In 2021, the Association Clubture made an analysis of the impact of financing from the European Structural and Investment Funds on the organizations gathered around the Clubture network, which in the past period implemented projects within the framework of the European Social Fund.

The impetus for creating this analysis continues the earlier efforts of the Association Clubture to ensure an equal place for organizations of independent culture when creating adequate calls financed from EU sources and to monitor the implementation of projects and the changes that arise as a result of them within the field in which organizations in independent culture operate.

Given that the existing institutional framework for the activities of cultural organizations has been narrowing rapidly in recent years, which is particularly visible during the pandemic, the funds provided through the European Social Fund should be seen as a significant step forward in maintaining the continuity of the organizations' work, as well as strengthening their capacities for activities they carry out regularly.

However, due to the unfavorable management practices of the Fund and the administrative overload experienced by organizations in the independent culture, the past programming and financial period (2014-2020) seems sketchy, unfinished and unused in the context of the potential for significant changes in the position of organizations in the culture in relation to other actors in the field of culture.

It is therefore important to emphasize to decision-makers and other stakeholders involved in the creation of financing policies through EU funds that the participation of civil society organizations in the field of culture in designing these policies is necessary, as well as their inclusion among the funding priorities, in order to maintain a progressive, creative and inclusive society. This analysis is a pledge to that reflection.