Deadline: 23 January 2026, 23:59 CET
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About the programme
Organised by the
European Network of Cultural Centres (ENCC), Lights On is a long-running capacity-building programme supporting young professionals working in socio-cultural organisations. Since 2008, it has offered staff exchanges, training activities, and mentoring aimed at strengthening community-oriented cultural work across Europe. The 2026 edition focuses on democratic engagement, community building, and the role of arts and creativity in fostering inclusive civic environments. The programme is supported by Creative Europe.
Activities include:
– A mandatory online preparatory meeting
– A five-day seminar in Tampere hosted by the Association of Children’s Culture in Finland (ACCF)
– A staff exchange period of at least seven days with a partner organisation
– Mentoring throughout the programme
– Reporting and evaluation after the exchange period
Eligibility (participants):
– Young professionals (born 1990 or later) working in socio-cultural or community-based cultural organisations
– Open to all profiles (management, coordination, communication, technical, artistic, volunteer roles)
– Strong interest in participatory governance and community development
– Fluency in English
– Supported by their sending organisation and able to name an organisational referent
Funding:
ENCC members receive full coverage of seminar costs (accommodation, catering, international and local transport).
Non-members receive partial support; international travel to the seminar is covered by the organisation.
For staff exchanges, both members and non-members receive contributions toward travel costs.
Register
here for the Lights On 2026 info session, scheduled for January 15th, 2026 at 15:00 CET
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