Read the call in PDF format here
Sounds That Connect… The Day of the Mediterranean
In a world where voices can often feel silenced, music becomes a bridge—a powerful expression that transcends all barriers, borders, and languages, connecting us in ways words cannot. This call is not just about music; it’s about building connections, sharing experiences, and strengthening the collective voice of the Mediterranean people.
At the Anna Lindh Foundation, we believe in the transformative power of sounds that connect us—whether through dialogue, exchanges, discussions, or music. Our mission is to support these sounds as they bridge cultural divides, cultivating mutual understanding and inclusion. We aim to create inclusive spaces where diverse voices harmonize, and together, we acknowledge and embrace the richness of our differences.
Join us in celebrating the Mediterranean not in festivity, but in unity, empathy, and shared expression.
Submit your proposals now.
Open call for participation
The Member States of the “Barcelona Process: Union for the Mediterranean” have declared November 28th as the ‘Day of the Mediterranean’ – a day dedicated to cherishing our shared identity, embracing our common heritage, and nurturing the love we hold for the enchanting Mediterranean. It's a day where the ties between its two shores grow stronger, and intercultural exchanges flourish.
Following the success of the previous two editions, the ALF invites civil society entities, to submit proposals for community-based musical performances (non-profit-no ticket sales). The most outstanding ones will be selected for simultaneous execution in different countries of the Euro-Mediterranean region on November 28, 2024. Performances will take place in public spaces/facilities in collaboration with Local Administrations (local government entities).
Purpose of the call
The objective of the call is to orchestrate simultaneous free musical performances (lasting between an hour and a half and two hours) across different countries of the Euro-Mediterranean region on the same day and at the same time (around 19.00-20.00 CET, to be decided with the selected leading organisations), to generate a wave-like effect in celebrating the Mediterranean and its diversity at the community level.
Likewise, this call seeks to encourage Civil Society Organisations to work in tandem with Local Administrations, as a way to empower them at the local level while promoting the principles and values of the intercultural dialogue both at a grassroots scale and to broader audiences.
To achieve this, it is very important that the performances demonstrate engagement to diversity and community rooting.
Capitalising on the different steps of this call, and to create momentum, the ALF Secretariat will proactively engage in regional outreach campaigns and develop audio-visual materials to effectively communicate, raise awareness and make visible this initiative across the Euro-Mediterranean region. The ALF aims to ensure broad participation in this initiative, fostering a sense of collective ownership and inspiring greater engagement among diverse stakeholders.
This initiative is organised in close coordination with the UfM Secretariat as a complement to its online campaign “The Next Wave”
Call for participation open until 30/09/24 midnight Central European Time, CET
Interested leading entities of the 42 countries of the Euro-Mediterranean region (Albania, Algeria, Austria, Belgium, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Egypt, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Jordan, Latvia, Lebanon, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Mauritania, Monaco, Montenegro, Morocco, North Macedonia, Palestine, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovak Republic, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, The Netherlands, Tunisia and Türkiye) are invited to submit their proposals (in English, French or Arabic) before 5 October 2024 at 23.59 CET via the online application form only. The same organisation may not submit more than one proposal.
Indicative timeline
05/09/24 Launch of the call for participation
05/10/24 Deadline to submit free musical performances proposals
15/10/24 Announcement of the selected free musical performances
15-27/10/24 Contracts signature (the provision of an agreement in written with the Local Administration is a prerequisite to starting any procedure of payment)
30/10/24 Zoom meeting with the selected leading entities to share approaches and to coordinate the different free musical performances
28/11/24 Manage the organisation of the free (non-profit-no ticket sales) musical performances
11/12/24 Zoom meeting with the selected leading organisations to carry out an ex-post evaluation of the different components of this initiative.
An Info session will be organised on September the 15th. Details will be published on the ALF website. Selected leading organisations will be provided with more detailed information about the operational aspects of the call.
How to prepare the proposals in three steps
- The applicant organisation shall reach an agreement in principle with a Local Administration to partner in the organisation of a free musical performance
- Settle a public space/facility where the free musical performance will take place
- Identify a local music group with a particular intercultural added value
Selection criteria
Proposals will undergo a comprehensive evaluation led by a team of experts.
Priority will be given to proposals led by members of the ALF from the 43 National Civil Society Networks and a geographical balance between regions and countries will be observed.
