About us
We are Trans Europe Halles, we are a network, we are soulmates, we are 170+ member organisations from 40+ countries in Europe and beyond, we are creatives, we are alternative, we are independent, we are community-driven, we are from everywhere, we are artists, we are thinkers, we are urbanists, we are ecologists, we are builders, doers and dreamers, we are a force of transformation, we are sharers, we are caretakers, we are learners and educators, we are strategists, we are activists, we are in solidarity, we are a family.
Join us!
The long and short of it
We are an international NGO with our headquarters in Lund, Sweden. A member-led force for change driven by a bottom-up, activist spirit that challenges conventions. We have been at the forefront of repurposing abandoned buildings for arts, culture and activism since 1983.
Rooted in repurposed spaces across the world, our member organisations recognize and embrace the untapped potential of urban spaces. In collaboration with local communities, they breathe life and creativity into neglected places, transforming them into vibrant hubs.
They are the trailblazers, the movers and shakers, the catalysts of change - daring visionaries who champion an open society where every citizen finds their place. They ignite a fresh wave of possibility, fighting to ensure that all belong in this dynamic transformation.
Trans Europe Halles is a network for cultural activists. A place of learning and exchange. A platform to campaign, advocate and raise awareness. An accumulator of collective knowledge and interdisciplinary expertise in fields such as cultural production, advocacy, city planning, sustainable architecture and circular design, energy efficiency, community engagement, fundraising, creative industries, policy, social innovation.
We generate connections that stimulate citizen independent initiatives. Our network is a force of regeneration for neighbourhoods, communities, cities and regions.
We act as a counterweight against displacement, abandonment, gentrification, segregation and other urban plagues. We stand up for what we believe to be the very foundation of democracy: citizen engagement, decolonization, intercultural dialogue and freedom of expression.
Inward activities (member-focused):
- Creating connections and networking
- Training, learning and resource sharing
- Communication and promotion
- Emergency mobilization and support
- Endorsement
Outward activities (public-facing):
- Advocacy and activism
- Interdisciplinary consultancy
- International cooperation
- Fundraising
Trans Europe Halles (TEH) was born in March 1983 when Philippe Grombeer was involved in setting up an arts centre in the former covered market in Brussels – Halles de Schaerbeek. He reached out to a few similar initiatives in Europe for help and six other cultural pioneers – Huset (Copenhagen, Denmark); Kultur Fabrik (Koblenz, Germany); Melkweg (Amsterdam, The Netherlands); Ny Scen (Gothenburg, Sweden); Pali Kao (Paris, France); and Rote Fabrik (Zürich, Switzerland) – answered his call. They all met together in Brussels that year.
Together they embarked on a journey that hasn’t always been easy. Europe was going through a lot of changes at the time: the fall of the Berlin Wall, the signing of the Maastricht Treaty, the expansion of the EU. These changes left abandoned sites all over Europe. We took them over. We revived them and used them for artistic experimentation.
Back then our initiatives were often greeted with derision by governmental ministers and local and regional authorities. Yet, we didn’t give up. We fought side by side for our beliefs. Together we reclaimed more than 110 spaces in Europe. By the end of the twentieth century, the value of these neglected spaces had increased exponentially.
Today, we are an established European cultural network.
Over the last decades, we have led or joined a number of large scale international cooperation projects: Our potential has been recognised by the Creative Europe Programme, which has awarded us with a three-year network grant for the period of 2022-2024. Called “The Network Project” (TNP), this grant supported our core activities and allowed us to restructure and consolidate our network, to decentralise certain of our activities to our hubs, who can answer more closely to the needs of our members where they are located, to equip them with new creative tools to face the challenges of today. Other projects are: Cultural and Creative Spaces and Cities (2018); DISCE – Developing Inclusive and Sustainable Creative Economies (2019), Rebuilding to last (2022), The Cultural Transformation Movement Project (2023), ZMINA/Rebuilding! (2023), Good Enough Transformation (2024). These projects have raised our profile and established our position as a reference point for the sector.
What is next? We will continue expanding and growing stronger as a network. And we will work harder than ever to contribute to a more democratic, inclusive and pluralistic Europe.
We are a community with transparent, human-centred and democratic governance.
We make all our decisions together during our biannual meetings, we hold a formal General Assembly where we approve the budget, final accounts, network strategy or elect a Executive Committee. Every member has one vote, regardless of the size of the centre.
Our elected Executive Committee is our governing and policy-making body. It consists of a minimum of five and a maximum of eight people.
Our Ambassadors worked hard to make sure we survive and develop as a network. Today they are our advocates who promote us and our values to the outside world and inspire our members.
