TANDEM is launching Tandem Europe, a new collaboration and exchange programme for culture and social innovation in the European Union. The call for applications is open now until Wednesday 8 July, 2015. 

Tandem Europe is the most recent addition to the TANDEM programme family. It is for cultural managers who work on creative solutions that make social innovation possible throughout the EU. We believe that complex socio-economic challenges in our societies require the creative power of cross-border cultural initiatives. Tandem Europe connects pioneering ideas, new socio-cultural alliances as well as alternative economic and collaborative working models.

Main objectives include:

– exploring creative and collaborative solutions for contemporary challenges in our societies
– supporting culturally innovative models and impact across sectors, disciplines and borders
– stimulating strategic thinking, organisational change processes and new formats for operational and financial resilience

The intensive one-year programme includes peer-to-peer workshops, expert input, work placements, a collaborative pilot project and networking. Selected participants receive reimbursement for travel and accommodation costs and a small start-up grant for their Tandem pilot project. This programme runs from October 2015 to February 2017.

Are you?

– working on pioneering cultural ideas that tackle socio-economic challenges
– eager to experiment, ready for structural change and willing to seize new opportunities
– courageous enough to take risks and fail forward with entrepreneurial spirit
– an independent cultural NGO, a non-hierarchical and open-minded public institution or a not-for-profit social and/or creative enterprise
– based in one of the 28 EU member states and fluent in English

Do you want to?

– develop innovative structural solutions, strategic development opportunities and alternative financing models
– extend your cultural work to new areas which contribute to social and alternative economic innovation processes on a local and European level
– experiment with new and innovative approaches through co-creation
– join a growing pan-European network of cultural change makers

Apply now for the first round of Tandem Europe! Deadline is Wednesday 8 July, 2015 (23:59 CET).

You can find more information on the programme and application procedure on Tandem’s website or download the full description of the programme here.

Also if you are interested in developing new cooperation links with the Arab region, please check out the call for Tandem Shaml (deadline 22 June)