Ambassadors of Good Practice - Open Call for Visitors

Peer-to-Peer exchanges for cultural & creative practices in non-urban areas

WHAT

10 peer exchanges on arts & cultural regeneration in non-urban areas

WHEN

Exchanges between October 2025 – March 2026 (check the Host profiles for further details)

SUPPORT

Travel, Accommodation and Subsistence costs

DEADLINE

Apply by 07 September 2025, 23:59h CET

How can arts, culture, and community engagement drive transformation in non-urban areas?

Would you like to exchange on cultural and creative initiatives that could revitalise your local community??

Through the Ambassadors of Good Practice Programme, Creative FLIP is supporting 10 peer-learning exchanges designed to identify and showcase exemplary practices on how local communities in non-urban areas are revitalised through arts and culture. These 5-day exchanges will bring together selected Hosts and Visitors to share knowledge, ideas, and inspiration.

How does it work?

In the first phase, 10 Host organisations were selected through an Open Call, cultural and creative organisations or local/regional authorities leading inspiring regeneration work in non-urban areas. These organisations represent different countries and focus points on cultural regeneration of non- urban areas across Europe.
The 10 selected Hosts are the following:
  • FarmLab.at, Austria
  • Mayo County Council, Ireland
  • Fundación Uxío Novoneyra, Spain 
  • Valmiermuižas kultūras biedrība, Latvia
  • Maajaam, Estonia
  • Museumsverein Klostertal, Austria
  • Associazione Cherimus, Italy
  • Asociacion Cultural Sende, Spain
  • Spazio Nour, Belgium
  • Anykščiai Art Incubator, Lithuania
The full profiles and exchange programmes can be found here

In the second phase of the programme, Creative FLIP is launching an Open Call for Visitors. We are looking for 10 Organisations from the Cultural and Creative Sectors and Industries (CCSI) and local/regional authorities with similar aspirations from non-urban areas. 

Through an evaluation process, which will take place in September 2025, the selected Visitors will be matched with their Hosts for the exchange programmes. 

The exchanges will take place from October 2025 until March 2026. Please read the host profiles carefully as they indicate the exchange dates and hosting offers. 

This is a great opportunity to:
  • learn from innovative practices of rural cultural and creative regeneration.
  • explore new ideas for local community engagement.
  • build long-term connections across Europe.
Become a Visitor, exchange with your Host and bring new insights back to your local community! 

Check out the Open Call & requirements below.

Eligible Visitor organisations are:

  • 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.

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.

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 Visitor will benefit from the following:

  • 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

The Visitor shall go on mobility to take part in an in-person, 5-day peer learning programme, offering a diverse range of activities, ranging from hands-on workshops to job shadowing and skills exchange.

The Visitor’s role will entail the following: 

  • Actively participate in the exchange programme and the activities as defined by the Host
  • Document the peer exchange in form of videos, high-quality photos and social media posts
  • Submit a short final report on their participation to the project, incl. pictures
  • Provide relevant proof of mobility

  • 07 September 2025, 23:59h CET
    Application Deadline for Visitors
  • Mid-September 2025
    Announcement of results & matchmaking:
  • October 2025 – March 2026 (carefully check the host profiles for further details)
    Exchange period

  1. Browse the 10 Hosts and their hosting offers. Click here to view all offers!
  2. Find the right matches for your profile based on the programme summaries and the Hosts’ profiles.
  3. Fill out the online application form, presenting your motivation for participating in the peer exchange programme and your preferred Host(s).Please read the host profiles carefully as some of the hosts have pre-set the exchange dates and each host presents a different focus to ensure a good match with your experience and professional development goals.
  4. Submit your application by 07 September 2025, 23:59h CET

To prepare your application, you may view here the questions that will be required during the application process.

Please note: 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 will be funded by Creative FLIP to take part in the peer-to-peer exchange. The Host and Visitor need to be located in different countries (among the 40 Creative Europe countries).

Applications will be evaluated by a panel consisting of three evaluators: two drawn from the Creative FLIP project consortium and an evaluator external to the project consortium. 

The evaluation will be based on:

  • Εxistence of a plan/ vision for the revitalisation of your own community driven by arts and culture - for example, by organising events, collaborating with artists, running community programmes, or developing cultural infrastructure that benefits the local area
  • Motivation for participation in the peer exchange programme. Existence of a plan/ vision for the revitalisation of their own community.
  • Skills and knowledge in cultural and creative-led local regeneration
  • Complementary between host and visitor

Extra consideration will be given to applicants that involve young professionals

Please elaborate your answers to open-ended questions, as this will help the evaluation of your application.

Disclaimer: We are committed to equality, diversity, and inclusion in all project activities. Applications are welcome from all, regardless of race, ethnicity, religion, age, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital, or parental status. Even if you don't meet all criteria, we encourage you to apply.

The FAQ section will be continuously updated during the application period. 

How do we understand non-urban areas?

For the purposes of the Ambassadors of Good Practice programme, non-urban areas are defined by the urban-rural typology of Eurostat

Intermediate Regions (Towns & Suburbs): Regions with a population between 5,000 and 50,000 and moderate population density.

Predominantly Rural Regions: Regions with fewer than 5,000 inhabitants and low population density.

Peripheral and Remote Regions: Regions facing geographical, demographic, or economic challenges, such as depopulation, remoteness, or post-industrial decline.

Large urban centres (cities with over 50,000 inhabitants) are not eligible.

How many individuals from my organisation can join?

One individual who belongs to the selected visiting organisation will be funded by Creative FLIP to travel and take part in the exchange programme as visitor. The programme will only cover the travel, accommodation and subsistence costs of one individual.

Can I apply as a visitor with a preferred host?

During the application process you can indicate up to three (3) preferred Hosts. However, the evaluation panel will do the matchmaking between hosts and visitors, and you cannot indicate an order of priority. Please make sure to review the exchange dates of each Host, as many of them are quite specific and not subject to negotiation or change.

I am an individual. Can I apply?

No, cooperation agreements cannot be signed with a natural person as part of an established organisation and structure with legal personality.

Apply now

Should you have any additional questions concerning this call, please contact us by email: CreativeFLIP@goethe.de
We look forward to receiving your application!


Photo by Steve Johnson on Unsplash