CASCADE continues in 2026: for cultural practitioners in Eastern Europe and South Caucasus
The CASCADE project funded by the Swedish Institute aims to help cultural spaces in Eastern Europe and South Caucasus evolve from mere venues to powerful drivers of change: sparking innovation, inspiring communities and contributing to long-term transformation.
If you are a cultural professional from Eastern Europe and South Caucasus, participate in a series of online capacity-building workshops designed to support cultural organisations in the region, with a special focus on strengthening the cultural ecosystem across Eastern Europe and the South Caucasus.
These workshops are open to anyone from the countries mentioned above looking to enhance their skills and knowledge in the cultural sector.
- 4 February: Partnership Building. Start: 13:00 CET. Online.
- 11 February: Fundraising. Start: 13:00 CET. Online.
4 February: Partnership Building
Partnerships are key for cultural projects in Europe. They help centres share resources, grow impact, and get funding like Creative Europe.
In this session, you'll discover practical strategies for partnership building that actually work. We'll explore how to find partners who align with your values and goals, using the networks, platforms, and events already at your fingertips. You'll learn how to set up clear roles and governance structures that keep everyone aligned, and how to craft collaboration agreements that protect the relationship while giving your projects room to breathe.
Communication makes or breaks partnerships, so we'll dive into maintaining strong internal dialogue, navigating conflicts constructively, and making both remote and in-person collaboration feel seamless. But we won't stop at single-project thinkingโthis session will challenge you to imagine partnerships as long-term creative ecosystems, with shared visions that extend beyond individual grants and sustainable funding models that support ongoing collaboration.
Michal Klembara is a cultural manager and director of the cultural centre Malรฝ Berlรญn in Trnava, Slovakia. He works on development of independent culture, civil society, and international cooperation in Central and Eastern Europe. He served seven years as Chair of Antรฉna โ the Slovak network for independent culture, and since 2023 has been a member of the Board of Directors of European cultural network Trans Europe Halles. He has extensive experience in advocacy, policy development, and strategic planning at local and regional levels.
Since 2010, Mykhailo has participated in the creation and development of the IZOLYATSIA foundation based in Ukraine. He has also played a leading role in the creation of projects and building partnerships with local and international partners. Among the projects he has established are international IZOLYATSIA residences in Donetsk, Kyiv and Soledar, as well as in virtual formats.
Since 2015, he has been developing the IZONE creative community: a hub for artists, creative entrepreneurs and representatives of the creative industries. He represents IZOLYATSIA in various international networks, including Trans Europe Halles and European Creative Hubs Network. He is a consultant to the Trans Europe Halles network on the development of cooperation and support of organisations from Eastern Europe.
11 February: Fundraising
The online session will focus on fundraising for civil society organisations, with an emphasis on understanding key concepts, strategic approaches, and practical frameworks that support sustainable and diversified funding. The session will introduce participants to different fundraising logics, donor landscapes, and decision-making processes, helping them better position their organisations, projects, and activities when seeking financial support.
The interactive lecture will explore how fundraising connects to organisational strategy, project design, partnerships, and long-term sustainability. Real-life examples from practice will be used to illustrate common challenges, typical pitfalls, and approaches that can strengthen fundraising capacity and confidence. Participants are welcome to share their insights, questions, and challenges related to fundraising in their own organisational contexts.
Zrnka Kuลกen is a highly regarded project manager and the founder of Margina Consulting, which was established in 2018. With over 20 years' experience in project management on national, EU and international platforms, Zrnka is a recognised expert in the entire project lifecycle, from development and implementation to reporting.
Starting her career by managing youth-oriented projects, she then moved on to tackle complex managerial challenges in an academic environment. In 2013, she transitioned to the civil sector, becoming the main project manager at the Centre for Peace Studies. There, she successfully oversaw over 30 large-scale EU-funded projects. At Margina Consulting, Zrnka and her team provide bespoke consultancy services to NGOs, cooperatives, foundations and public institutions. Focusing on the CERV, CREA and Horizon programmes, the firm has become a trusted partner for clients navigating the complexities of EU and international funding programmes.
About CASCADE
The CASCADE project is funded by the Swedish Institute in collaboration with Malรฝ Berlรญn (Slovakia) and Izolyatsia (Ukraine), with partner organisations Salaam Art Temple (Azerbaijan) and Culture and Management Lab (Georgia). Through this series of workshops, the project aims to empower cultural organisations to play an active role in their communities, fostering long-term social impact and transformation.
