Project insights: How participants were selected for MAKE IT HAPPEN

In spring 2024, socio-cultural organisations from across Europe were invited to apply for the FULCRUM training programme MAKE IT HAPPEN – Community Building and Audience Development for the Future. 

• The call is documented here: Audience development for cultural initiatives: Apply now for the training programme. 
• The application form is available here: FULCRUM Training – Community & Audience Development
   

In total, 67 applications from organisations in 13 countries were received. 24 participants and organisations from 8 countries were selected for the international training programme.

How did the selection process work?

To make the selection transparent, consistent and as fair as possible, common selection guidelines and an evaluation sheet were developed before the call was launched. These documents provided the basis for all project partners assessing applications:

• Guidelines for the FULCRUM Selection Process – WP3 MAKE IT HAPPEN
• Evaluation Sheet for assessing applications in the Selection Process – WP3 MAKE IT HAPPEN 

The criteria were developed in consultation with external experts: Alena Klinger from Minority Initiative Tyrol advised on inclusion and barriers to participation, while Jonathan Goodacre from The Audience Agency advised on audience development and community building.

Who was selected?

The following participants and organisations were selected:
 

Composition of the selected group

The selected group reflects a broad range of personal profiles, regional contexts, organisation sizes and fields of work.

Based on voluntary information provided by participants after the selection, the group consisted of 14 female participants (58.3 %) and 10 male participants (41.7 %). Three participants identified as LGBTIQA+ (12.5 %). This information was not requested in the application form and was therefore not part of the selection criteria.

The selected organisations also represent a balanced regional distribution:

• 8 organisations from capitals or large cities with more than 100,000 inhabitants;
• 4 organisations from medium-sized cities with 50,000 to 100,000 inhabitants;
• 8 organisations from small communities with 10,000 to 50,000 inhabitants;
• 4 organisations from rural municipalities or small cities with fewer than 10,000 inhabitants.

The organisational structures ranged from very small initiatives to larger regional cultural organisations. Around 37.5 % of the selected organisations had only one to five staff members, including centres run by a single person or a very small core team. 25 % had six to 19 staff members. Two organisations had larger structures with 20 to more than 50 staff members. Seven organisations represented broader or fluctuating structural capacities, including organisations without a fixed venue or organisations touring across different regions.

The annual activity volume also varied. Some organisations run several hundred events per year, while others work in more focused project-based formats or with longer-running formats such as exhibitions. Most selected organisations are multi-disciplinary socio-cultural houses combining cultural programming with participatory community formats. Specialised organisations from the fields of performing arts and visual arts were also represented. Around one quarter of the organisations have an additional thematic focus, for example FLINTA*, minorities, youth or active citizenship.

The selection was therefore not designed to create a homogeneous group. It aimed to bring together a diverse and workable learning group whose members could learn from different experiences, working realities and local contexts.

Learn more about FULCRUM: https://fulcrum-culture.eu/