Lights On 2026: Reimagining Democracy
Socio-cultural centres are at the heart of their communities, and play a vital role in promoting dialogue and social cohesion. Through their arts-based approach, they have the opportunity to unlock a potential for community building, engaging citizens in shaping their own neighbourhoods. In a society marked by increased polarisation, innovative online and offline approaches should foster critical thinking and explore new ways forward using the unique position of socio-cultural centres as laboratories for value-based and engaged citizenship. The 2026 edition of our Lights On training programme will look at the vital role socio-cultural workers play in fostering democratic values and practices, exploring how arts and creativity are vital to build stronger communities and bridge differences. The opening seminar will take place in Tampere, hosted by our member the Association of Children’s Culture in Finland.
Discover more about the Lights On programme here
Reimagining democracy: building communities where everybody belongs
Are you ready to be a catalyst for positive change in the cultural landscape? Lights On 2026 invites you to embark on a transformative journey: a five-day seminar in Tampere, Finland, from May 4th till May 8th, hosted by the Association of Children’s Culture in Finland, followed by a seven-day staff exchange programme with one of the other participant organisations. This training is not just an opportunity: it's a call to action for young socio-cultural workers passionate about building inclusive and cohesive societies, interested in learning from peers and willing to broaden perspectives and experiment with new approaches.
Cultural projects are the heartbeat of communities, and their impact extends beyond galleries and theaters. By fostering democratic values and practices, we not only contribute to a more just society but also co-design and strengthen the cultural fabric of our neighborhoods.
Register here for the Lights On 2026 info session, scheduled for January 15th, 2026 at 15:00 CET
Aims of the Training
Explore cultural democracy: reflect on and develop different understandings of cultural democracy. Understand the symbiotic relationship between socio-cultural centres and their communities. Question current practices and policies based on new insights.
Experiment with arts-based methodologies, on and offline, that support democratic values and attitudes. Discovering new ways of dealing with differences and testing out some activities that can create respectful dialogue and better understanding of different viewpoints.
Foster responsible practices: discover strategies to enlarge the democratic dimensions of the organisation and the community it is imbedded in, becoming a driving force for positive change in the organisation and its eco-system.
Highlights
A creative and interactive approach: Engage in hands-on workshops, participatory discussions, and creative sessions that spark innovation and critical thinking.
Networking opportunities: Connect with a community of international peers, powerful young professionals from across Europe. Exchange ideas, collaborate on projects, and become part of the Lights On community.
Study visits: Immerse yourself in Tampere’s cultural landscape through inspiring study visits. Witness successful cultural initiatives and gain inspiration for your own projects.
Post-seminar staff exchange: After the seminar, each participant embarks on a seven-day exchange, incubating challenges with a host organisation. Reflect on your work within the mirror image of another European organisation, fostering collaboration, mobility, and a richer socio-cultural experience.
Become part of the Lights On community: Create life-long connections with peers from across Europe and beyond, and become part of a movement that transcends boundaries, pushing the envelope of what cultural institutions can achieve.
Interested in applying? Read the Lights On 2026 call here
Joonas Keskinen is a cultural manager and facilitator from Finland, currently leading the nationwide Art Testers programme, the largest cultural education initiative in the country’s history, at the Association of Children’s Culture in Finland. With a background as a musician and teacher, and holding an MA in Ethnomusicology and an MBA, he combines artistic insight with both practical and theoretical management expertise. Joonas is particularly interested in how foresight and participatory methods can help cultural professionals envision and create more sustainable futures.
Aleksi Valta is the Executive Director of the Association of Children’s Culture in Finland. Valta holds an MBA in Business Administration and prior to his work in the culture field he has worked more than 20 years in development, education and managerial positions in sports organisations. Valta is active in several national working groups on children’s culture and arts education and serves on the boards of two European cultural networks: the European Network of Cultural Centres (ENCC) and the European Network of Observatories in the Field of Arts and Cultural Education (ENO).
Kaisa Järvelin is a senior coordinator in the Art Testers programme at the Association of Children’s Culture in Finland. She holds a Master of Arts (Dance) and has a solid background in the performing arts, including leadership as the headmaster of a circus school. Her professional experience combines artistic vision with educational expertise, making her a skilled and inspiring trainer. Järvelin has a clear, engaging training style that effectively bridges theory and practice, leaving a more lasting impression of what has been learned. With her strong facilitation and presentation skills, she creates an inclusive learning environment that encourages critical thinking and active participation. Her methods are creative and interactive.
Dagna Gmitrowicz is the co-founder of KulturNest e.V. and a specialist in innovation, inclusion and training. Her practice combines four areas: art, learning, therapy and nature. Her daily work has supported many people's personal development and creativity thanks to her competencies as a forest therapy guide (certified by ANFT, USA), warm data lab facilitator (G. Bateson Institute) and therapist (certified by the M. Erickson Institute). As a painter, she explores different perceptions of reality by studying the natural environment and the nature of humankind. Over the last twenty-five years, she has been strongly involved in developing quality in the Youth, Erasmus and European Solidarity Corps Programmes. In this area, she facilitated meetings of trainers pools, seminars on inclusion and networking.