In 2018, the wiiw in Vienna introduced the idea of a European Silk Road to connect the continent through 11,000 kilometers of high-speed rail and road networks, aiming to stimulate economic growth and cooperation. Inspired by this vision, the Callias Foundation shifted the focus from infrastructure to culture, unveiling the European Silk Road App—a digital platform that brings together over 40 artists from 15 EU countries. This app fosters cross-cultural dialogue and creative exploration, uncovering new potentials within Europe’s rich cultural fabric.
From Infrastructure to Innovation: A New Chapter for the European Silk Road
The Vision of the ESRCF
The European Silk Road Cultural Fund (ESRCF) introduces a transformative approach to project evaluation and funding. It functions as a think-do tank, combining a design hub, accelerator, and network under the Callias Foundation’s umbrella. Through its value-driven evaluation system, which employs a 147-step methodology incorporating humanistic and project-specific criteria like sustainability and ROI, it ensures fair and transparent project assessments. Additionally, its circular economy model reinvests 2–10 percent of revenues from successfully funded projects back into the fund, sustaining future cultural initiatives.
“The ESRCF is a very new approach,” said Jan Moritz Onken, Founder of the Callias Foundation. “It addresses long-standing challenges in cultural funding, providing a transparent, human- centred framework that values creativity and collaboration.”
Why the ESRCF matters
The ESRCF offers groundbreaking solutions to key stakeholders in the cultural sector. For funders and evaluators, it provides a clear and reliable framework to align funding decisions with their organizational missions. For artists and innovators, it delivers actionable feedback and a step-by- step guide to refine proposals, significantly improving their chances of securing funding.
A Call for Collaboration
The Callias Foundation invites funders, artists, and cultural practitioners to join the European Silk Road Cultural Fund in shaping a brighter future for Europe’s cultural landscape. By placing human values at the centre of cultural innovation, the ESRCF is paving the way for sustainable, impactful collaboration.
