History

The project Engine Room Europe has been funded with the support from the European Commission. This publication [communication] reflects the views only of the author, and the Commission cannot be held responsible for any use which may be made of the information contained therein. TEH has received operational grants from the City of Lund and the Swedish Arts Council. TEH Leaders Lab has been funded with the support of the Nordic Council of Ministers. The TEH Coordination Office is hosted by Mejeriet, Lund.

How it all started

In March 1983, an independent cultural centre, Halles de Schaerbeek, organised a weekend of discussions in Brussels to enable European independent cultural centres to exchange experiences and participate in events under the theme of 'adventures of the rediscovered ark'.

This three day forum focused on an alternative culture emerging in rehabilitated industrial buildings, and asserting its identity despite the reservations of political authorities.

Seven centres from seven European cities took part in this initial meeting that gave birth to Trans Europe Halles (TEH): Halles de Schaerbeek in Brussels (pictured), Huset in Copenhagen, Kultur Fabrik in Koblenz, Melkweg in Amsterdam, Ny Scen in Gothenburg, Pali Kao in Paris and Rote Fabrik in Zürich.

A lot has happened in the Trans Europe Halles network during the twenty-five years of its existence. Over the years, Trans Europe Halles has organised close to seventy international network meetings as well as dozens of major, international projects. The network has expanded actively and new members have joined and enriched the network with their experiences and expertise. In a quarter of a century Trans Europe Halles has grown to become the prominent cultural actor it is today.

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