Engine Room Europe Staff Exchange Programme
The Staff Exchange Programme is part of the Engine Room Europe Project (2011–2014) of Trans Europe Halles. A maximum of 30 cultural workers exchanges will take place over two years. The exchange programme is open to staff from all TEH centres of all levels of artistic management and production, communications and related areas.

The Staff Exchange Programme runs from October 2011 to August 2013. TEH Meeting 72 in Bordeaux was the starting point, and the end of the programme will be the training and evaluation workshop in August/September 2013 in Italy. Participation in the workshop is obligatory for all exchangees. Placements will mainly last one week (although it is also possible to stay 2 weeks or a maximum of one month), and will include shadowing as well as hands-on opportunities, with an emphasis on practice-based learning. Sending and hosting organisations will be able to express their needs within the application process. This application process will be a roll-on process with face-to-face matchmaking opportunities every 6 months during the TEH Meetings. Experiences and knowledge developed during these exchanges will be shared online via the TEH website.

"You get so inspired that you want to get back to your centre and to bring the ideas and realize them." - Laura Gabrielaityte, Arts Printing House, Lithuania

List of upcoming Staff Exchanges in 2013:

- Timo Haapanen from Korjaamo (Helsinki Finland) to Village Underground (London, UK)
- Elsa Bendhif from Mains d'Oeuvres (Saint Ouen, France)  to Moritzbastei (Leipzig, Germany)
- Aiva Yamac from Moritzbastei (Leipzig, Germany) to Melkweg (Amsterdam, The Netherland) and P60 (Amstelveen, The Netherland)
- Janne Nieminen from Verkatehdas (Hämeenlinna, Finalnd) to Melkweg (Amsterdam, The Netherland)
- Petra Stepanova from Johann Centrum (Pilsen, Czech Republic) to NOASS (Riga, Latvia)
- Sherif El Safouri from Melkweg (Amsterdam, The Netherland) to NOASS (Riga, Latvia)



Deadlines
Deadline for the last application round is 31st October 2012.

Very simple rules
•    This programme is only open for TEH Members.
•    The programme will be opened up to TEH Friends if there are not enough TEH members participating.
•    Sending centres have to contribute 150 euros to the cost of the programme.
•    All exchangees commit to take part in the final training & evaluation workshop (summer camp) in 2013.

What do you need to do as a host?
•    Appoint a buddy (who is not the delegate). S/he takes mostly care of the exchange. This also makes it possible for someone else from your centre to become more involved in TEH activities.
•    Decide in which areas you want to host someone
•    Fill in the application form as soon as possible
•    Inform your staff about the exchange
•    Find accommodation for the exchangee
•    Take care of a balanced work (& social) programme of the exchange

What do you need to do as a sender?
•    Contribute € 150 to participate in the programme
•    Decide who and when you want to send someone
•    Select an opportunity / an exchangee
•    Prepare her/him for the exchange
•    Arrange her/his transport
•    Ask the exchangee to feedback to your centre after his exchange (so that more staff can profit from the experiences)

What do you need to do as an exchangee?
•    Actively participate in the exchange, including the preparation
•    Be self-sufficient, open towards cultural differences, curious and willing to learn
•    Write a report about the exchange (this is obligatory)
•    Participate in the final training & evaluation workshop (this is obligatory)

Why should you participate?
•    Inspiration by meeting peers
•    Implementation of new ideas
•    International knowledge sharing
•    Getting to know the Trans Europe Halles network (better)
•    And because it’s a FANTASTIC opportunity for professional development that participants would not want to miss!

For both sending & hosting centres, exchanges can generate new input on a content, professional and social level, and increase motivation of the staff. It also increases the international dimension of and within your centre. Exchanges are not only directed towards the needs of an exchangee but can also be used creatively to address questions or issues of a sending and/or hosting centre.

Finances
Engine Room Europe supports exchanges with the following amount:
•    Travel costs (max. € 275 euros)
•    Accommodation  (up to € 65 / day)
•    Per diems (€ 25 euros / day)

Sending centres have to contribute €150 euro to the exchange.

How does it work? The process
We try to keep the process as simple and transparent as possible, here is how it works:
- The call for application is launched
- TEH Member Centres announce work areas & periods for hosting (via the hosting application form).
- TEH Member Centres decide internally on a staff member whom they would like to send & ask the exchangee to fill in the sending application form.
- Application forms are being sent to Annette
- TEH Meetings will, face-to-face, discuss possibilities for exchanges as much as possible.
- The programme manager selects the best matches together with her advisory committee.

Once the exchange is agreed upon
- All parties sign a simple contract.
- Hosting & sending centre prepare the details of the exchange.
- The exchange takes place.
- The exchangee documents his/her experiences for the online resource to share it with the wider community.

Contact
Annette Wolfsberger from Melkweg is the Staff Exchange Programme Manager. Please contact her with any queries about the programme, if you need help with matchmaking between exchangee and a hosting centre, etc: annette[at]melkweg[dot]nl

Download the hosting and sending application forms here!

Deadline for the last application round is 31st October 2012.
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