15 artistic initiatives with a social impact receive a European grant to develop and act together

The Alliance for Socially Engaged Arts has just revealed its first class of fellows: 15 inspiring leaders from across Europe, representing a wide diversity of artistic practices and social issues, are engaging in an 18-month programme to deepen their impact and strengthen connections.

Committed talents to meet the major contemporary social challenges

At the Forum Philea event held in Lisbon on 3 June, the winners of the first Alliance for Socially Engaged Arts grants were announced. They represent a wide variety of artistic disciplines, geographical areas and social issues. Their organizations respond to pressing challenges such as the climate crisis, homelessness or peacebuilding through participatory and co-creative artistic approaches, deeply rooted in their local communities. “We are proud to support these 15 visionary leaders, who embody the power of art as a lever for social justice and collective transformation ,” says Klaus Fruchtnis, Director of Citizen Art France at the Daniel and Nina Carasso Foundation. ” This first edition marks a turning point in strengthening, connecting and amplifying engaged voices across Europe.”
Among the selected ones are Sophie Archereau from The Age of the Turtle and Esteban Marín Pérez from the Fundación Contorno Urbano, previously supported by the Daniel and Nina Carasso Foundation in France and Spain as part of our Citizen Art axis.

The Class of 2025 of the Alliance for Socially Engaged arts

• Alona Karavai – Chairperson, Asortymentna kimnata – Ukraine
• An Vandermeulen – General and Artistic Director, Globe Aroma – Belgium
• Andrej Nosov – Director, Heartefact – Serbia
• Ceren Yartan – General Coordinator, Center for Spatial Justice (Mekanda Adalet Derneği) – Turkey
• Damien McGlynn – Director, Create – Ireland
• Esteban Marín Pérez – President, Fundación Contorno Urbano – Spain
• Jasmina Ibrahimovic – Creative Director, Rotterdams Wijktheater – The Netherlands
• Lewis Coenen-Rowe – Head of Cultural Transformation, Culture for Climate Scotland – Scotland
– Margaux Schwab – Founder and director, foodculture days – Switzerland
• Marta Silva – Executive and Artistic Director, Largo Residências – Portugal
• Martin Yankov – Founder, The Collective Foundation – Bulgaria
• Samra Said – Co-Director, Arts & Homelessness International – England
• Sophie Archereau – Executive Director, The Age of the Turtle – France
• Stefano Beghi – President, KARAKORUM srl Impresa Sociale – Italy
• Zvonimir Dobrovic – Art Director, Domino – Croatia

A program combining mentorship, funding and international cooperation

For the next 18 months, they will follow a collaborative learning path based on action and peer-to-peer exchanges. The program includes two international meetings, regular group training sessions, mentoring as well as support for mobility and personalized organizational development. Each organisation will also receive a grant of €60,000 to cover structural costs and develop targeted actions on a key challenge of their mission. “We hope that this fellowship will provide these trailblazers with the space and support to deepen their practice, build new alliances, and shape a more connected and impactful future for socially engaged arts across borders,” said Daniela Nofal, Coordinator of the Alliance.

A European philanthropic alliance to transform society through the arts

This initiative is led by the Alliance for Socially Engaged Arts, which brings together 11 European foundations* to promote the transformative power of socially engaged arts. Together, we champion the power of socially engaged arts to drive positive social change in Europe. By connecting and strengthening organisations and professionals, and providing them with the necessary skills and resources, we are working towards a Europe where community engagement and creative collaboration are at the heart of the arts sector, thus promoting social progress for all.

* La Caixa Foundation (Spain), Daniel and Nina Carasso Foundation (Spain and France), Allianz Foundation (Germany), Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation (Portugal), Cariplo Foundation (Italy), Compagnia di San Paolo (Italy), European Cultural Foundation (Netherlands), Hilti Foundation (Liechtenstein), King Baudouin Foundation (Belgium), Moleskine Foundation (Italy), Stiftung Mercator Schweiz (Switzerland)