about

The BIFC Regional Hub, based in Ljubljana, provides advice to project applicants on the application criteria and application forms, and helps to find partner organisations. The grantees are given advice with regard to project development and realisation, as well as solving unexpected problems that arise therefrom.

The Balkan Incentive Fund for Culture (BIFC) is run by the European Cultural Foundation and supports collaborative artistic and cultural projects delivered by organisations within, or cooperating with the Western Balkan region (Albania, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Croatia, Serbia, Macedonia, Montenegro and Kosovo), provided that the project, in terms of content and organisation, is based in the Balkans.

The Balkan Incentive Fund for Culture was initially founded in 2006 by the European Cultural Foundation and partners – Hivos and the Open Society Foundations. Today the BIFC Grants are supported by De BankGIroLoterij and De Lotto received through Prins Bernhard Cultuurfonds. BIFC is also generously supported by the Open Society Foundations, in particular by the Arts and Culture Program and the national foundations in the region, while The BIFC Regional Hub is funded by the Ministry of Culture of the Republic of Slovenia. 

The BIFC Regional Hub was founded in 2010 with the financial support of the Ministry of Culture of the Republic of Slovenia under the aegis of the Platform for South East Europe initiative, the aim of which is to promote cross-border collaboration and cultural development in South Eastern Europe. The BIFC Regional Hub is hosted and run by Asociacija Association, a network of 60 NGOs and 39 independent artists engaged in the field of art and culture.