Our cross-border coalition will be a recognition

The hall of the Kulturni dom in Gorizia proved too small to accommodate all those who came to the Small Project Fund (SPF) info day yesterday to hear how the almost 8 million euros will be distributed. The fund, managed by the GECT/EZTS GO, is financed by the Interreg Italy-Slovenia 2021-2027 programme and is intended for small projects, provided they are closely linked to the GO! 2025 European Capital of Culture 2025 project.   "We see the SPF as a reinforcement of the official programme and as an important process leading to the European Capital of Culture, as well as a marketing opportunity for many of you," said Stojan Pelko, Programme Manager of GO! 2025.   The money will be distributed through three calls for proposals, the first one, worth EUR 3 million, is expected to open in the second half of February and will be open for two months. The maximum duration of the projects will be 24 months, which means that it is necessary to act quickly and concretely, it was said. Projects will be 100% funded and applicants can be public institutions, local authorities, private companies, tourism organisations, associations, NGOs and others. The lead partner must be based in the Interreg Italy-Slovenia programme area (Friuli Venezia Giulia and Venice, in Slovenia five statistical regions: Goriška, Obalno-kraška, Osrednjeslovenska, Gorenjska, Primorsko-notranjska), the content should preferably be cross-border, and it should leave a long-term imprint on the territory.   The Small Projects Fund Information Day will also be held in Venice (7 February) and in Štanjel (14 February).