2028 and contribute to innovation, civic participation, and the cultural development of our communities.

A project can start as early as January 1, 2025, provided it has a novel aspect and will continue, be repeated, or be completed in 2028.

Yes, you can submit your project to CR! if it starts this year, as long as it has an impact in 2028 (creation, dissemination, or continuity until 2028). Special attention will be paid to projects that leave a lasting legacy beyond 2028.

Yes, your project is eligible as long as it takes place in the Centre-Val de Loire Region or one of the Matrice cities. If part of it takes place outside, It is actually possible, especially if the project has a European dimension and aligns with the values of Bourges 2028!

Absolutely! One of the Academy’s workshops is dedicated to European networking, and several past and future European Capitals of Culture are already partners of CR! to assist you in this process.

Your show can be free or ticketed. If you choose to charge admission, the jury will consider ticket affordability and coherence with the target audience to ensure an inclusive and balanced cultural offering. For spectators using low-carbon transportation, Bourges 2028 encourages the implementation of discounted rates.

Yes, absolutely! Your project can be an adaptation or evolution of a previous initiative, provided it has a novel and innovative aspect compared to the 2023 version. It must also align with the values of Bourges 2028 and have an impact in 2028 or beyond.

Yes! The CR! Academy offers a workshop dedicated to integrating a low-carbon approach into your project. You will discover concrete and tailored solutions for your artistic discipline to reduce environmental impact without restricting your creative process.

All arts and cultural disciplines are welcome! You can propose projects in music, dance, theater, street art, circus, performance, sculpture, painting, installation, drawing, photography, digital art, heritage, literature, poetry, comics, video, cinema, and many more.

Questions about support

If your project is selected by CR!, financial support from Bourges 2028 will be provided under the condition of successful project implementation. An agreement will be signed, and a review in 2029 will ensure proper use of funds.

Projects fully funded by Bourges 2028 will be very rare, with the average funding between 30%  and 50%. Bourges 2028 and the CR! Academy assists you in identifying and securing additional funding. Take advantage of our free training to build a strong application and find partners.

The jury will select projects to be supported financially  (which will receive financial and communication support) and labeled projects (which will receive communication support without financial aid). All the decisions will be justified and communicated to the project leaders.

Bourges 2028’s financial support is limited to operational costs. Expenses for studies, construction, acquisition of artworks, or investments are not eligible.

Questions about the academy

The Academy helps improve and strengthen projects. It is an opportunity to benefit from free training with cultural professionals. Attendance is possible in person or remotely, and different team members can attend various workshops based on themes.
The jury will consider attendance as an evaluation CR!teria, as these workshops are designed to help you structure and enhance your project.

While the registration form is available in both French and English, all Academy workshops will be conducted in French. However, all workshops will be available with subtitles online.

Yes, the Academy accommodates various profiles and schedules, offering participation both in person and online.

Yes! In-person workshops will be adapted for people with disabilities. Online workshops will feature subtitles, and all materials used will be made available to participants.

While online participation is possible, in-person workshops will always take place in Bourges.

Bourges 2028 has partnered with experts in the cultural field who are qualified to answer all your questions. Each topic will be led by different speakers to ensure content that is tailored to the subject and of high quality.