Call for Hosts: Coordination of the International MitOst Festivals 2019 & 2020

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1 Call for Hosts: Coordination of the International MitOst Festivals 2019 & 2020 Geschäftsstelle Herzbergstraße Berlin Telefon +49 (0) Telefax +49 (0) Once per year, MitOst invites its members and everyone interested in cultural and civic exchange in Europe and its neighbouring regions to the International MitOst Festival, a four-day international forum offering cultural activities, trainings and networking opportunities. MitOst is a non-profit organisation that encourages activities and implement programmes which foster cultural exchange, active citizenship, social cohesion and sustainable urban and rural development with a geographical focus on Central-, East-, and South-East-Europe. MitOst has around 1,400 members in over 40 countries and understands itself as a platform for funding programmes that are set in place in cooperation with various foundations and institutions. About 350 people participate in the Festival, getting to know the host city and its inhabitants. Moreover, participants present their own projects and initiatives, host sessions, offer workshops, and network. There is plenty of space for self-organised intercultural collaboration. Film screenings, exhibitions, discussions, readings, city tours, and concerts bring the spirit of MitOst to the host city while connecting members, partner organisations, and local inhabitants. Since 2003, the International MitOst Festival has taken place annually each time in a different city. After Pécs, Vilnius, Wroclaw, Timisoara, Görlitz-Zgorzelec, Uzhgorod, Gdansk, Perm, České Budějovice, Ruse, Leipzig, Novi Sad, Ivano-Frankivsk, Tbilisi, Frankfurt (Oder) and Słubice, and Athens, MitOst is looking for Festival cities and hosting teams to co-organise the International MitOst Festivals 2019 and 2020 respectively. From now on we want to explore key themes and questions at the MitOst Festival under a joint thematic framework. For the MitOst Festival 2019 we want to venture out to an "Exploration of Europe". The issues of social cohesion and the role of civil society in Europe seem particularly relevant to the MitOst network is a crucial year due to anniversaries, important events and current challenges ahead. We are specifically looking for prospects from the entire MitOst network in Europe and its neighbouring regions. For 2020 we are looking at the relationship between urban and rural areas in Europe and its neighbouring regions. How are the differences between urban and rural regions shaping our societies? What is the role of civil society here? We look forward to your suggestions on this and related topics and also require an openness to discuss these after the 2019 MitOst Festival together with us. Thematic Framework Your Application for Hosting the International MitOst Festival Concept note Guideline

2 Thematic Framework: Exploring Europe A map of themes European civil society contributed to the call for ideas on democracy for the European idea challenge Advocate Europe in 2017/2018. Sketch by Michael Meißner. What more can Europe be? How is civil society shaping Europe? In the case of rising extremism, inequalities and crises in Europe and its neighbouring regions, civil society acts as a driving force in keeping open and democratic societies. At MitOst and with our partners we enable and support citizen-led initiatives in wider Europe that strengthen cohesion. We envision and pioneer societies that allow for co-creation; where citizens, residents, newcomers and guests are actively involved in shaping their future. We create spaces for reinventing and redefining the European idea by working on issues such as participation, inclusion, migration or sustainability. We build communities based on trust and connect people beyond the borders of languages, nations, religions or professions a pivotal year for Europe On 9 November 2019 we celebrate 30 years fall of the Berlin wall, which divided the world into East and West. On 1 May we look back at 15 years EU enlargement towards the East and South; the single largest expansion of the European Union. Who will follow next? On 29 March the United Kingdom will cease to be a Member of the EU and thus be the first country in history to leave this political union. And in May 2019 EU citizens vote for a new European Parliament. MitOst Festival 2019: Exploring Europe All of this is enough reason for us to take stock of things: How do we at MitOst and our partners understand Europe? What is the impact we have achieved already in the past years? What are the stories and narratives around Europe that we want to share within our network and outside? What are the major beliefs and assumptions guiding our work? What are the questions still unanswered? How do we, as catalysts for change, want and need to contribute Europe in future? What will we work on next? In the end, we want to deepen our network s understanding of what we might call Wider Europe at MitOst.

3 Your Application for Hosting the International MitOst Festival The application serves as an expression of interest and at the same time as a proposal of the Festival location. After the pre-selection, the Board of MitOst will take a decision on the basis of further information and personal interviews. Your Profile You feel strongly connected to MitOst. We expect at least one person of your team to be a member of MitOst. You feel connected to this thematic approach (LINK) (Festival 2019) or would like to suggest and explore together with us a thematic framework (Festival 2020). You have experience in hosting international events and your team combines skills in event management, in negotiation with partners, in public relations, in fundraising and accounting. Your team communicates fluently in English and the language of the host country. Language skills in German or Russian are of advantage but not mandatory. You are well connected in your local environment with actors from all sectors. You are ideally already connected to the MitOst community of members and alumni in your region. Members of your team have ideally already participated in previous MitOst Festivals and are familiar with MitOst as an organisation. Your Role and Tasks Organisational co-management of the Festival; Establishment and coordination of a local support team Preparation of the focal topic and concept; Collaboration in programme planning and scheduling Acquisition of additional funds and grants to support specific sessions of the Festival; Establishment of cooperation with local partners Involvement of the local MitOst community and other local stakeholders (local NGOs, cultural institutions, city administration) Supporting the involvement of the public in the public parts of the programme Logistics and organisation of accommodation, venues and event infrastructure; Financial management of local expenses Management of the promotion of the communication material to targeted local press and media Our Contribution We support the hosting team with an honorary of 8000 Euro. The total remuneration for you and your team derives from the total funds for the Festival, which are jointly acquired by MitOst and you, and may thus rise. We are looking for local hosts who can use the Festival also for the strategic development, networking and positioning of their own organisation. Time Frame and Working Hours The Festivals are expected to take place in September or October 2019 and The preparation lasts about one year. Our experience has shown that working hours in the first nine months are about 5-10 hours per week, with an intensive working phase usually being around May. Working hours can increase up to 40 hours per week in the last six weeks before the Festival.

4 Contact and Application The application deadline is 10th September. Please send your concept note of 2-4 pages to and also use the guideline. You have the opportunity to discuss your application in an online meeting with Kathrin Oerters. The following time slots are available for online meetings: 22 August 2018, between 13 and 15h (CEST) 24 August 2018, between 15 and 17h (CEST) 30 August 2018, between 18 and 20h (CEST). Please arrange your meeting by sending an with the appropriate date and time to info(at)mitost.org. Please note that we are unable to answer your questions via until 22 August due to the holiday season. Festival Concept note Guideline In order to evaluate your submission for the International MitOst Festival, we need information about you and the team as well as about your vision. Please consider the following questions when writing your 2-4 page sketch. You: Personal Information: Name, City, Country, What is your connection to MitOst? What is your present activity? Your team: What is your organisation/ team doing? (Please describe your team with the skills and capacities it combines and your role in it.) What experiences do you have in the organisation of international events? Which experience do you have in hosting open group processes, creating space for groups to stimulate shared learning? What local networks and partners can you rely on? (Please mention here existing cooperation with the administration of your city or region if applicable.) What is your connection to the local MitOst community of members and alumni? Your approach: What motivates you to host the International MitOst Festival?

5 Which is your vision for the International MitOst Festival in your city? How do you resonate with the thematic framework (Festival 2019)/ which thematic framework do you suggest (Festival 2010)? Why would you like to invite the network to your city and what results do you expect for both, your location and the network? What is your availability in 2019/2020 for hosting the Festival?