Arts and Culture for a Socially Impactful Europe
Event Slider
Date
- / Cancelled / Sold out
Location
Online
This event brings together leaders from the arts, philanthropy and policy sectors to shape a vision for a stronger, more connected and socially impactful European arts ecosystem. Through panel discussions and presentations, participants will explore practical ways to raise the profile of socially engaged arts and strengthen this field of practice across Europe.
Organised by a partnership of leading European philanthropic foundations, this event highlights the role of arts and culture as a powerful force for positive change.
The event will take place in English and is interpreted in International Sign Language.
This event will be presented in English with interpretation in International Sign Language. Will be livestreamed and be available on this page.
Speakers
-
Alison Tickell
CEO and Founder, Julie’s Bicycle
Alison Tickell is the founder of Julie’s Bicycle, a nonprofit uniting arts and culture with climate action since 2007. A former cellist inspired by jazz improviser John Stevens, Alison advocates for climate justice in global forums like IFACCA, UNFCCC, and Creative Europe. She co-chairs the UK Creative Industries Council’s climate theme and supports the Climate Heritage Network and European Heritage Hub.
-
Andrej Nosov
Director, Heartefact Theatre
Andrej Nosov, a theatre director and human rights activist, founded Heartefact to foster critical awareness and arts engagement in the Balkans. Through multidisciplinary works addressing social and political issues, Heartefact supports independent arts and European integration. An Obama Europe Leader and Reagan-Fascell Fellow, Andrej pushes the boundaries of theatre in local contexts.
-
Anis Barnat
Managing Director Community Arts Network
Anis, co-founder of El Sistema Greece, is a social entrepreneur advocating for community arts as a tool for social inclusion. With experience spanning public, private, and cultural sectors, Anis has worked at Radio France, Sciences Po Paris, and Askonas Holt, building strong ties with El Sistema Venezuela. He is now Managing Director of the Community Arts Network, promoting transformative cultural initiatives.
-
Catarina Câmara
Coordinator, CORPOEMCADEIA
Catarina Câmara, a Portuguese dancer, choreographer, and researcher, leads CORPOEMCADEIA, a project using dance and Gestalt psychotherapy to promote cultural access and social reintegration for incarcerated individuals. Supported by the Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation and DG Arts, she advocates for justice reform and contributes to critical debates through training, conferences, and publications.
-
César Oré Rocca
Managing Director, Friends of Juan Diego Florez Association. Director, Sinfonía por el Perú
César is a sociologist and PhD specializing in social research and human development. He directs global initiatives such as Sinfonía por el Perú and Friends of Juan Diego Flórez, leveraging music for social change. An expert in sustainability and impact, César advises on programs linking culture and development across Europe, Latin America, and the USA.
-
Fiona Winders
Development Coordinator, Culture Department, City of Malmö
Fiona has worked in the fields of community development, politics and culture for over 40 years, in both Britain and Sweden. Her current brief at Malmö’s Culture Department encompasses anti-racism, community engagement and international collaboration. The common thread running through her work is culture and community as agents for progressive change and social justice.
-
Fran Sanderson
CEO, Figurative
Fran Sanderson, CEO of Figurative, drives financial resilience and social impact in the cultural sector. Previously at Nesta, she led projects on arts impact, funding innovation, and technology. With a background in fund management and impact investment, Fran brings expertise in blending financial strategies with cultural growth, fostering innovative funding models like crowdfunding and blended finance.
-
Francisco de la Torre
Deputy Head of Unit “Democracy, Equality and Culture”, at the European Commission (Directorate-General for Research and Innovation)
Francisco de la Torre, Deputy Head of “Democracy, Equality and Culture” at the European Commission, combines his expertise in social and political philosophy with EU research and innovation policy. A philosopher and former professor at the University of Barcelona, Francisco works on cultural initiatives that foster equality and civic engagement across Europe.
-
Hajnalka Somogyi
Head of Project, OFF-Biennale Budapest
Hajnalka Somogyi is a curator and co-founder of OFF-Biennale Budapest, a grassroots contemporary art initiative. She has worked as a curator at Ludwig Museum Budapest and Trafo – House of Contemporary Arts, and as editor of Artmagazin. A professor at Budapest Metropolitan University, she holds MAs in Art History (Budapest) and Curatorial Studies (Bard College, NY).
-
Jasminko Halilovic
Founder and Director-General, War Childhood Museum
Jasminko Halilovic is the founder of the War Childhood Museum, the only museum dedicated to children’s experiences in war. Author of War Childhood, translated into six languages, Jasminko has spoken globally on museums, peacebuilding, and entrepreneurship. A European Young Leader and Forbes “30 under 30,” he has curated award-winning exhibitions and contributed to major outlets like Politico and The Huffington Post.
-
Jules Rijssen
Network Collector, Imagine IC
Jules Rijssen, a heritage professional at Imagine IC, explores participatory collecting, intangible heritage, and the biography of colonial objects. A researcher at NL-Lab, he investigates traces of slavery in the Surinamese language. Educated in Andragogy and Cultural Anthropology, Jules advocates for inclusive, multi-voiced approaches to heritage.
