CREATE

Cultivating Inclusivity Through Artistic Expression

Who gets to shape the cultural life of a community and what happens when that changes?

Culture has real potential to bring communities together but that potential is rarely acted on deliberately or strategically. Across Europe, young people from disadvantaged backgrounds, including those with disabilities, migrant backgrounds, and minority groups, are excluded not just from cultural life but from the processes that shape their communities. Local cultural leadership is thin, and the professionals who could drive change often lack the frameworks and confidence to do so. CREATE puts artistic creation at the centre of community development. The project builds the capacity of local cultural leaders and organisations to design and run their own social intervention programmes, grounded in a shared methodological framework. Experimentation Labs activate these programmes on the ground, creating spaces where young people from diverse backgrounds come together through creative practice to dialogue, collaborate, and build skills. The process is designed to leave something lasting: not just artworks, but stronger communities with the tools and leadership to keep going.