The grant program for Creative Brno now separates the creative industry from culture

Brno - The Grant Program for Creative Brno in the new call further separates the creative industry from culture. This adjustment followed last year's cancellation of the sixth call, which the city justified, among other things, by stating that some projects did not fulfill the purpose of the program. Some organizers of cultural or educational events criticized the cancellation. They consider the new setup a step in the right direction. But only on the condition that it continues consistently without political influence, said Simona Škarabelová from the Brno Cultural Association today.

The creative sector includes business activities with a cultural overlap. In Brno, it constitutes about one-tenth of economically active entities. In 2021, city representatives approved the first grant program, which was subsequently announced twice a year with one call for one million crowns and another for half a million. Last year, the councilors decided to cancel the results of the sixth call. From the seventh stage onwards, the areas in which entities can apply for support have been further separated from culture. Grants are now focused solely on architecture, design, gaming, advertising, and artistic crafts.

"Last year's decision to cancel already evaluated grants is seen as an interference in the legitimate evaluation process and an indication that political will outweighs expert opinion. Reevaluation with reasonable justification for supporting creativity is necessary, but the one-off redirection of resources elsewhere raised concerns that the cultural and creative sector lacks stable and predictable conditions," Škarabelová stated. Councilor Martin Příborský (ODS), who is in charge of the matter, then stated that the city did not harm anyone because applicants for the grant must count on the possibility of not succeeding,

The association welcomes the new setup. "But only on the condition that it will truly continue consistently and transition from political influence to functional management. For cultural and creative production, it is essential to set up a transparent evaluation process, stability, and with minimal political interference,” added Škarabelová.

Before the change, the program attracted 103 applications for financial support. Of these, 28 projects received full support, while seven received partial funding. There were 60 unsupported projects and 16 rejected. The evaluation committee decides on the allocation of grants. The main criterion upon which its members decide is the level of entrepreneurial potential. They also assess the positive impact on society, urban development, public space, innovativeness, and interdisciplinary collaboration. The committee does not evaluate whether the projects can be profitable.