How long does the BECC programme last? How long will I need to be away from work?
The BECC programme includes 3 compulsory activities:
- The kick-off seminar lasts 4 days, and you'll need to add 1 or 2 days for travel.
- The staff exchange is a minimum of 7 days.
- You'll need at least 2 hours to write your final report.
So all in all, plan to be away from your mother organisation for about 11 days + travel.
Go to BECC main page to read more about the content and process of the programme.
Keep in mind, though, that BECC is a self-designable process. Participants can choose to pursue certain learning paths or research areas over a longer period of time, according to their needs and time capacity. The BECC trainers and the ENCC staff will be available to support them.
What's in it for me?
Beyond the core training, based on cultural management, soft skills and professional self-development (with a strong focus this year on working with very diverse communities and finding a perfect management model for your organisation to do so), one of BECC's specificities is bringing together many diverse profiles. Training with cultural managers, communication officers, programmers, youth workers and others will give you a different perspective on your daily work. And beyond the obvious benefit of making professional contacts, many participants forge friendships that last well after the programme.
You'll come out of the training and exchange with fresh ideas, new perspectives, new contacts for cooperation and new ideas for programmes. The hosting part of the staff exchange can also be very interesting for your mother organisation, as it will benefit from an "outside eye" on its activities.
By joining the BECC learning community, you'll have access to the BECC resource base dedicated to cultural management. You'll also be able to join the BECC Fellow Facebook page, dedicated to learning and exchange.
And you will be regularly informed of and invited to future activities organised by the ENCC. Your organisation may even become a future host for a BECC seminar.
My organisation is not an ENCC member, may I apply anyway? Are the terms of participation the same as for ENCC members?
Yes, you may apply. If selected to participate, non-members have to pay a 50€ participation fee. The rest of your costs will be covered (within the limit of the 800 € grant for the staff exchange).
I do not work in a cultural centre, but in another cultural organisation. May I apply anyway?
Yes. In the selection process, we'll be especially attentive to applications from cultural centres' staff, but we want to hear from all motivated candidates. The goal is to select the most diverse and balanced pool of participants possible.
I am not living/working in a EU member state, or I am not a EU member state citizen, is that OK?
You may also apply if your organisation is located in a country neighbouring the EU. However, depending on your location, costs for your exchange travel may go over the ENCC travel grant (see below). In that case your organisation should be ready to partly finance your exchange. If you're hesitating about whether to apply, drop us a line at kasia.skowron@encc.eu.
Will the BECC programme cover all the costs of my exchange?
The ENCC covers the costs of travel (up to 250€), accommodation, meals and training for the kick-off seminar. We contribute to each participant's exchange with an 800€ grant. If the costs of your exchange go over this amount, the sending organisation takes responsibility for the difference.
Does BECC accept more than one candidate per organisation?
We accept all applications, but will only select one person per organisation, to give different organisations the opportunity to benefit from the programme and to create as diverse a group as possible.
Is BECC open to people with disabilities?
The ENCC is open to everyone and has experience in organising inclusive meetings. However, as our events take place in different locations, we depend on the limitations of the hosting organisations. We do our best to allow everyone to participate. If you are a candidate with special needs, please inform the ENCC well in advance about the conditions that need to be fulfilled, so that we can check to what extent we can support your needs.
The ENCC cannot provide any support for special needs during the exchange. This must be agreed on and organised between sending and hosting organisations.
Is BECC open to a parent with a child participating in the Seminar?
Yes. ENCC events tend to be family-friendly. When possible, the ENCC tries to provide support in organising day care for children. However, we are dependent on different limitations. When the ENCC cannot provide care for children, parents must take responsibility for organising it during the training. Please bear in mind that that the BECC training involves a small group of people and is a very intensive process, so it is not possible to invite children to the training. Children are welcome to join all meals and free time slots.
In order to prepare the meeting, the ENCC must be informed well in advance if a participant plans to bring their child along.
How many hours does the Seminar take per day? Will I have time to work remotely for my home organisation?
The seminar has a very full programme, so we advise to organise your tasks in a way that you have free space to focus only on the training. We start every day at 9:00 and finish at 17:00-18:00, followed by a dinner with the whole group. The seminar is an intensive learning process as well as an opportunity to connect with others, so we ask participants to be present at all the meals as well.
Will I have time for sightseeing?
Sightseeing is not part of the training, so please plan it before or after the Seminar. We will however organise study visits to interesting local organizations.
Why is BECC limited to people under 35 years old? I am over this age but have changed career path recently and am still a junior professional. Apart from that, I perfectly fit all profile criteria. May I apply?
BECC is the only ENCC capacity programme dedicated to younger professionals, hence the age limitation. For professionals over 35, we offer other programmes like Incubator or Travelling Academy.
How can I apply?
The call for applications for BECC 2022 will be launched in autumn 2021. It will be announced on our website, social media and in our newsletter.
Any other questions?
Please contact our capacity-building manager at kasia.skowron@encc.eu