They are:
- Annette Wolfsberger, The Netherlands
- Antti Manninen, Finland
- Birgitta Persson, Sweden
- Cor Schlösser, The Netherlands
- Emma Ernsth, Belgium
- Erik Backer, The Netherlands
- Fazette Bordage, France
- Katarina Zivanovic, Serbia
- Mieke Renders, Belgium/Sweden
- Pekka Timonen, Finland
- Sabina Schebrak, Austria
- Sandrine Crisostomo, Portugal
- Sandy Fitzgerald, Ireland
- Sigrid Niemer, Germany
- Xavi Perez, Spain
- Yiannis Toumazis, Cyprus
Trans Europe Halles is co-funded by the Swedish Arts Council and the City of Lund, Sweden. Our projects The Network Project (TNP), Rebuilding to last (RTL), Cultural Transformation Movement Project (CTMP), ZMINA! Rebuilding, and AlterPlaces (AP) are funded by the Creative Europe Programme of the European Union. The project The Good Enough Transformation (GET) is funded by the Nordik Kulturfond. The Region of Skåne, Sweden, funds the International Resource Office.
We grew. We developed. We improved. But we couldn’t have done any of our work without the support and encouragement of our partners. They believe that what we do matters.
TEH Coordination office until recently had been based at Mejeriet.
We are a founding partner of EIT Culture & Creativity, and an official partner of the New European Bauhaus Initiative.
We are a member of Culture Action Europe, On the Move , IETM – international network for contemporary performing arts, The International Climate Heritage Alliance, and The European Heritage Alliance.
Our current Executive Committee 2025-2027
Our Team
Managing Director
Mieke Renders
I work both on the internal and external structure of our network. I help co-develop together with our members and ExComm the future strategy of TEH and ensure it is implemented. I oversee our main activities and secure future collaborations and strategic partnerships. I am also involved in the daily work of the Coordination Office and manage its team, making sure our work benefits our members the most.
Contact me for project proposals, advocacy, partnerships and services, or requests for talks and participation in advisory bodies.
mieke@teh.netFinance and Admin Director
Barbara Elia
I am responsible for the administrative and financial management of the organisation and I advise on strategic and financial planning. I work with the Managing Director on the broader financial and administrative management and with Project Managers on projects financial management and reporting.
Contact me for any exchanges needed on financial issues.
barbara@teh.netAdmin Manager
Thalia Giovannelli
I work with Admin, HR and our Digital environment. I make sure we have good working conditions and good digital resources to work with and make available to our members. In addition, I work with all papers, excels, and fun things related to TEH's work.
Contact me if you have a question regarding paperwork, contracts, invoices, work environment, governance, digitalisation, digital tools, remote work and much more!
thalia@teh.netSenior Project Manager
Hanna Olsson
I am in charge of the International Resource Office, coordinating the Arts Education Hub and the Youth Hub, as well as acting as the Coordination Office’s contact for the Nordic/Baltic members.
Contact me if you are a cultural actor in Skåne looking for help to develop international projects and collaborations or have questions regarding any of the hubs mentioned.
hanna@teh.netSenior Project Manager & Researcher
Ceyda Berk-Söderblom
I manage two key projects at TEH: Cultural Transformation Movement, which advances diversity in artistic practices and drives organizational change through the inclusion of underrepresented communities; and Co-PED: Community-Based Cultural and Social Centres as Incubators for Positive Energy Districts, which explores how cultural and social centers contribute to green urban transitions through Urban Living Labs. I am in charge of developing TEH’s relationship with the academic sector on social justice, spatial justice, Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI), and other topics relevant to underrepresented communities.
Contact me with ideas on Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI), Cultural Transformation Movement project, social transformation and democracy-related issues.
ceyda@teh.netSenior Project Manager
Erika Haxhi
I coordinate Common Spaces and make sure that our network activities, events and capacity-building programs and advocacy activities run smoothly and meet the needs of our members. In addition, I co-produce TEH meetings with host centres that take place twice a year and bring 250+ cultural professionals from across Europe and beyond.
Contact me if you have a question regarding TEH meetings, networking opportunities, TEH self-learning resources, evaluation and other Common Spaces activities.
erika@teh.netCommunications Officer
Olga Zaporozhets
I lead the full communications function at Trans Europe Halles, shaping strategy and delivering day-to-day execution across membership communications, major network events (both offline like TEH Conferences and Camp Meetings), and EU-funded projects like CTMP, ZMINA, Co-PED etc. My tasks include overall TEH brand management, project-related visual identities and key messages, TEH web, social media and e-mailing channels management, various stakeholder and key audience engagement, purpose-driven campaigning and advocacy, as well as coordination with diverse partners across Europe.
olga.z@teh.netIntern (Production Team)
Rita Palma
I'm based in Malmö, south Sweden, where I’m contributing to event production for the #TEH101, working closely with Erika during my internship. I hold a degree in Fine Arts from Lisbon University and a Master’s in Leadership for Sustainability from Malmö University. My work and interests are all about the intersection of creativity, ecology, and system change. I’m passionate about exploring how artistic practices can support alternative ways of thinking and organising.
