The European Commission has officially launched a new edition of the NEB Boost for Small Municipalities, a targeted initiative under the umbrella of the European Commission’s New European Bauhaus (NEB). See the call here.

This call is specifically designed to support small municipalities (under 20,000 inhabitants) in developing transformative projects for their public spaces, fully aligned with NEB values.

What is the NEB Boost?

The NEB Boost for Small Municipalities is part of the European Parliament Pilot Project supporting smaller local entities that often struggle to access traditional EU funding channels due to administrative complexity or limited technical capacity.

The initiative offers:

• A monetary prize of €30,000 for each selected municipality
• High European visibility, including promotion by the Commission
• A potential stepping stone toward further EU funding opportunities

The objective is clear: to enable small towns and rural communities to become active protagonists in Europe’s green, inclusive, and beautiful transformation.

Application deadline: 17 March 2026 (17:00 CET)

Municipalities must submit their proposal through the official NEB platform before the deadline.

What Kind of Projects Are Eligible?

Projects must:

• Focus on the transformation of public spaces
• Demonstrate a sufficient level of maturity (identified site, political commitment, basic feasibility)
• Actively involve the local community in design and implementation

The reference framework for evaluation is the NEB Compass, the methodological tool that helps projects align with the three core NEB values:

1. Zrównoważony rozwój
2. Inclusivity
3. Beauty (Aesthetics)

The NEB Compass: A Strategic Tool

The NEB Compass is not a theoretical declaration of principles. It is a practical guide for project-makers.

At the 2023 FORTE CULTURA Online Member Meeting, we presented the Compass and you can revisit that presentation tutaj.

Why This Matters for Fortified Heritage

The NEB Boost offers a concrete opportunity to:

• Reimagine fortress courtyards and bastions as inclusive public spaces
• Develop community-led adaptive reuse strategies
• Integrate sustainability into heritage regeneration
• Strengthen local identity through design and cultural participation

The €30,000 prize may not finance a full restoration, but it can:

• Launch a pilot intervention
• Fund participatory design processes
• Develop feasibility studies
• Activate temporary creative uses
• Prepare larger funding applications

In strategic terms, it can serve as a catalyst.

For networks like FORTE CULTURA and for municipalities managing fortified heritage, this call is aligned with our broader strategy:

• Participatory governance
• Sustainable adaptive reuse
• Community-centred cultural tourism
• Alignment with the Green Deal and the SDGs

Small municipalities can become laboratories of transformation. The NEB Boost provides both the recognition and the first financial impulse to begin that journey.

The deadline is approaching. Preparation must start now.