The OSTEN 2026 festival brings new energy to a region marked by resignation and rising right-wing populism. With the “Kraftwerk Zukunft,” a creative space will be opened on the former Bitterfeld chemical plant site to unite people, inspire courage, and strengthen solidarity. Through theater, performances, workshops, and discussions, Kulturpark e.V. creates spaces for exchange, learning, and new ideas - countering polarization and fostering an open society. Together with local actors and visitors, a social sculpture emerges that proves: a diverse and inclusive future can be shaped in the region and far beyond. More about OSTEN festival.

Democratic Future for Ukrainian Theatre, Act by Act, takes place in frontline Kharkiv, empowering young artists to create performances under professional mentorship. Led by theatre Nafta, it tackles cultural and social challenges—passivity, rigid hierarchies, gender discrimination, and ecological crises - while building resilience through EU-led workshops, lectures, and movement training. The project fosters dialogue and cultural renewal in the face of Russia's military aggression. More about Nafta Theatre.
 
 

Making forest data publicly accessible enables civil society to investigate illegal logging, expose abuses, and advocate for policy reform. The project connects actors across countries and builds a regional networked response to governance failures. By embedding transparency and public participation into forest management, the Environmental Investigation Agency Germany e.V. promotes rule of law, climate action, and long-term protection of Europe’s forests.  

Modern authoritarian regimes have outpaced civil society in adapting to new social and technological realities, using misinformation control and institutional capture to shrink civic space. Forensis e.V. and Antenna e.V.  work with activists, lawyers, journalists, academics, artists and NGOs in Turkey and its diaspora, aiming to create new alliances for legal, political, cultural, and social interventions, strengthening capacities of Turkish civil society. Through shared casework, public programming, and academic partnerships, the project will support the take-up in Turkey of techniques of ‘counter-forensics’ and spatial investigation practiced by Forensis, and originally developed by the Forensic Architecture agency at Goldsmiths, University of London. Through creative approaches that energize social movements and create momentum against state impunity, Forensis and Antenna contribute to urgently needed rights advocacy. More about Forensic Architecture.

The Instytut Zielonej Gospodarki/Green Economy Institute and Fundacja Climate & Strategy invite Polish farmers across generations and regions to lead climate and biodiversity action through storytelling and vision-building. Their joint project reframes agriculture as cultural identity and ecological stewardship while creating policy pathways for just, community-driven land-use transformation. By embedding farmer voices in climate governance and fostering participatory processes, the project drives systemic change toward equity, resilience, and care for land. More about Instytut Zielonej Gospodarki and Fundacja Climate & Strategy.

Masahat is a regional initiative. After editions in Lebanon, Palestine and Tunesia it is now expanding into Syria to create a decentralized network of community cinemas in underserved areas. It supports local practitioners to reclaim spaces and organize screenings through seed grants, tailored training, and access to a curated library of independent Arab films. By fostering dialogue and cultural participation, the initiative restores the right to culture, promotes community ownership, and strengthens grassroots networks for a more inclusive and resilient cultural ecosystem. More about AFLAMUNA.

Reporter ohne Grenzen e.V. (RSF) works to protect exiled journalists facing targeted surveillance, discrediting, and attacks by state actors. The project provides direct support, analyses cases of transnational repression, and advocates for policy change to strengthen institutional responses in Germany and across Europe. RSF builds coalitions, raises public awareness, and amplifies the voices of journalists in exile - safeguarding press freedom as a cornerstone of democracy. Mehr über Reporter ohne Grenzen e.V. (Photo: Vietnamese state television reports on the public indictment of the Berlin-based publisher of the exile media outlet Thoibao.de) 

Powerful actors across Europe exploit privacy laws and outdated Freedom of Information frameworks to block scrutiny and accountability. Recent cases - from lawsuits against newspapers and registries to governments withholding advisor names - show how legal loopholes enable secrecy.  K-Monitor responds by providing legal aid and strategic litigation in Hungary, mapping access-to-information barriers across the EU, and advising transparency advocates. Their project strengthens civil society’s ability to defend the right to information and counter democratic backsliding. More about K-Monitor Association.

SHIFT reimagines housing in Flanders by repurposing vacant homes, optimizing underused spaces, and integrating low-carbon materials. Instead of endless new builds, the project drives policy change and coalition-building to make sufficiency a cornerstone of housing. By embedding these strategies into planning and procurement, SHIFT tackles affordability and climate impact while pushing for systemic innovation to keep cities liveable, inclusive, and resilient - in Flanders and beyond. More about Bond Beter Leefmilieu. 

Archiving human rights violations is crucial for advancing justice and accountability worldwide - and so is strategic collaboration across borders. Mnemonic connects Syrian, Ukrainian, and European civil society and media to expose war crimes and counter disinformation. Through open-source investigation tools and joint efforts, these actors monitor, collect, and archive digital evidence, update datasets on Russian airstrikes, and collaborate with journalists on cross-border investigations. Learn more about Mnemonic.
 

Architects for Future Deutschland e.V. empowers grassroots organizations in the building sector through targeted training, resources, and collaborative learning. By strengthening their ability to mobilize support, influence policy, and scale impact, the project drives systemic change toward a regenerative, just, and reuse-centered built environment. The project’s long-term goal is to foster sustainable, inclusive communities by reducing environmental impact, promoting building reuse, and advancing equitable urban development. More about Architects for Future Deutschland e.V.