OPEN CALL - Hubs & Education

This call is open to creative hubs that are regular or associate members of ECHN.

ECHN will select one hub to carry out a Europe-wide formative research study on how creative hubs engage with the educational sector. The results of this research will form the basis of a two-year program that will further develop themes and actions identified during this initial phase.

Two online info days will be held during the next ECHN online brunch sessions to present the scope of the call and answer questions from interested applicants.

Scope of the Call

The selected hub will be responsible for a formative research process. The tasks include:

• Mapping initiatives connecting culture, creativity and education across Europe
• Identifying relevant institutions, programs and actors
• Documenting needs, gaps, challenges and opportunities for collaboration
• Participating in an online focus group with hubs and arts education institutions
• Sharing preliminary insights during the Year 1 exploration round
• Helping define the themes that will guide the next two years of work
• Providing cases, examples or interviews for the Year 1 publication
• Contributing structured material to the publication on Creative Hubs and Education

Final Presentation: At the end of the research period, the selected hub will present the results during an online brunch session open to all ECHN members. This session will be followed by an open discussion to validate the findings and shape the main themes that will define the program’s next two years. This final moment will act as the synthesis point of Year 1 and the key alignment step for the future development of the program.

Reporting Obligations: The selected hub will contribute to the reporting process towards the European Commission by providing all necessary information, documentation and research material required for the project’s official reporting.

Eligibility: Applicants must be members of ECHN and operate in the cultural and creative sectors. They must be able to carry out research on a European scale. Experience with education-related projects is welcome but not mandatory.

Evaluation Criteria and Selection Process: Applications will be evaluated based on the clarity of motivation, the capacity to conduct Europe-wide research, the feasibility and soundness of the proposed methodology, the added value to the network, and the alignment with ECHN’s strategy. Following this evaluation, the final selection will be made by ECHN members during an online brunch session, during which all submitted proposals will be presented to the network before the vote.

Support Provided: The selected hub will receive a research fee of 15,000 euros and will benefit from access to ECHN’s networks, contacts, and methodological guidance throughout the research period.

Application deadline: 5 September 2022

Research Period: 10 weeks