Organizer Information
Shared Futures is a European cooperation initiative co-funded by the Creative Europe Programme of the European Union. The project operates at the intersection of culture, environmental awareness, and societal transformation, responding to the increasing demand for cross-sector collaboration in addressing complex global challenges. Rather than functioning as a traditional residency or production-based program, Shared Futures is conceived as a long-term process-oriented platform.
The initiative brings together cultural practitioners, facilitators, and stakeholders to co-develop new frameworks for the cultural sector. It emphasizes interdisciplinary exchange, participatory methodologies, and strategic thinking, fostering environments where artistic practices intersect with systems thinking and environmental knowledge. Through structured phases—including training, fieldwork, and international collaboration—the project aims to generate tangible tools, manifestos, and future-oriented cultural models with long-term societal impact.
Title & Description
Shared Futures: Open Call for Cultural Facilitators (“Social Dreamers”)
Shared Futures launches an international open call for three cultural facilitators, referred to as Social Dreamers, to participate in a multi-phase European program focused on shaping the future of the cultural sector.
This opportunity is not centered on individual artistic production but on facilitation, vision-building, and stakeholder engagement. Selected participants will work at the convergence of artistic thinking, social innovation, and environmental consciousness. Their role involves designing and leading workshops, activating dialogue between diverse actors, and co-creating strategic outputs such as stakeholder manifestos and future-oriented frameworks.
The program unfolds across several stages: an initial orientation phase, an intensive in-person Social Dreaming Camp, a long-term stakeholder engagement process, and a final collaborative phase dedicated to synthesizing a shared European vision. Participants will actively contribute to building tools and methodologies—including an AI-based scenario-building tool—that aim to support the cultural sector in navigating systemic transformation.
Categories
- Cultural Facilitation
- Social Practice / Socially Engaged Art
- Interdisciplinary Arts
- Cultural Management & Strategy
- Participatory Practices
- Environmental & Social Innovation
Eligibility
- International applicants residing in countries eligible under the Creative Europe framework
- Individual professionals (no collectives or organizations)
- Practitioners working within the cultural and creative sectors
Applicants must demonstrate experience in:
- Group facilitation using artistic or creative methodologies
- Future visioning, foresight, or scenario-building processes
- Stakeholder engagement, collaboration, and management
Additional requirements:
- Residency in a Creative Europe country
- Strong proficiency in English and the relevant local language of engagement
- Ability to work both independently and collaboratively in international contexts
Program Benefits & Awards
- Professional fee: Approximately €7,500
- Participation in a 7-day intensive Social Dreaming Camp (Hungary)
- Structured mentoring throughout the program duration
- Access to a European network of cultural professionals and institutions
- Involvement in international events, Lighthouse Camps, and dissemination activities
- Contribution to key outputs, including:
- Stakeholder manifestos
- A Shared European Vision Manifesto
- Development and testing of an AI-based scenario-building tool
This program offers a rare opportunity to engage in high-level strategic and collaborative processes shaping the future of the cultural sector across Europe.
Application Fee
None
Application Requirements
- Completed online application form (in English)
- Professional profile details
- Description of relevant experience in facilitation, vision-building, and stakeholder engagement
- Motivation for joining the Shared Futures program
- Any additional supporting materials as requested in the form
How to Apply?
Online Application
Key Dates
- Application Deadline: 13 May 2026
- Selection Results: By 10 June 2026
- Orientation Phase: Second half of June 2026
- Social Dreaming Camp (Hungary): 27 July – 2 August 2026
- Workshop Phase: July 2026 – January 2027
- Future Vision Phase: February – April 2027
- Final Workshop: Portugal (April 2027)
Location
Key in-person components take place in:
- Hungary (Social Dreaming Camp)
- Portugal (Final Workshop)
Additional Details
The Shared Futures program is designed as a process-driven initiative, prioritizing long-term impact over short-term outputs. Participants are expected to take on an active operational role, engaging directly with stakeholders and contributing to the development of practical tools and collaborative frameworks.
The concept of the Social Dreamer emphasizes the ability to bridge disciplines, facilitate dialogue, and translate collective imagination into actionable strategies. This makes the program particularly relevant for curators, cultural mediators, artistic researchers, and professionals working in participatory or socially engaged contexts.
Importantly, the program integrates emerging technologies, including the co-development of an AI-based tool for future scenario modeling—positioning participants at the forefront of innovation in cultural strategy.