On 27-28 June 2023 the European Civic Forum will host the European Civic Academy in Brussels, Belgium. The event aims to connect and build bridges between civil society and academia to strengthen academics’ knowledge on civil society’s needs as well as ground academic work on democracy in the practice and experience of civil society and identifying possibilities for collaboration related to the role of CSOs in enhancing civic and democratic spaces in Europe.

This year’s edition of the Academy will focus on the upcoming European elections and building collective empowerment. The event will bring together practitioners and activists from very diverse organisations and movements with academics to deepen their understanding on the challenges and opportunities ahead. Participants will have the opportunity to learn from each other’s experiences and gain a holistic understanding of the topic to inspire a renewal of our collective social and political action. For this purpose, the programme will offer a mix of panel discussions, workshops, peer-learning spaces and training.

To support the event programme, the European Civic Forum is looking for 30 activists from associations, movements or grassroots groups whose daily actions (advocacy, campaigning, protests and direct actions, community organising…) have a positive impact on the political and public life and/or bring transformative change in their communities (for example by bridging divided communities, building civic agency, empowering the participation of excluded groups...).

Applicants do NOT need to have prior experience in acting and mobilising in the context of the European elections but be interested in becoming active during the 2024 elections, including via a joint European campaign.

To find out more about the event and how to apply, click here.

Deadline for Applications: 31^st March 2023.