About

The Armenian Communities Department of the Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation is pleased to announce a new grant programme for Armenian youth in Lebanon.

This initiative supports innovative projects that address an expansive range of themes, including identity, social challenges, human rights, technology, language and community vitality. The programme builds upon CGF’s commitment to Armenian youth, cultural advancement and creativity.

INSPARK is a grant programme designed to spark self-discovery, creative expression and community-driven change from within. INSPARK is an invitation to Armenian youth in Lebanon to break new ground, explore innovative ideas and share diverse voices with the world. By igniting imagination and fuelling purpose, INSPARK empowers participants to craft meaningful projects that enrich their lives and communities, ultimately helping to shape the future of Armenian culture.

Objectives

• To foster creative expression among Armenian youth in Lebanon and through them strengthen community identity and drive social change.

• To encourage young people to explore their creative potential in addressing key social and cultural issues.

• To support new voices and innovative ideas that enrich Armenian Diaspora life and culture

Topics

• Post-War Resilience and New Beginnings

  • Healing and Recovery: Tackling how communities rebuild emotionally and physically in the aftermath of conflict.

  • Narratives of Hope: Stories highlighting transformative experiences, lessons learned and visions for a peaceful future.

  • Reconciliation and Understanding: Efforts fostering dialogue across communities with historically strained relationships.

• Armenian Diaspora Identity and Culture

  • Preservation and Innovation: Balancing the preservation of traditional art forms, language and cultural practices with current reinterpretations and contemporary approaches.

  • Shared Heritage and Global Connections: Exploring how diaspora communities maintain ties with each other and with the homeland, while engaging with new cultural influences.

  • Migration and Belonging: Engaging with personal and collective experiences of migration, displacement and formation of hybrid identities.

• Social Issues and Human Rights

  • Oppression and Power Structures: Examining systemic discrimination, oppression and historical injustices within or beyond Armenian contexts, including leadership issues, economic inequalities and social divisions.

  • Women’s Rights and Gender Equality: Addressing discrimination, empowerment and the advancement of women in social, political and economic spheres.

  • Minority Rights: Fostering efforts to build inclusive spaces, represent marginalized voices and challenge harmful stereotypes.

• Innovation and Technology (AI, Digital Media)

  • Digital Empowerment: Leveraging technology to support education, activism and community building.

  • Artistic Exploration: Integrating AI, virtual reality and other emerging digital tools into creative and cultural projects.

  • IT and Language: Examining the role of technology, digital media and tech-based activism in the revitalization of language (especially Western Armenian).

• Other Creative Themes for Social Change.

  • Environmental Justice and Climate Action: Addressing ecological challenges, sustainability practices and community-led environmental initiatives.

  • Youth Empowerment and Education: Highlighting the role of youth leadership, civic engagement and intergenerational collaboration, including collaborative projects that bring together diverse communities and facilitate cross-cultural understanding and solidarity.

  • Artistic Activism and Storytelling: Engaging performance, written/spoken word and visual arts as catalysts for public discussion and societal shifts.

Benefits

• Project Management Workshops: 

  • Grantees will receive specialized project management training early in their grant period. These workshops will help awardees refine their plans, develop strategies for execution and outreach, and learn essential skills if necessary (budgeting, team coordination, promotion, etc.). It will also allow awardees to share experiences and knowledge.

• Consultation & Mentorship: 

  • CGF will remain available for further guidance throughout the grant implementation to help ensure successful completion.

• Collective Exhibition: 

  • At the conclusion of the grant period, all awardees will collaborate on an exhibition or a public showcase of their work in a meaningful way.

Funding Information

• Up to 10 grants of € 7,500 each will be awarded.

Eligible Costs

• Materials and Equipment: Items specifically needed to carry out the project.

• Travel Costs: Transportation and lodging for applicants.

• Venue Rentals: Costs associated with securing spaces for workshops, performances or meetings.

• Human Resource costs for project implementors, as well as Professional Fees.

• Purchase of Services: Consultants, facilitators, artists, translators or any external services required for the project.

• Other Direct Project Costs: Additional expenses directly tied to achieving the objectives (e.g., marketing, printing or promotion).

Evaluation Criteria

• Creativity and Innovation: Original thinking, artistic creativity and novel approaches.

• Relevance and Social Impact: Alignment with programme themes; potential to create positive change or spark meaningful dialogue.

• Feasibility and Clarity: Realistic and coherent planning with a well-defined scope, timeline and budget.

• Cultural Significance: Contribution to Armenian culture and language, especially Western Armenian.

• Quality of Proposal: Overall coherence, detail and project idea presentation.

Eligibility

• Age & Residency: Applicants must be of Armenian origin, 21-40 years old and currently residing in Lebanon. Individuals or teams are welcome to apply.

• Project Scope: The submission must be a creative initiative addressing the key themes of this call. Projects can span arts, media, technology, literature, performance, cultural heritage, community engagement, etc.

• Project timelines: Projects should have a maximum duration of 24 months.

• Language: Western Armenian is encouraged. Other languages may be used if they better serve the project.

• Geographic Focus: Projects must be implemented (at least in a significant part) in Lebanon and benefit the local Armenian community.

• Number of Submissions: Each individual or team may submit only one proposal under this call.

Post Date: May 09, 2025