From 1 August to 29 September, it will be possible to submit project applications for the total amount of PLN 400 million.

Poland's cultural heritage is one of our greatest treasures, for which we are responsible as a generation. Poland's magnificent cultural heritage with its material testimonies is what makes us who we are. Funds from the Polish part of the European funds help to save many valuable and historic sites from destruction

- says the Minister of Development Funds and Regional Policy, Grzegorz Puda.

He adds:

The European Funds for Infrastructure, Climate, Environment programme supports exceptional facilities: historical monuments or UNESCO World Heritage sites. The sector of culture received a record budget of almost EUR 600 million. This is the highest amount for the sector since Poland's accession to Community structures. Today we have announced the first call for proposals for the programme and I am convinced that in the years to come we will witness further important and necessary activities across the country that will contribute to the preservation and promotion of Polish culture, history and traditions.

Categories of projects that can be supported:

• Development of cultural infrastructure (historic and non-historic);
• Protecting and enhancing the tourist attractiveness of cultural heritage sites.

Within the first area, a modern cultural infrastructure will be developed to foster active participation in culture and social life. The call will fund investments to ensure user comfort and safe conditions of using the cultural and educational offer. An important aspect will be the elimination of barriers to access to culture for people with special needs. The call will also fund facilities that are important to local communities. Support will be available for both cultural education and the removal of barriers, including architectural barriers.

The second area focuses on enhancing the attractiveness of the most valuable monuments, strengthening their role in society by making them better adapted to tourist services. Modern technologies conducive to a better presentation of the facility's offer will also be covered by the call. A project within this area must not be a single action, but part of a larger project related to economic development, social inclusion, social innovation in the national, regional or local scale.

The European Funds for Infrastructure, Climate, Environment programme will subsidise conservation and restoration works, as well as construction works involving extension, superstructure, reconstruction, assembly or renovation. Through investment, European Funds will also support the conservation of movable monuments, book collections and museum collections, including their digitisation.

More information about the call is available at Ministry of Culture and National Heritage. For up-to-date information on the remaining calls, please follow www.feniks.gov.pl.