Arts and Culture Entrepreneurship
The ACE program supports small and medium Arab cultural institutions with a year-long blend of training, mentorship, and funding to drive innovation, leadership, and sustainability in the arts sector.
Funder: Arab Fund for Arts and Culture
Due Dates (Anticipated): January 2026 (Nomination/application) | November 2026 (Incentive grant proposal)
Funding Amounts: Each selected institution receives a $25,000 grant; 12-month program; 8 institutions per cycle.
Summary: Supports small and medium cultural institutions in the Arab region with entrepreneurship training, mentorship, and grants to foster innovation and sustainability.
Key Information: This is a curated, nomination-based program; direct applications are not open to the general public.
Description
The Arts and Culture Entrepreneurship (ACE) program, led by the Arab Fund for Arts and Culture (AFAC) in partnership with the Drosos Foundation and supported by the German Federal Foreign Office, is a multi-cycle initiative designed to strengthen the capacity, resilience, and sustainability of small and medium cultural institutions across the Arab region. Through a competitive nomination and jury selection process, the program selects eight institutions per cycle to participate in a 12-month journey combining intensive workshops, mentorship, peer learning, and a $25,000 incentive grant to implement an innovative, institution-strengthening activity.
ACE aims to foster a community of practice among cultural leaders, encouraging experimentation, cross-sectoral learning, and the sharing of best practices from across the Global South. The program covers topics such as strategy, communications, fundraising, financial management, leadership, organizational development, digital transformation, social entrepreneurship, and governance. Much of the program content is made available online, benefiting the wider arts and culture sector.
