Highlights

Launching the Alliance for Socially Engaged Arts

On 23-24 January, we gathered in Lisbon with creative practitioners and cultural leaders from across Europe to celebrate the launch of a new collaborative philanthropic programme: the Alliance for Socially Engaged Arts. The Alliance is a new programme hosted by NEF, that brings together 11 of Europe’s leading philanthropic funders with a shared mission that aims to connect and elevate visionary leaders and organisations in socially engaged arts across Europe, transforming public and policy awareness, and securing vital recognition and funding to accelerate their impact.

The Alliance for Socially Engaged Arts represents NEF's first art-driven programme, harnessing the power of creative expression to strengthen democracy and promote social inclusion across Europe. Throughout history, socially engaged arts have played a central role in challenging the status quo and providing society with creative tools and connections to inspire positive change. Today, socially engaged arts continue this legacy across Europe, bringing artists and communities together to collaborate and address social, political, and cultural issues through art. Rooted in co-creation and participation, these creative practices foster dialogue, change perspectives, and spark positive social change through art, paving the way towards a more equitable and connected future.

Central to the Alliance’s mission is its inaugural Fellowship, a transformative programme designed to amplify the impact of socially engaged arts by investing in visionary leaders of arts organisations. Currently open to receiving applications, the Fellowship offers a unique opportunity for up to 15 leaders working across diverse artistic disciplines and social issues. The Fellowship isn’t just about individual growth — it’s about collective impact. Through a mix of opportunities for collaboration, mentorship, capacity-building support as well as a €60,000 grant, Fellows will strengthen the impact and structures of their organisations, accelerate their professional growth, and drive impactful advocacy efforts alongside other participants.

Visit the website to find out more about the Alliance and its Fellowship.  

Alliance for Gender Equality in Europe

Impact so far

Over the first three years, the Alliance has distributed over €4 million to 38 organisations across 18 countries, directly expanding opportunities and rights for more than 60,000 marginalised women, trans, non-binary, and gender non-conforming individuals. During this time, the Alliance also increased its budget fivefold and more than doubled in size, reinforcing its role as the only pooled fund for gender equality in Europe.

As our pilot phase concludes, we have undertaken an external evaluation to identify key lessons and shape the next phase of our work. The evaluation reaffirmed the Alliance’s value as a peer-learning space for funders, broadening knowledge about the gender equality landscape and connecting donors with grassroots organisations. It also highlighted the urgent need for sustained funding to advance gender equality.

A changing context

Across Europe, democratic backsliding and the rise of the anti-gender movement are threatening decades of gender equality progress. Attacks on reproductive rights, LGBTQ+ protections, and activism are intensifying, fuelled by sophisticated disinformation campaigns and well-coordinated transnational networks.

Yet, while anti-rights actors spent over $707 million in Europe between 2009 and 2018 to roll back progress, funding for gender equality efforts remains scarce. Grassroots gender equality organisations also face an increasingly hostile environment, growing restrictions on public funding, and a lack of opportunities to connect, strategise, and collaborate, making it harder for them to sustain and scale their work.

What’s next?

Building on our experience and learnings, the Alliance is entering a new phase with a new strategic framework for 2025-2027 . While we will continue funding Economic Opportunities and providing capacity strengthening support, we are also launching two new sub-funds:

• Movement-Building - A strong feminist movement is key to sustainable gender equality progress. We are currently conducting a sector-wide consultation to better understand the needs and opportunities for strengthening the movement.

• Gender & Democracy – By equipping grassroots organisations to withstand the destabilising pressures of the anti-gender movement, we can strengthen their capacity to defend democracy and advance gender equality more effectively. We will provide small, short-term opportunity and emergency grants, enabling organisations to take advantage of emerging opportunities or respond to urgent challenges.

In this new phase, the Alliance will double down on its commitment to mobilising the philanthropic community in support of the grassroots gender equality movement for a more inclusive Europe.