For the evaluation procedure, the following elements will be taken into account:
- Engagement of the Local Administration involved in the free musical performance (35%)
- Music group’s added value in terms of diversity/interculturalism and community rooting (25%)
- Dissemination plan of the free musical performance at the local level (10%)
- Environmental sustainability, gender equality and social responsibility approach (9%)
- Inclusive target audience of the concert at the community level (6%)
- Overall objective and quality of the proposal (15%)
Tasks to be done/coordinated by the selected lead organisations
- Conclude a written agreement with a Local Administration on the public space/facility where the concert can be held and the services it will provide (permits/logistics/dissemination)
- Contract a local group of musicians with a particular intercultural added value to play between an hour and a half and two hours concert on November the 28th 2024
- Ensure that the selected organisations and music group post an existing video (the official ALF Facebook and Instagram accounts need to be always tagged) and share it on all of their social media platforms before the musical performance including any previous footage and share it on all of their social media platforms using the following caption:
“The Mediterranean Day is approaching, and we are honored to announce our participation in this meaningful day. On November 28th at [location], we will join voices across the Mediterranean in a free musical performance that transcends bbarriers and connects us in ways words cannot. This event, organised and supported by the @AnnaLindhFoundation, will see music groups from 42 Mediterranean countries performing simultaneously, uniting in a shared expression of togetherness and connection. We invite you to be part of this powerful moment. Entrance is free, and everyone is welcome”. #SoundsThatConnect #Mediterranean Day”
- Actively participate in the online meeting with the other selected organisations to share approaches and to coordinate the free musical performances
- Manage the organisation of the free musical performance (non-profit-no ticket sales) ensuring the visibility of the ALF and the EU
- Provide at least five professional photos capturing the audience attending the concert, the music group performing on stage, and the interactive nature of the concert experience, highlighting its impact and
- Produce and publish a short video on Instagram and/or Facebook (the official ALF Facebook and Instagram accounts need to be always tagged) up to a 40 seconds in length, showcasing highlights of the musical performances: audience cheering, interactive moments with the audience, unique moments on stage, and everything that can capture the essence of your performance using the below caption
"We’re proud to have hosted a meaningful experience with #SoundsThatConnect, showcasing moments of unity and shared expression. The #MediterraneanDay serves as a powerful reminder of our common heritage and the strength of collective engagement, supported by the #AnnaLindhFoundation. Thank you for being part of this journey. Stay connected! #MediterraneanDay2024" @AnnaLindhFoundation”
- Submit a brief lessons learned report based on the online questionnaire template provided by the ALF
- Actively participate in the online meeting with the other selected organisations to carry out an ex-post evaluation of the different components of this initiative
The audiovisual assets described above will serve as a dynamic and compelling representation of the music group's journey and the powerful impact of music, enhancing the overall storytelling and celebration of the Mediterranean Day.
Financial allocation
Each selected leading entity will receive a lump sum allocation of 4.000 euro to contribute to cover the cost of organising the free musical performance and other related expenses. An additional 800 euro will be allocated to the selected proposals that life stream the concert through professional equipment and share it with the ALF Secretariat.
60% of this allocation will be released upon provision of proofs of social media posts tagging the official ALF Facebook and Instagram accounts before the musical performance as highlighted above and the agreement in writing* with the Local Administration on the use of public spaces/facilities and other possible services (permits/logistics/dissemination) and signature of the contract.
40% will be released after having carried out the free musical performance upon the delivery of the professional photos, the short video showcasing highlights of the musical performances tagging the official ALF Facebook and Instagram accounts and the lessons learned report, mentioned above.
(*): The contract/MoU/agreement/support letter must be concluded with the Local Administration and submitted to the Anna Lindh Foundation as pre-requisite to starting any payment procedure
Background
The Anna Lindh Foundation, ALF, (https://www.annalindhfoundation.org), created in 2005 and based in Alexandria is an international intergovernmental organisation and its aim, according to its statutes, is to promote the dialogue between cultures and to contribute to the visibility of the Barcelona Process through intellectual, cultural and civil society exchanges.
The ALF brings together organisations, institutions, policy makers, and other change makers from all Euro-Med countries to open a dialogue and cooperate. People meet, learn, and collaborate, through the Foundation’s different projects and initiatives in different fields to empower them to create a chain of positive change that touches more lives and communities. Its action grounds on the two main bodies of the Foundation: It’s Civil Society National Networks with more than 4,500 members and the 42 Members States of its Board of Governors.
Framework
This call is developed in the framework of the Action Grant NDICI-GEO-NEAR/2022/434371.
The indicative overall amount allocated to this call is 120.000 euro. The ALF Secretariat reserves the right to not to disburse all available funds.