From MiC

DGCC launches 2.7 million Italian Council tender

The 15th edition includes three areas for the promotion of Italian art and artistic, critical and curatorial research abroad: applications by 31 March

by editorial staff

16 February 2026

4' min read

Translated by AI

Versione italiana

Key points

Who can apply
What to design in the three fields of intervention
How to apply and deadlines

4' min read

Translated by AI

Versione italiana

With an investment of EUR 2.7 million, the Contemporary Creativity Directorate General of the Ministry of Culture is launching the 15th edition of the public notice Italian Council, the contribution programme supporting Italian contemporary creativity and committed to the promotion of Italian art and artistic, critical and curatorial research abroad.

The following are eligible for support: projects for the commissioning and acquisition of a new work of art and its international promotion; the international promotion of artists, curators and critics; the development of Italian talent abroad.

"With the fifteenth edition of Italian Council we inaugurate the 2026 cycle of the public notices of the Directorate General for Contemporary Creativity, in a phase of full maturity of the policies of support for the contemporary art system," explains the Director General for Contemporary Creativity of the MiC Angelo Piero Cappello - today founded on an organic and integrated system. Italian Council, which in 2027 will celebrate ten years of activity, has consolidated itself as the main instrument for the international promotion of Italian visual art, capable of activating structured relations between artists, photographers, institutions and professionals from Italy and international cultural contexts, strengthening the presence of Italian art in the world. Our Directorate's measures are part of a unified strategy: the forthcoming publication of the public notices PAC - Plan for Contemporary Art and Photography Strategy confirms the will to support production, acquisitions and research in a coordinated manner, guaranteeing continuity and vision to public policies for contemporary creativity".

Who can apply

There are three areas of intervention:

Scope 1 and 2 > Public and private non-profit organisations, both Italian and foreign - such as museums, university institutes, foundations, cultural associations, formally constituted committees - may apply for a grant of no more than 80% of the total project cost, with a ceiling that varies according to the type of project, which must take place between 1 July 2026 and 31 August 2028.

Ambit 3 > It is open to artists, photographers, critics, curators and other professionals in the field of contemporary art and photography, with Italian citizenship or tax residence in Italia, who meet the requirements of the public notice: they may apply for a research or residency grant abroad amounting to €15,000 before tax. The grant covers a 15-month project to be carried out between 1 July 2026 and 31 October 2027.

What to design in the three fields of intervention

1) International commissioning of works of art: the proposal must concern the production - also on the occasion of residencies or exhibitions - of a new work by a living artist with Italian citizenship, or who is tax resident in Italia, with related international promotion, which will then be added to the collections of public museums (State, regional, provincial and civic museums in Italy). Each project must necessarily include at least one phase of promotion abroad, preferably through an exhibition, at a public or private non-profit organisation active in the field of contemporary art. The main aim is to create or expand international networks to promote and support research, practice and artistic production by Italian artists of all generations.

2) International promotion of Italian artists, curators and critics

The proposal may concern: a monographic exhibition abroad in order to give an artist who has or has had Italian citizenship, or is fiscally resident in Italia, the opportunity to promote his or her work internationally. In this respect, Italian Council supports exhibition projects at prestigious and accredited international venues in the field of contemporary art.

Moreover, participation in international events and collective exhibitions: the Italian Council supports the participation of a living artist with Italian citizenship, or who is tax resident in Italia, in collective exhibitions abroad or in the main sector events that periodically take place in the world - such as biennials, triennials, festivals, or official side events of such exhibitions - and which are increasingly an opportunity for international visibility.

The public notice supports curators or critics with Italian citizenship, or tax residence in Italia, invited to curate exhibitions or reviews abroad.

The contribution for the realisation of publishing products aims at making Italian art of the last seventy years known to an international audience. Editorial projects are an opportunity to promote artists, protagonists and events that are as peculiar as they are significant of Italian contemporary art in the world. For this reason, the projects must be aimed at an audience outside the national borders and guarantee adequate promotion and publishing distribution abroad, preferably involving international publishers, sector libraries and organising presentation events abroad.

Finally, the public notice supports promotional activities related to the acquisition of works of art by Italian artists by museums and institutions based abroad. The activities supported include exhibitions, performances, publications, conferences, study days, meetings, educational activities and workshops to enhance the acquisition and promote the Italian artist included in the collection.

3) Talent development

One of Italian Council's main actions is to support, through research and residency grants, the international development of Italian talents in the world of art and photography. Projects must be aimed at the formative and conceptual development, in an international perspective, of the candidate's professional career and artistic or curatorial practice, as well as an opportunity to create, or amplify, international contacts and relationships useful for career consolidation. The projects must provide for at least one moment of return of the research to the public abroad at accredited public or private non-profit organisations.

How to apply and deadlines

Applications must be submitted exclusively via the Calls Portal of the Ministry of Culture's Directorate General for Contemporary Creativity by 31 March 2026 at 3 p.m. (Italian time).

For information: italiancouncil@cultura.gov.it. The Call Portal opens on 20 February 2026, clarifications can be requested by e-mail until 16 March 2026. The start of the winning projects will start at the earliest on 1 July 2026 and the winning projects of Area 3 are scheduled to be completed by 31 October 2027 and those of Areas 1 and 2 by 31 August 2028.