rita@teh.netCommunications Team (ESC programme)
Emma Palojärvi
I’m working with Olga in TEH’s communications team supporting TEH’s communication efforts across different channels and platforms. I hold master’s degree in cultural heritage studies from the University of Helsinki, in Finland. In my studies I concentrated on impact analysis, grassroot-level cultural cooperation and dialogue. After working in communications and project coordination within cultural cooperation and popular science in Finland and Nordic cooperation in Greenland, I’m excited to get to learn more about TEH’s European wide efforts to bring cultural operators together.
emma@teh.netIntern
Mara Sylvain
I’m doing my internship at Trans Europe Halles until May 2026, working closely with Hanna on projects within the Nordic-Baltic Hub and the IRO. I’m nearing the end of the International Cultural Project Management programme at Kulturverkstan in Gothenburg. I’m originally from Haiti, with a background in arts, culture, and psychology, and have lived and worked mainly in East Africa and Southeast Asia. Outside of work, I'm always curious about people’s stories and like to find ways of documenting them. I also love rock climbing and spending time at an urban community-led farm close to my place in Gothenburg, where I have chickens, grow food and am slowly renovating my small cabin to a tiny house.
mara@teh.netIntern
Ludvig Granqvist
My name is Ludvig, and I’m studying a Bachelor’s degree in Urban Planning at Lund University. I’m currently doing a nine-week internship at TEH, where I’m working on a research project evaluating the existing and potential supply of cultural hubs in the municipality of Lund. My role involves collecting data through surveys and fieldwork, as well as using GIS to visualize results. I’m working together with Hanna and a group of students in Brussels to develop a toolbox for evaluating local cultural supply in different European contexts, which is especially exciting as it provides insights into local knowledge and how it can be shared and adapted across Europe. In my spare time, I enjoy cooking, making music, and being part of a film club with friends.
ludvig@teh.netIntern
Zosia Szczepańska
Hi! I’m Zosia, originally from Poland, and I’m studying Global Project and Change Management in the Netherlands. I joined Trans Europe Halles to complete my bachelor’s thesis internship during the Spring 2026 semester. My focus is on exploring anti-eviction strategies and tools relevant to members of the network. I work with Erika to develop research and a practical output that supports Common Spaces and the broader operations of Trans Europe Halles. I’m excited about the opportunity to learn from the spirit of grassroots work and the creation of independent art scenes.
zosia@teh.netIntern
Matwe Kaščák
I’m a Ph.D. candidate at the Faculty of Arts at Masaryk University in Brno, in the field of Digital Culture & Creative Industries. I also teach in the course "Theory and Practice of Festival Organisation" at the Department of Music. My research focuses on how are European cultural and creative centres evolving on the backdrop of polycrisis. During my research stay, I’ll work with Thalia on the Telethon project, investigating the current conditions of the centres, while expanding the TEH database in the process. Alongside academia, I'm a DJ, booking agent, ticketing administrator & work on advancing for ¥ØU$UK€ ¥UK1MAT$U. Previously, I was involved with Nová Cvernovka as a music curator, and have long collaborated with Pohoda Festival, the biggest festival in Slovakia.
matwe@teh.netFAQ
Everyone is welcome to attend our meetings. However, Camp Meetings (they take place in autumn) are more member-driven and raise questions that are primarily interesting within the network. Spring Conferences are more open and might be better suited for the general public. Yet, if you are interested in the topic of any of our meetings do not hesitate to register.
You can find more information about the process here
To apply as a full member of TEH, an organisation needs to meet certain criteria (see our membership page)
Full members are actively involved in the development of the network. They can vote during General Assemblies that take place twice a year at our meetings. They have more opportunities to participate in the events and trainings that we organise.
Organisations who are interested in TEH work but do not fulfill the full membership criteria can apply for associate membership.
Associate members have access to a large selection of resources and programs and can join the hubs (working groups) of Trans Europe Halles.
Benefits of a full membership are:
- Direct access to all the networking opportunities, programmes and resources offered by Trans Europe Halles
- Community of peers from 162+ organisations from 40+ countries across Europe and beyond that share their passion for buildings, social justice and arts and culture
- Possibility to shape the future of the network through voting rights or joining the Executive Committee – our governing body
- Advocacy for specific needs such as anti-eviction, urgent response to crisis and solidarity efforts within the network
- Funding opportunities, grant writing consultancy, and matchmaking for project partners
- Monthly internal newsletter
- Possibility to build or join international consortiums and take an active part in EU-funded projects
- Opportunity to join specialised working groups (HUBS) on specific topics or geographical areas
- Access to all TEH training and capacity building programs and mobility support opportunities
- Discounted prices for all TEH events
- Access to all publications and catalogues produced for over 40 years!
More information here
More information here
No, you are not. Yet, we encourage you to attend as often as you can. The more active you are, the more benefits you gain from being part of TEH family.
No, we are a non-governmental organisation, with an independent governance. However, we work closely with many local and European public institutions.
That is great news! Please, contact our Managing Director, Mieke Renders at mieke (at) teh.net.
