The Alliance for Socially Engaged Arts brings together European philanthropic foundations to pool resources and jointly champion the power of arts for strengthening society. Launched in 2025 as a partnership between the Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation and 10 other European funders, membership has now grown to include 13 foundations, and several major grant-giving, capacity-building and research projects are underway.  

The Alliance’s first Annual Report highlights the impact of aligning philanthropic funding and working internationally to advocate on pan-EU issues. The coalition’s efforts are being recognised – with the Alliance selected by the Museum for the United Nations as one of 2025’s Top 10 Culture for Impact initiatives. 

The Alliance’s first major project – a Fellowship programme for socially engaged arts practitioners – pooled €975,000 in grants and was met with strong demand from the sector, with 836 eligible candidates applying from 39 countries. 15 visionary leaders were selected to scale and deepen the impact of their work, which span social issues including welcoming migrants, combating exclusion, urban regeneration and community participation. The Alliance is helping the Fellows to deliver even greater impact though support with leadership, communications and organisational development, and sharing expertise across borders and sectors. A series of ‘Impact Stories’ that bring to life the Fellows’ work will be published next month.  

Alliance Fellow Samra Said, Co-Director of Arts & Homelessness International said: “The programme has given me dedicated time to think, reflect, learn, and connect with a cohort that truly understands the challenges facing our sector, within a facilitated workshops and action learning setting… At a time of scarce funding, the core support to strengthen our capacity and care for our people has been invaluable.” 

The Alliance’s combined advocacy efforts are central to building visibility of the sector and unlocking public investment. Key projects include engaging European Commission policymakers on the design of its 2028-2034 cultural funding programme and arts policy, and a Europe-wide research project mapping the ecosystem. The results will be shared this year and developed into tools to help the sector raise visibility, influence policy and thrive. 

Reflecting on the role of the Alliance, Luís Jerónimo, Chair and the Foundation’s Director of Sustainability and Equity, said: “In times like these, the arts demonstrate their immense civic potential. They create spaces for connection, dialogue, healing, and collective imagination. They help communities navigate complexity and open pathways toward change. They remind us of our shared humanity. These principles are the essence of socially engaged arts and the north star that guided the launch of Alliance.” 

Read the full foreword and more information about the Alliance in its 2025 Annual Report.