-
Karin Diamond
Artistic Director, Re-Live
Karin Diamond is co-founder and Artistic Director of Re-Live, a Welsh arts organization creating life story projects with communities, including those with dementia, veterans, and end-of-life individuals. Re-Live won the 2023 Civic Arts Award. A Churchill Fellow (2010) and Atlantic Fellow, Karin will release Creating Life Story Theatre in 2025, exploring her innovative methodology in co-creative arts.
-
Katy Rubin
Legislative Theatre Practitioner, The People Act
Katy Rubin is a Legislative Theatre practitioner and director of The People Act, promoting participatory policy-making with governments and communities. She collaborates on projects addressing housing, health, and the climate crisis across Europe. A Senior Fellow with People Powered and Atlantic Fellow at LSE, Katy’s work in Greater Manchester won the 2022 Best Practice in Citizen Participation award.
-
Klaus Fruchtnis
Country Manager Arts in the Community Programme, Daniel and Nina Carasso Foundation
Klaus specializes in socially engaged arts, focusing on participatory practices that drive social change. As Country Manager for Fondation Daniel et Nina Carasso, he leads programs promoting artistic education and social cohesion in France. A graduate of prestigious French institutions, Klaus co-chairs Philea’s Art & Culture Funders Forum, advocating for arts as a pillar of resilient, equitable communities.
-
Luís Jerónimo
Director of Sustainability and Equity, Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation
Luís Jerónimo, Director of Sustainability and Equity at the Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation, leads initiatives on social innovation and impact investing. He has directed the Foundation’s Sustainable Development and Social Cohesion programs and served on the European Venture Philanthropy Association board. Luís holds a PhD in Philosophy and advanced qualifications in social entrepreneurship and management from INSEAD and Cambridge.
-
Mieke Renders
Managing Director, Trans Europe Halles
Mieke Renders is Managing Director of Trans Europe Halles, supporting independent cultural spaces across Europe. Formerly General Manager of the Flemish Cultural Center in Amsterdam and cultural attaché for Flanders House in New York, she is passionate about cultural networking. Mieke co-founded Raindeer AB and manages the Not Quite Café in Sweden, blending arts, community, and sustainability.
-
Mikel Zorrilla
Head of Digital Media & Communications, Vicomtech and Coordinator, H2020 TRACTION
Dr. Mikel Zorrilla, Director of Digital Media at Vicomtech, leads projects merging technology and culture, including AMPLIFY and TRACTION, which explore cultural co-creation and inclusion. A researcher in interactive media and 5G technologies, he has been an associate professor at UOC since 2018, and his work bridges technological innovation with cultural and creative industries.
-
Natalie Giorgadze
General Director, Culture Action Europe
Natalie Giorgadze is the General Director of Culture Action Europe, the major European cultural network. Her focus lies in community development, knowledge creation and transfer, as well as strategic communications. Her background in NGOs includes roles within human rights and environmental networks. Natalie, trained as a journalist and social psychologist, holds a postgraduate degree in Cultures and Development Studies.
-
Paulo Pires do Vale
Commissioner of the National Arts Plan
Paulo Pires do Vale is the commissioner of the National Arts Plan. A philosopher, lecturer, curator, and essayist, he focuses on the intersection of art, education, and society. Author of Tudo é outra coisa and numerous essays, he coordinated postgraduate studies at Maria Ulrich and curated significant exhibitions in Portugal. Paulo is President of AICA Portugal and has served on various juries and advisory groups.
-
Rafael Chueca
Deputy General Manager of Culture and Territory at "la Caixa" Foundation
Rafael Chueca Blasco is Deputy General Manager of Culture and Territory at Fundación “la Caixa,” overseeing exhibitions, the “la Caixa” Art Collection, CaixaForum+, and regional cultural centres. Since joining “la Caixa” in 1990, he has held leadership roles shaping social and cultural programs across Spain. Rafael holds a diploma in Business Sciences and is a graduate of ESADE’s Program for Management Development.
-
Stefan Schmidtke
Managing Director, Chemnitz Capital of Culture 2025
Stefan Schmidtke is Managing Director of the European Capital of Culture 2025 for Chemnitz, spearheading the city’s cultural program in collaboration with local and international partners. With a background in theatre directing, he has held artistic leadership roles at Deutsches Theater Berlin, Düsseldorfer Schauspielhaus, Wiener Festwochen, and Humboldt Forum Berlin. He also served as Artistic Director of Festival Theater der Welt 2021 in Düsseldorf.
Programme
09:15 / Welcome speeches
09:30 / Keynote conversation
10:20 / Creative impact: How arts are transforming communities across Europe
14:20 / Building the ecosystem for socially engaged arts: Collaboration, funding and policy
15:30 / Presentation on new European philanthropic collaboration
16:00 / Closing remarks
16:15 / First day closing
11:10 / The road ahead: Building a thriving, socially engaged arts sector in Europe
12:30 / Presentation on roadmap for change
12:50 / Closing remarks
13:00 / Closing
The Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation reserves the right to collect and keep records of images, sounds and voice for the diffusion and preservation of the memory of its cultural and artistic activity. For further information, please contact us through the Information Request form.