ALF DAY OF THE MEDITERRANEAN 2025
CALL FOR MUSIC PERFORMANCES IN THE EURO-MEDITERRANEAN REGION
Application Deadline: 20 September 2025 Submit your proposals now!
4th Edition Mediterranean Day Received Organisations
4th Edition Mediterranean Day Provisionally Selected Organisations
Read the call in PDF here.
A. Sounds from the Grassroots…The ALF Day of the Mediterranean
B. About the Day of the Mediterranean and this call
D. Call for participation open until 20/09/25 midnight Central European Time, CET
E. How to prepare an application in four steps
F. Tasks to be done/coordinated by the selected lead organisations
J. Background
Sounds from the Grassroots…The ALF Day of the Mediterranean
Sounds from the Grassroots is a collective expression of music and storytelling that rises from the heart of Mediterranean communities. It’s about voices shaped by shared experiences, rooted in tradition, and driven by the need to be heard.
Through this call, we are centring the voices that are closest to the ground; the local entities, grassroots groups, and cultural agents who live through music, alongside local administrations who play a key role in recognising, supporting, and enabling these expressions. We are amplifying authentic voices, not curated from the top but grown from lived experience. These are the sounds of resilience, identity, and connection.
Sounds from the Grassroots is about uniting cultures through the power of shared expression, bringing together diverse voices from across the Mediterranean to build understanding, belonging, and connection.
About the Day of the Mediterranean and this call
The Member States of the “Euro-Mediterranean Partnership/Barcelona Process” have declared 28 November 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 editions, 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 28 November 2025. 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 entities 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 coordination with the UfM Secretariat as a complement to its online campaign.
Call for participation open until 20/09/25 midnight Central European Time, CET
Interested civil society entities of the 43 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, Syria, The Netherlands, Tunisia and Türkiye) are invited to submit their proposals (in English, French or Arabic) before 20 September 2025 at 23.59 CET via the online application form only.
The same entity may not submit more than one application to this call.
How to prepare an application in four steps
- 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
- Complete the application form, providing an outline of your idea and the value you aim to bring
Important note: As this is a call for musical performances, there is room/flexibility for adjustments and refinements. The ALF Secretariat may request modifications to the applications received prior to final selection and implementation to ensure the best use of available resources and maximise its impact. Shortlisted civil society entities have the right to decide whether to proceed with the proposed adjustments or withdraw their applications.
Tasks to be done/coordinated by the selected lead organisations
Conclude a written agreement1 (contract/MoU/agreement/support letter) with a Local Administration defining roles and responsibilities (spaces/facilities/permits/logistics/dissemination/other)
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 28 November 2025
Sign the contract with ALF in which obligations and outputs to be delivered will be described, in line with the detail below
Ensure that the selected organisations and music group post an existing video and share it on all their social media platforms before the musical performance
Carry out 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, the event and its impact
Produce and publish a short video on Instagram and/or Facebook showcasing highlights of the musical performance
Submit a brief lessons learned report
Actively participate in the online meetings organized by the ALF Secretariat
Selection criteria
Selection criteria will be based on the quality of the applications received in terms of impact. Priority will be given to civil society entities that are members of the ALF Network. A gender, youth and geographical balance between regions and countries will be observed.
Due to the large number of applications expected, the limited resources available, and the aim of diversifying the beneficiaries, priority will be given to applications that did not receive funding in the previous “ALF Day of the Mediterranean” calls launched on 2022, 2023 or 2024.
Likewise, it is not allowed to apply for this call and also for the call published simultaneously on “ALF Mediterranean Capitals of Culture And Dialogue 2025”. Civil society entities that submit applications to both calls may be disqualified.
The evaluation process will consider the following key elements:
- Engagement of the Local Administration involved in the free musical performance (30%)
- Music group’s added value in terms of diversity/interculturalism and community rooting (30%)
- 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%)
Financial allocation
Applications should be complete and comprehensive and provide a detailed breakdown of how the funds will be used (venues, equipment, life stream, materials, fees, local transportation, main meals, and other necessary elements to carry out the proposed activity), ensuring all elements are covered.
It is strongly recommended that each applicant cover part of the costs of the proposed activity with their own means or through the local partner/administration. This will not only generate a leverage effect on available resources but will also contribute to increasing the number of beneficiaries.
Each selected leading entity will receive a lump sum allocation of up to 3.500 euro to contribute to cover the costs of organising the free musical performance and other related expenses. An additional up to 500 euro may be allocated to the selected proposals that life stream the concert through professional equipment and share it with the ALF Secretariat.
60% of the final 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 submission of the agreement in writing3 with the Local Administration defining roles and responsibilities 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 performance and the lessons learned report, mentioned above.
Indicative timeline
10/08/25 Launch of the call for participation
04/09/25 Online information session here
20/09/25 Deadline to submit free musical performances proposals
05/10/25 Announcement of the selected free musical performances
28/11/25 Implement the free (non-profit-no ticket sales) musical performance
Background
The ALF, was created in 2005 as a Euro-Mediterranean intergovernmental organisation based in Alexandria. The ALF, inspired by Anna Lindh’s legacy, is committed to fostering intercultural dialogue within its mission of nurturing inclusive societies where diversity is celebrated and everyone’s voice is valued. By promoting peace, justice, and strong partnerships, the ALF strives to create a world where people from diverse backgrounds live in harmony through open and meaningful intercultural exchanges.
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 Programmes and initiatives in different fields to empower them to create a chain of positive change that touches more lives and communities. Its action is grounded on the two main ALF bodies: Its National Civil Society Networks, with more than 4.500 members, and the 43 States of its Board of Governors.
Framework and financial allocation
This call is being developed within the framework of the EU Grant Phase VII in accordance with the ALF Multiannual Work Programme 2025-2028. The total indicative amount allocated to this call is 120.000 euro.
The ALF reserves the right to award the contracts subject to the availability of the funds and the pending signature of the new grant contract (Phase VII) with the EC.
Contact us on communication@alfsecretariat.org for any questions.
Frequently Asked Questions:
1- What kind of legal document should we sign with the local administration partner?
Any type of signed document (MoU, Lol etc) that would be binding that the municipality or otherwise is committed regarding the performance on 28 November.
2- Are the performances under a theme?
Yes, we will have a kick off meeting with all awarded organisations, and the objective of the meeting is to have a common ground on how we are going to perform.
3- If an organisation is not selected, can they still organise a Med-Day concert?
Yes, of course.
4- Is it okay to have a different nationality of artists than the country they’re playing in?
No problem, as long as the performances have an intercultural added value to the community they’re performing for.
5- Will ALF prioritise the selection of members?
Yes, priority is given to members.
6- Is the budget in the proposal binding? And how is the best way to document it?
In this year’s edition, there is no proof of expenditure. If the proposal is of good quality, and fits the selection criteria, you will get pre-selected, and then we will discuss the breakdown of the budget. The budget proposed is subject to alteration. We are going to ask for proof of implementations, not invoices.
To be selected, you need to agree with ALF on the final budget, and you need to reach the agreement on the amount of involvement and partnership from the local administration.