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 looks 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 took place in Tampere, hosted by our member the Association of Children’s Culture in Finland.
View the Lights On 2026 photo gallery here
Reimagining democracy: building communities where everybody belongs
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 neighbourhoods.
Lights On 2026 invited a group of young socio-culture professionals from across Europe to embark on a transformative journey: a five-day seminar in Tampere, Finland, 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.
Discover more about the Lights On programme here
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, online 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: engaging in hands-on workshops, participatory discussions, and creative sessions that spark innovation and critical thinking.
Networking opportunities: connecting with a community of international peers, powerful young professionals from across Europe; exchanging ideas, and collaborating on projects.
Study visits: participants had the chance to discover Tampere’s cultural landscape through inspiring study visits, witnessing successful cultural initiatives and gaining inspiration for their own projects.
Post-seminar staff exchange: after the seminar, each participant embarks on a seven-day exchange, incubating challenges with a host organisation, reflecting on their work within the mirror image of another European organisation, fostering collaboration, mobility, and a richer socio-cultural experience.
Becoming part of the Lights On community: creating life-long connections with peers from across Europe and beyond, and becoming part of a movement that transcends boundaries, pushing the envelope of what cultural institutions can achieve.
Applications for this programme are now closed
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.