The National Fund for Culture and the Arts (FONDEC) announced the launch of its 2026 national call for proposals. This is a nationwide initiative aimed at strengthening the cultural and artistic production of civil society. Additionally, the aim is to expand access to culture throughout Paraguay. The call seeks to provide financial support for cultural projects framed within the principles of cultural rights and the concept of culture. The FONDEC’s project is a cornerstone of comprehensive development, promoting diversity, creation, and the circulation of cultural goods and expressions.
Paraguayan citizens and foreign residents of the country, both individuals and non-profit organisations, are eligible to apply. The conditions are that they meet the documentation requirements outlined in the terms and conditions. Applications will be accepted exclusively through the online platform available on the institution’s website.
Funding accessibility
The executive director of FONDEC, Rodney Zorrilla, stated that the call for proposals aims to reach all departments of the country. This methodology would allow artists and cultural managers from diverse disciplines to access funding. “We want as many applicants as possible, from different districts and departments, to submit their projects and contribute. Through their art and talent, the aim is to strengthen the cultural identity of each region and the country,” he says.
He added that the process was developed through dialogue with various cultural sectors. The 2026 call for proposals effectively addresses the current needs of each art form.
Funding categories
The 2026 FONDEC national call for proposals includes the following categories and amounts:
- Performing Arts (theatre, dance, puppetry, circus, opera, musical comedy, video dance, and training programmes). 720,000,000, Gs. distributed among 36 projects of 20,000,000 Gs. each.
- Music (musical productions, concerts, scores, educational materials, music videos, and training): 720,000,000, Gs. distributed across 36 projects of G. 20,000,000 Gs. each.
- Visual and plastic arts (painting, sculpture, photography, design, mural art, video art, exhibitions, and publications): 360,000,000, Gs. distributed across 18 projects of 20,000,000 Gs. each.
- Literature (narrative, poetry, drama, essays, comics, literary research, and training): G. 360,000,000, in projects up to G. 20,000,000.
- Study and analysis of cultures and the arts (cultural research, archival preservation, ethnography, knowledge management, and training): 400,000,000, Gs. distributed across 20 projects of 20,000,000 Gs. each.
- Other disciplines (cultural heritage, living community cultures, Indigenous and Afro-descendant peoples, community cultural management, architecture, and acquisition of cultural assets): 600,000,000, Gs. distributed across 30 projects of 20,000,000 Gs. each.
- FONDEC Circulation (support for tours and national circulation of artistic projects in at least two departments outside the applicant’s city of residence): G. 290,000,000, for projects up to G. 20,000,000.
The FONDEC also announced that the audiovisual arts discipline will have a special call for proposals. Details will be released soon. Additionally, the Festivals + Mobility programme will have a second call for proposals in May. Funding opportunities will be expanded throughout the year.
FONDEC key dates
The application deadline is 2 March 2026, at 23:59. Project evaluation will take place from March 17 to 30. Selected projects will be announced on 15 April. The final award is scheduled for 26 April 2026.
For more information, interested parties can visit the FONDEC headquarters, located at Cerro Corá No. 765, between Tacuarí and Antequera streets. They can also call (021) 328 2768, or email recepcion@fondec.gov.py.
Additional read: Revolutionary Mural Brings Musical Heritage To Life In Asunción’s Historical Centre.
