Meet the VAHA III hubs

EGEHUB

The Association for Migration Research (Istanbul)

Kirte School (Çanakkale)

Duvarlar Bile Biliyor (Gökçeada)

The hub's work centers on the intertwined histories of the Aegean, focusing on themes of mübadele (population exchange), muhacirlik (migration and exile), and the transformation of space and belonging. The abandoned homes of those forced to leave and the new settlements built in their place tell stories of rupture, resilience, and adaptation. Through art, we reimagine these spaces as sites of shared history and ongoing cultural negotiation.

---

hemsâye

Roof Coliving (Bursa)

Yekpare Social Economy, Culture and Ecology Association (Bursa)

Tamirhane Community (Bursa)

Centered in Bursa, the project explores three key themes: “Preserving the Urban Commons,” “Transforming Spaces,” and “Resisting Urban Injustice.” These themes foster public dialogue, participatory urban practices, and artistic storytelling that reflect local struggles and aspirations.

---

Huner Hub

Children First Association (Diyarbakır) 

Amed City Theatre (Diyarbakır)

Music Family Association (Diyarbakır)

The hub's goal is to create opportunities for children and young people living in Kömür (Adıyaman) to express themselves through culture and arts in their mother tongue. The partners will implement workshops with the children affected by the earthquake. 

---

Interwoven Narratives

Famagusta New Museum (Famagusta)

The Centre of Performing Arts MITOS (Limassol)

MASDER Famagusta Walled City Association (Famagusta)

The hub prioritises the active involvement of Greek-speaking and Turkish-speaking Cypriots in four key activities, blending public spaces with personal histories. These include creating an alternative Famagusta booklet in three languages, exploring Cyprus’ shared intangible heritage, expanding the oral history archive, and hosting a two-day event in Famagusta and Limassol with discussions, walking tours, and workshops. Through these initiatives, partners will work together to encourage intercommunal cooperation and understanding, using technology and personal engagement to reimagine Cyprus’ shared past and future.

---

Kilim

Yellow Brick (Nea Ionia)

Κhora Community Center (Athens)

RIZES LAB (Athens)

This initiative proposes a hybrid narrative based on postmemory and oral history, focusing on “Herstory,” a feminist approach to history that highlights the roles and perspectives of women, emphasises their daily experiences, emotions and gendered dimensions. The partners choose to examine the city’s migration and movement history through the humble lens of oral narratives and the urban space, inspired by a hydrofeminist approach—an understanding of how water connects humans, species, and the planet, as part of an ecological flow.

---

Kuhaha

Özgür Renkler Derneği (Bursa)

Kaos GL Derneği (Ankara)

Kült Kavaklıdere (Ankara)

This initiative aims at contributing to social debate and dialogue by making visible the censorship, exclusion, and challenges faced by LGBTI+ persons in the public sphere. By utilizing art and humor, these experiences will be captured individually and embedded in collective social memory, creating broader awareness.

---

Skopje Interkultura

NGO Esperanza World Culture Center (Skopje)

SCS Centar Jadro (Skopje)

Institute for Media and Analytics IMA (Skopje)

The idea of Skopje Interkultura Hub is to create cultural program aimed at the independent culture, cultural NGOs and artists from the ethnic communities, but also to attract the mainstream audiences. The project aims at creating a new cultural programing which will excel the abilities of the individual partners.

---

Storytelling Basecamp

New Women Connectors (Zoetermeer)

BAK, basis voor actuele kunst (Utrecht)

The hub envisions the co-creation of an inclusive space for migrants and refugees, especially women and gender-diverse persons, to learn storytelling as a way to harness their lived experiences to bridge connections and spark dialogues.

---

We received a total of 103 applications from 260 different organizations across 31 countries in the Council of Europe member states and Kosovo. The applications were evaluated by a jury composed of representatives from Anadolu Kültür, zusa, European Cultural Foundation, and Stiftung Mercator, who are the implementing and supporting partners of the programme.

The following criteria were taken into consideration during the selection process:

• General relevance to the VAHA call;
• Hub synergy, including the motivations, skills and roles of hub partners;
• Feasibility of the proposed activities;
• Potential to provide space for dialogue;
• Potential for transnational partnership.
  
  

Visuals by Julia, www.mosaics-circles.de