Changing Room has just launched a Mobility Toolkit aiming at offering tools for knowledge sharing and matchmaking between cultural operators across Europe.

One of the four EU funded pilot projects to promote the networking of existing structures supporting mobility, Changing Room is looking for new ways of enhancing the cross-border mobility of cultural operators in Europe. It is lead by Trans Europe Halles – European Network of Independent Cultural Centres – in collaboration with The Sibelius Academy, a music university in Helsinki and Melkweg, a multidisciplinary arts venue in Amsterdam

Information shortcomings and lack of labour markets transparency are certainly among the most relevant barriers to all those moving and working throughout Europe. More than the absence of information, in some cases even abundant, what is lacking is structured knowledge. The 2008 report of ECOTEC to the European Commission: “Information Systems to Support the Mobility of Artists and Other Professionals in the Culture Field: a feasibility study” reveals indeed that there is a need for information that is organised and adapted to the particular needs of this sector.

This Mobility Toolkit is precisely trying to fill in this information gap. It is composed by three parts: a Knowledge Base – a wiki style information resource platform; a Matchmaker – a Facebook application currently being tested inside the Trans Europe Halles network yet in the future open to other groups which will be able to obtain their own version; and a widget to Culture Jobs International, providing an updated list of arts jobs announcements.

Let’s explore the Knowledge Base for now! Here you can find information about working in the cultural sector in Europe written for and by culture operators. You can read, write and share your knowledge, experiences and tips just like in Wikipedia. It allows you to easily edit, add information and write your own articles.

The ROUGH GUIDE

Get to know each European country through the cultural sector’s eye. Find general and per country useful sites and information divided into topics such as: the basics; working; studying/training & mobility grants/bursaries; living; personal experiences/views; useful links; suggested reads and books; images; and comments. Have a say and help people that might be thinking about or planning to move to another country for work, study, volunteering or just an exploratory visit.

TRAINING

Find longer-term training courses, workshops and summer schools in Europe and beyond. Check this interesting link: the ENCATC/UNESCO Directory on cultural management training centres!

GRANTS

It lists general and national information on grants and bursaries in Europe and worldwide. Did you know already about Gulliver Connect?

TRAVEL

Navigate through cheap flights, rail & ship, coach and bus, bike/velo and wikipedia links. Meet this nice BUG for a change!

ORGANISATIONS A-Z

In the same way as our Directory sub-section, here you are introduced to organisations, networks and links active in the cultural sector. If your organisation is not yet there, add it here!

ARTICLES

Read and let us read your articles and essays about cultural mobility, European cultural issues, working in cultural, studying culture, a European country, cultural networking, and exchanges. By now you can find: Reseaux Europeens by Paul Bogen; and Culture, Diversity and Mobility: an un-learning approach by Alessio Surian.

RESEARCH/STUDIES

Add links, reports, information and your views about cultural mobility related research in your country and across Europe. Get to know in detail the Changing Room project study, as well as other European Cultural Mobility Studies and a list of Existing Literature & Bibliography.

This Toolkit has been set up specifically for the culture sector and it intends to become an independent resource for everyone interested in working in culture in Europe and beyond. Make it yours!