Promotion and support of cultural structures in the region

Podcast "Your connection to the RKP"

• The funding rate for the NRW Regional Culture Program is a maximum of 50%. This means that the state of North Rhine-Westphalia will fund up to 50% of the total amount.
• Project sponsors/applicants can be districts and municipalities as well as cultural institutions of any size, associations or individuals.
• You must have at least one consultation with the RKP Cultural Office (our Service Office) well in advance of submitting your application. You will then receive an ID and access to the project data sheet. The consultation, from the initial idea to the application and beyond, is, of course, free of charge.
• Your application must be completed and submitted online in the form of a project data sheet by September 30th. You can find the online project data sheet here. You will receive an Excel template for your cost and financing plan during the consultation. Please attach this to the project data sheet.

Accessibility supplements

The most important criteria of the Regional Culture Programme NRW

Cultural projects that meet the RKP criteria can be funded through the RKP. The cultural guidelines of the respective region must also be taken into account.

• Cooperation and networking: At least three partners from at least two cities/municipalities develop and implement a project together; additional partners are not mandatory but desired.
• Development or strengthening of a network: cooperation models, including with other sectors, such as youth work, business, urban development, or tourism.
• Marketing measures: Marketing is a recognizable component of the project, and all partners participate in the measures. The marketing measures are target group-specific and make the project visible beyond the region, thus increasing the external perception of art and culture in the region.
• Cultural participation and reaching the target group: The project brings culture closer to people (also through cultural education programs) and enables the target group to participate in culture through low-threshold access.
• Regional relevance: Typically, the focus is on the key themes or profiles of the respective region, with participation from regional cultural professionals. Here you can find the cultural mission statement of the South Westphalia Cultural Region.

The application or project data sheet is submitted by September 30th - and then?

• The South Westphalia Cultural Council, as the project jury, makes a funding recommendation and the project applications are prioritized.
• The Ministry of Culture and Science of North Rhine-Westphalia has the final say on applications. We will then inform you of the outcome.
• Please complete the final application online on Kulturweb by November 30. You can find the online application here.
• The Arnsberg District Government will review your application. Funding may be approved once the state budget has been approved. Starting a project before the measure is approved is only possible with an early start, which you can also apply for.
• The responsible district government will issue the approval notice to the applicant. Then you can get started!

Moving forward together: The working group of RKP offices

The 10 RKP offices formed a working group years ago. The directors and staff meet regularly to exchange knowledge, experience, and questions. In addition, NRW-wide projects and events are planned jointly, and ideas for the strategic development of common themes and goals are developed. Close collaborations are often established with neighboring cultural regions. For example, the Sauerland and South Westphalia cultural regions, as well as parts of the Hellweg cultural region, are grouped together in the REGIONALE2025 region "South Westphalia." Naturally, there are also many points of contact with the Bergisches Land region. The staff of the Department for Regional Cultural Policy at the Ministry of Culture and Science provide significant support to the work of the cultural offices, as do the district governments. In addition, a staff meeting is held once or twice a year with the MKW, all district governments, and the RKP offices.