How can Europe create places that are not only sustainable, but also inclusive and beautiful? This question lay at the heart of the New European Bauhaus (NEB) Festival, which returned to Brussels from 9 to 13 June 2026 for its third edition. Over the past years, the NEB Festival has established itself as one of the European Union’s key platforms for rethinking the future of the built environment. It brings together citizens, policymakers, architects, artists, researchers and innovators from across Europe to explore how design, culture and sustainability can come together to shape more liveable and equitable spaces.
Under the 2026 motto “Life. Spaces. Buildings.”, the focus was placed on democratic participation and affordable housing—two increasingly urgent priorities in the debate on Europe’s social and urban future. Through a rich programme of forums, exhibitions, cultural initiatives and satellite events, the Festival demonstrated how the principles of the New European Bauhaus can move beyond vision and be translated into tangible, real-world change.
Within this framework, Materahub participated in the NEB Festival and a series of high-level related events in Brussels, contributing to strategic discussions on the future of Europe’s cultural and creative sectors. Through the presentation of Craftwork 4All at the Art & History Museum, as well as its involvement in the final conference of Creative FLIP, the Creative Europe Coordinators’ Meeting, and the final event of Rural Rise, Materahub further consolidated its position as a key European stakeholder in the cultural and creative ecosystem, actively contributing to the development of emerging policy directions and cooperation frameworks at European level.
The NEB Festival
First life, then space, then buildings. This guiding principle framed the New European Bauhaus Festival 2026, held in Brussels and dedicated to presenting flagship projects where life itself is placed at the centre of design and planning processes. The opening ceremony set the tone for the week with a jazz performance, underscoring the essential role of culture and creativity in advancing social well-being. It also featured a keynote address by European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, who highlighted the accelerating global demand for clean energy and circular economy models. In this context, she announced that the European Commission will put forward a legislative proposal for the forthcoming Circular Economy Act by the end of 2026, with the ambition of making circularity “the new normal” across Europe.
Von der Leyen further emphasised that “change starts always from the local level” and that “great innovations start with people”, stressing the importance of knowledge exchange and skills development within the Single Market. The New European Bauhaus was presented as a concrete expression of this approach: an initiative that, in just six years, has demonstrated the transformative power of community-driven innovation. To reinforce this trajectory, an additional €50 million investment was allocated to the NEB Academy, aimed at supporting reskilling and upskilling opportunities for startups, SMEs and creative practitioners across Europe.
Creative FLIP
Creative FLIP is a European Parliament pilot project running until 2026, building on the achievements of its Pilot Phase (2019–2021) and Preparatory Phase (2021–2024) of which Materahub has been an active project partner, contributing to the development of activities, research and policy-oriented workstreams. Over more than seven years of work, the initiative has developed a comprehensive framework to support actors in the Cultural and Creative Sectors and Industries (CCSI), strengthening their long-term resilience and capacity to respond to ongoing transformations and future disruptions. At the core of the project is a multidimensional approach combining research, peer learning, knowledge sharing and policy development. Creative FLIP has contributed to shaping recommendations for more sustainable cultural ecosystems across green, digital and democratic transitions, while addressing key structural areas such as access to finance, learning and skills development, working conditions, innovation and intellectual property rights.
The final conference in Brussels marked the culmination of this long trajectory, bringing together insights gathered over 7.5 years on how resilience can be strengthened across individual, organisational, sectoral and ecosystem levels. Discussions highlighted the need for shared knowledge systems, fairer financial models, improved working conditions and continuous learning opportunities grounded in the realities of cultural and creative work. Particular attention was given to emerging challenges linked to artificial intelligence and intellectual property, as well as to the question of how to finance cultural sectors that generate significant social value but are not always scalable within traditional funding frameworks. While the project formally comes to an end, it was clear that several of its reflections may continue to inform future European policy developments and programming cycles.
Creative Europe Coordinators’ Meeting
From 10 to 12 June 2026, Brussels also hosted the annual Creative Europe Culture Project Coordinators’ Meeting, bringing together more than 170 beneficiaries from across Europe for three days of intensive exchange, networking and strategic reflection on the future of European cultural cooperation. Over 100 beneficiaries of the 2025 Creative Europe Cooperation Projects, selected and supported by the European Education and Culture Executive Agency (EACEA), gathered for the annual Grant Holders Meeting. Cultural operators, artists and project coordinators shared experiences, strengthened collaborations and further consolidated the transnational networks that form the backbone of Europe’s cultural ecosystem.
The programme was structured around eleven thematic clusters addressing key policy and sectoral priorities, including sustainability, digital transformation and artificial intelligence, culture at risk, youth engagement, as well as diversity and inclusion. These working groups enabled projects with shared thematic focus to exchange methodologies, compare approaches and identify common challenges, contributing to a collective mapping of the 2025 project cohort and its alignment with broader EU cultural policy objectives. Within this broader context, Materahub contributes through its role in Craftwork 4.0 All, a distinctive initiative within an ecosystem largely focused on the performing arts. The project is dedicated to supporting traditional craftsmanship and fostering the internationalisation of emerging artisans across Europe.
Rural Rise
On 10 June 2026, the Rural Rise final event took place in Brussels, hosted by Diesis Network. The project, funded by the Single Market Programme (SMP) and led by Materahub, is dedicated to strengthening the role of social economy organisations in rural development and in fostering more sustainable and resilient local communities across Europe.
During the event, the official Local Action Plans developed by the municipalities of Matera, Miglionico, Palilula and Valdefuentes were presented. These plans include concrete implementation strategies, budget frameworks and stakeholder engagement models designed to support long-term territorial development. At its core, Rural Rise aims to consolidate and expand the network of social economy actors across Europe, reinforcing their capacity to contribute to inclusive growth, local cohesion and sustainable development pathways in rural areas.
Within this framework, Materahub participated in the NEB Festival and a series of high-level related events in Brussels, contributing to strategic discussions on the future of Europe’s cultural and creative sectors. Through the presentation of Craftwork 4All at the Art & History Museum, as well as its involvement in the final conference of Creative FLIP, the Creative Europe Coordinators’ Meeting, and the final event of Rural Rise, Materahub further consolidated its position as a key European stakeholder in the cultural and creative ecosystem, actively contributing to the development of emerging policy directions and cooperation frameworks at European level.
