What is the Staff Exchange Program?

The Staff Exchange Program is an exchange opportunity for staff members of creative hubs across Europe. It is designed to help participants gain valuable work experience, learn new practices, and develop innovative skills by shadowing a peer for a week in another hub. Upon their return, participants can apply the insights and experiences gained during the exchange within their home hub.

The Staff Exchange is tailored to team members at any career level- whether you are hub manager, a production manager, communication officer, bar manager, technician, accountant, or any other role within a hub.

This is your chance to:

• Learn from peers in a different hub
• Gain hands-on professional experience in new contexts
• Bring back knowledge and tools to strengthen your hub’s operations

Who Can Apply?

The program is open to:

• Any staff member working in a creative hub that is a member of the European Creative Hubs Network (ECHN)
• Professionals at any career stage and from any professional background within a creative hub

How Does the Exchange Works?

Participants travel to another creative hub for up to five days to learn new skills, exchange experiences, and explore practices they can apply in their own working environment.

Each exchange is tailored to the participant’s learning goals and professional interests. Activities may include:

• Job shadowing and observing a colleague’s day-to-day work
• Project-based collaboration and knowledge exchange
• Workshops, lectures, or practical training sessions
• Other hands-on activities relevant to the participant’s role and learning objectives

Before the exchange, participants develop a Work Plan together with their host hub, outlining the main objectives and planned activities. They can then bring the knowledge and experience gained back to their home hub.

What Support Is Available?

The program offers financial and professional support to help participants make the most of their exchange.

Financial support: Up to €1,175 per participant to cover travel and subsistence expenses, including:

• Up to €350 for travel expenses
• €165 per day for subsistence, for up to 5 days

Additional benefits include:

• Access to a Europe-wide network of creative hubs and professionals
• The opportunity to learn directly from experienced peers and mentors
• Visibility and promotion of your exchange experience through ECHN’s communication channels

Get Inspired by Previous Exchanges

During the 2025–2026 cycle, the program supports 10 Staff Exchanges, involving 20 creative hubs and cultural organisations across 11 European countries. Participants explore diverse areas of practice, including community engagement, cultural programming, makerspaces, textile innovation, organisational management, communication, and creative entrepreneurship.

The Artist and the Others × Genalguacil Pueblo Museum: Explored inclusive cultural programming, community engagement, and how care can shape cultural practices and support local communities.

FarmLab × Lottozero: Exchanged practical knowledge on textile innovation, digital fabrication, circular production, and the management of creative facilities.

La Finestra Community Hub × KAAPELI: Explored sustainable cultural management, community participation, and how creative spaces can balance financial sustainability with artistic freedom.

Explore these stories to discover what participants learned and how Staff Exchanges can help professionals develop new skills, gain practical knowledge, and bring fresh approaches back to their organisations.

Explore all the experience stories and reflections from previous Staff exchanges here.

Application Process

1. Find your match

Start by exploring the ECHN Network Map to discover potential host hubs. You can filter your search by country, sector, services, and facilities. Remember to tick the “available for mobility programs” box to identify hubs interested in taking part.

Once you have identified a potential host, contact them directly to discuss your learning goals and confirm their interest and availability.

You will also need to identify a mentor within the Hosting Hub’s team who can support you during the exchange and help you achieve your learning objectives.

2. Complete the application form

The application form must be completed by the participant and include a draft Work Plan outlining the theme of the exchange, its main objectives, and the activities you plan to carry out.

If you need help finding a suitable host or developing your exchange idea, feel free to contact us at pepe@creativehubs.net and natassa@creativehubs.net. We’ll be happy to support you throughout the process.

3. Confirm your exchange

Once your application has been approved, you and the Hosting Hub will sign an agreement and finalise the Work Plan before the exchange takes place.

Selection Criteria

Applications will be reviewed on a first-come, first-served basis.

Applications are reviewed on a first-come, first-served basis, subject to the availability of program funding and the assessment of the proposed exchange.

Applications will be evaluated according to the following criteria:

• Quality of the proposed program: The relevance and clarity of the learning objectives, planned activities, and overall exchange structure
• Quality of expected outputs: The potential benefits of the exchange for the participant and their home hub, including how the knowledge gained can be applied or shared after the exchange

All exchanges must be transnational, involving hubs based in different countries.

Please note that ECHN reserves the right to decline applications that do not meet the program requirements.

Why Take Part?

By participating, you will:

• Boost your career with new skills and experiences
• Expand your professional network across Europe
• Contribute to your hub’s growth with fresh knowledge and practices

Click here to apply