Short Description
Culture and creativity are crucial for revitalising non-urban areas, often facing challenges like depopulation and deindustrialisation. At the same time, these communities serve as living laboratories for new ways of working and living. With strong ties and a deep connection to natural and cultural resources, they offer fertile ground for experimentation in sustainability, social cohesion, and inclusive participation. Creative FLIP believes that non-urban areas are vibrant spaces of creativity, resilience, and innovation, rich in cultural vibrancy, sustainable practices, and strong communities.
By connecting practitioners across Europe, the Ambassadors of Good Practice programme aims to highlight successful initiatives and support practitioners in applying these lessons in their own communities. The programme will focus on how arts and culture can drive positive change and revitalisation in these settings. Each 5-day exchange will include a diverse mix of activities: study visits, workshops, co-creation sessions, job shadowing, and networking with local stakeholders, among others.
The Ambassadors of Good Practice programme aims to:
- Highlight and promote successful cultural and creative regeneration initiatives in non-urban areas.
- Inspire and support new initiatives by sharing best practices and innovative approaches to revitalisation.
- Increase the visibility of cultural-led regeneration efforts and their impact on non-urban communities.
- Enhance Peer Learning and Exchange, enabling knowledge sharing and peer-to-peer learning between organisations working in local regeneration through arts and culture during a 5-day peer learning programme.
The 10 selected Hosts are the following:
- FarmLab.at, Austria
- Mayo County Council, Ireland
- Fundación Uxío Novoneyra, Spain
- Valmiermuiža Association of Culture, Latvia
- Maajaam, Estonia
- Museumsverein Klostertal, Austria
- Associazione Cherimus, Italy
- Asociacion Cultural Sende, Spain
- Spazio Nour, Belgium
- Anykščiai Art Incubator, Lithuania
Eligibility
- For-profit or non-profit organisations active in the Cultural and Creative Sectors and Industries (CCSI)
- Local/regional authorities
The Visitor needs to:
- Demonstrate motivation to participate in the peer exchange programme, supported by a clear plan or vision for revitalising their own community through arts and culture
- Be located outside of urban areas (see FAQ section for definition of non-urban areas)
- Be based in one of the 40 Creative Europe countries:
Albania, Austria, Armenia, Belgium, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Georgia, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Kosovo*, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Montenegro, Netherlands, North Macedonia, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden and Tunisia and Ukraine.
- Please note that the Visitor needs to be based in a country different from the Host!
One Visitor will be matched with One Host, based on interests and motivation. The Visitors can review the profiles of the 10 Hosts here. Only 1 individual from the Visitor organisation can take part in the peer-to-peer exchange.
*This designation is without prejudice to positions on status and is in line with UNSCR 1244/1999 and the ICJ Opinion on the Kosovo declaration of independence.
How to Apply
Online Application
Program Benefits & Awards
- Mobility grant, composed of a travel allowance and a daily allowance: Travel allowance: 350€ per Visitor for round-trip & Daily allowance: 165€ per Visitor per day, contributing to accommodation, food, local transportation, etc.(The full amount for travel and subsistence will be provided as a lump sum, paid in two instalments: the first upon signing the grant agreement, and the second after submission and validation of the activity report and required proofs. Payment is based on a grant agreement between the selected Visitor and the Creative FLIP project. The budget is intended to cover travel and subsistence. Proof of travel is mandatory.)
- Showcase your efforts in cultural-led local regeneration of non-urban areas
- Promotion of your work on social media, with the European Commission and other relevant stakeholders
- Becoming part of the Creative FLIP community, networking with other stakeholders across Europe and neighbouring countries
- Inclusion of best practice cases on the Creatives Unite platform, drafted by the Creative FLIP Project Team
Entry Fee
None
Location
Brussels, Belgium
Timeline
- Application Deadline: 7 September 2025
Website Link: https://creativeflip.creativehubs.net/post/ambassadors-of-good-practice-open-call-for-visitors
