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Meet the VAHA III Hubs! Back

Meet the VAHA III Hubs!

19 Mar 2025

Following up on the open call for collaborative proposals to reclaim common spaces through art and culture eight hubs comprising twenty-three organisations have been selected for the third round of the VAHA programme. They will implement their cultural programming ideas between March 2025 and November 2025.

VAHA Hubs received a total of 103 applications from 260 different organisations across 31 countries in the Council of Europe member states and Kosovo. The applications were evaluated by a jury composed of representatives from Anadolu Kültür, zusa, European Cultural Foundation, and Stiftung Mercator, who are the implementing and supporting partners of the programme. As announced in the call this round would select eight hubs (four from Turkey and four from other CoE countries and Kosovo) to foster solidarity in times of growing socio-political polarisation and oppression.

Meet the new hubs

EGEHUB

Partners: The Association for Migration Research (Istanbul), Kirte School (Çanakkale) and Duvarlar Bile Biliyor (Gökçeada).The hub's work centers on the intertwined histories of the Aegean, focusing on themes of mübadele (population exchange), muhacirlik (migration and exile), and the transformation of space and belonging.

hemsâye

Partners: Roof Coliving (Bursa). Yekpare Social Economy, Culture and Ecology Association (Bursa) and Tamirhane Community (Bursa).Centered in Bursa, the project explores three key themes: “Preserving the Urban Commons,” “Transforming Spaces,” and “Resisting Urban Injustice.” These themes foster public dialogue, participatory urban practices, and artistic storytelling that reflect local struggles and aspirations.

Huner Hub

Partners: Children First Association (Diyarbakır), Amed City Theatre (Diyarbakır), and Music Family Association (Diyarbakır).The hub's goal is to create opportunities for children and young people living in Kömür (Adıyaman) to express themselves through culture and arts in their mother tongue. The partners will implement workshops with the children affected by the earthquake.

Interwoven Narratives

Partners: Famagusta New Museum (Famagusta), The Centre of Performing Arts MITOS (Limassol) and MASDER Famagusta Walled City Association (Famagusta).The hub will blend public spaces with personal histories: creating an alternative Famagusta booklet in three languages, exploring Cyprus’ shared intangible heritage, expanding the oral history archive, and hosting a two-day event.

Kilim

Partners: Yellow Brick (Nea Ionia), Κhora Community Center (Athens) and RIZES LAB (Athens).This initiative proposes a hybrid narrative based on postmemory and oral history, focusing on “Herstory,” a feminist approach to history that highlights the roles and perspectives of women, emphasises their daily experiences, emotions and gendered dimensions.

Kuhaha

Partners: Özgür Renkler Derneği (Bursa), Kaos GL Derneği (Ankara) and Kült Kavaklıdere (Ankara).This initiative aims at contributing to social debate and dialogue by making visible the censorship, exclusion, and challenges faced by LGBTI+ persons in the public sphere.

Skopje Interkultura

Partners: NGO Esperanza World Culture Center (Skopje), SCS Centar Jadro (Skopje) and Institute for Media and Analytics IMA (Skopje).Skopje Interkultura Hub will create cultural programming aimed at the independent culture, cultural NGOs and artists from the ethnic communities, but that will also attract mainstream audiences.

Storytelling Basecamp

Partners: New Women Connectors (Zoetermeer) BAK, basis voor actuele kunst (Utrecht).The hub envisions the co-creation of an inclusive space for migrants and refugees, especially women and gender-diverse persons, to learn storytelling as a way to harness their lived experiences to bridge connections and spark dialogues.

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