(RTL) Rebuilding to Last

To wrap up the project and celebrate our achievements, we gathered in Helsinki on 1-2 October 2024. Joined by inspiring thinkers and practitioners we reflected upon our relationship with the eco-systems surrounding us, especially in the light of climate crisis.

Together with three non-governmental cultural centres in Slovakia, Denmark and Greece, we tested our ideas and explored possibilities of coexistence within their eco-systems. Having Identified context-specific challenges, we co-designed solutions embracing what we usually overlook to create welcoming spaces for all living beings.

Communitism, Greece

What if gentrification holds an opportunity?

Communitism is an independent cultural centre from Metaxourgeio, a neglected neighbourhood in Athens. After being expelled from their previous cultural centre of 6 six years, Communitism is setting up a new space, titled Kookooli, to nurture their vision and mission. We used this transitional moment for the centre to experiment with new practices of reusing materials and spaces. And to build a foundation to create a space that welcomes, includes and bridges social gaps.

Institut for X, Denmark

What if puddles were also an opportunity to welcome the diversity of life that we usually push away?

Institut for (X) in Aarhus, Denmark is a small spontaneous settlement at the back of the abandoned railway station. It lies in the lowland, welcoming unwanted water from all corners of the city. Here we experimented how abundance of water can be used to imagine a 'new city' - amphibious, welcoming
and open to change.

Stanica, Slovakia

What if weeds were our best friends?

Stanica - the railway station abandoned for years - is today a vibrant independent cultural centre. Tucked away underneath a major motorway junction, the station is one of the many third places that team along the endless concrete infrastructure. It welcomes artists, castaways and so-called weeds. Using the water collected from the bridge, we will explore how to help pioneering plants to transform deserted spaces into places open to coexistence of living beings.

We are happy to share our philosophy, learnings and observations in the form of the book, titled TEH: Building A Cultural Regeneration Project for Europe.

A four-dimensional publication that combines an in-depth examination of expertise of independent cultural centres in ecological renovations with a hands-on manual for cultural workers on how to make their spaces and communities more in balance with ecosystems they are part of.

A set of 11 online courses tackling diverse topics related to environmental sustainability, from upcycling of materials to co-existence and humans and non-humans relationship.

All classes are free, self-paced and offer a great mix of theory paired with examples of existing practices among TEH members.