Startup Support Programme 2019 – CALL CLOSED

Trans Europe Halles is a network of people who believe that creativity, grass-roots initiatives and…
Published on Oct. 16, 2018

Trans Europe Halles is a network of people who believe that creativity, grass-roots initiatives and public activism can improve our lives and societies. We are striving to bring a positive change through the cultural revival of post-industrial neighbourhoods and its communities. We believe that our work matters and that it reinforces the future development of independent cultural and creative spaces in Europe.

We have always been supporting those who dare, who are curious and who have imagination. In light of the current situation in Europe, this support is especially crucial. With this idea in mind, we launched the Startup Support Programme last year. This programme is addressing to socially engaged NGOs  that are developing emerging cultural and creative spaces in repurposed buildings.

Within the Startup Support Programme, we carefully look at the challenges each project is having and set up a tailor-made scheme to move towards a sustainable future. This year we will focus on Eastern Partnership countries, Belarus, Ukraine and Moldova, that have the potential for many inspiring cultural centres and creative hubs.

What is a Startup?

In our vision, a startup is a civic initiative that is situated in a re-purposed industrial building with a focus on creativity, arts and culture along with a Do-It-Yourself / Do-It-Together (DIY/DIT) approach. It is still in its preliminary-phase, but is already self-sufficient (either economically or due to people’s dedication), though not yet sustainable.

What has been done within the programme so far?

What does the Support Programme offer?

From 2017 to 2021, the Startup Support Programme is investing in bringing emerging cultural and creative spaces to their next level of development through:

  • Expert consultation and coaching for their teams.
  • Peer-to-peer knowledge sharing involving other emerging spaces in our network.
  • Networking activities during our Conferences and Meetings
  • Access to TEH Capacity Building Programme and activities. Check out our Capacity Building Programme
  • Inspirational case studies of spaces in the startup phase.

For the second edition, we are looking for three emerging cultural and creative spaces from the Eastern Partnership region to take part in the programme. The program will run until July.
Eligible countries are Belarus, Ukraine and Moldova.

You are eligible if:

  • You are not a TEH Member or Associate yet.
  • You are located in one of the three eligible countries mentioned above.
  • You are legally established as an organisation.
  • You are repurposing a building for creative, cultural and artistic uses.
  • You have a legal agreement – or you are in negotiation – with the owner of the building about its future use.
  • Your organisation has been operating inside the building for less than two years, or you are planning to work in it in 2019.

What we are offering:

  • A scoping visit of two international experts, who have founded and run their own cultural and creative spaces. This visit aims to become familiar with your work and define what will be the best way to collaborate with Trans Europe Halles. After the scoping visit, a group of peers will work with you to address your main challenges. According to your needs, the outcomes will vary among developing a strategic plan, working on your organisational model, planning of renovating your building and community development.
  • Situation analysis and organisational diagnosis.
  • Coaching from TEH peers until July 2019, including a tailor-made workshop at your centre.
  • Your case to be included in a publication about the programme.
  • Access to a vibrant community of like-minded organisations in Europe.
  • Become a TEH Associate for two years.

The selection process

Your application will be evaluated immediately after the call is closed by the programme’s Selection Committee. It includes five international experts selected among our member centres, our Executive Committee and the staff of our Coordination Office. We will announce the results a couple of days after the call is closed.

What do you commit if selected?

If your cultural centre is one of the three lucky ones selected for this first edition of the programme, you commit to:

  • – Actively participate in the programme.
  • – Pay a participation fee of 300€. (Which covers two years of TEH associate membership fee, participation in the full program mentioned above.)
  • – Present your work to TEH members during TEH Conference in Dresden (DE), 16-19 May 2019.
  • – Deliver a written report about the process, including visual documentation.

How can you apply?

The application process is CLOSED!

The Startup Support Programme is part of the project Factories of Imagination, which is co-funded by the Creative Europe Programme of the European Union.