NEW INHERIT

CULTURAL AMBASSADORS

The Cultural Ambassadors Program

The program engages young professionals in culture-related fields to drive community cultural activation in six Testbeds across Europe. After an open call for applications, the selected candidates participate in three study visits and training sessions (Germany, Spain, Belgium) and are integrated into a co-creation and mentoring network for cultural activation.

During the three study visits and through the mentoring program, participants will develop skills in cultural space activation and adaptive reuse of heritage spaces, contribute to local activities, promote non-formal education, and ensure the inclusion of socially excluded groups within these processes. The program will involve continuous engagement through meetings and co-creation over a 12-month period.

What's Involved?

Mentorship

Receive guidance from experienced cultural professionals, As well as a Community of Peers, through a long-term mentorship program, designed to support your growth and development in the cultural sector.

Study Visits

Participate in three study visits to Germany, Spain, and Belgium, exploring successful placemaking cases and gaining hands-on experience in cultural space activation.

Networking

Connect with a network of cultural ambassadors, local partners, and NEtworks across Europe.

Funded Local Actions

Engage in funded local actions within our Testbed Sites, applying your skills and creativity to real-world cultural projects with the support of our program.

Cultural Ambassadors Initiatives 2024-2025

November 2024

Reactivation of cultural spaces in Germany

Pilot projects began in selected cultural sites, showcasing innovative approaches to adaptive reuse and cultural entrepreneurship.

April 2025

Activation of cultural spaces in Spain

The labs will focus on developing and testing new cultural practices, technologies, and experiences, providing a platform for diverse communities to engage and co-create.

April - September

Activation of cultural spaces in 6 testbeds

The initiatives will center on exploring and evaluating innovative cultural approaches, digital tools, and interactions while revitalizing cultural venues across six testbeds, offering a space for diverse communities to connect and collaborate.

October 2025

Training course and case visit in Brussels

It seeks to inspire creativity, promote inclusion, and drive sustainability within cultural sectors, culminating in final activities where cultural ambassadors can showcase their co-created solutions and innovations.

MEET OUR CULTURAL AMBASSADORS

Italy

Martina Consolo

Passionate about theater, particularly the relationship between the actor/performer and the audience. Fascinated by the possibility of recreating this connection in various, non-traditional spaces. Interested in the conversion of spaces with minimal impact, preserving their historical traces while using mobile or detachable structures, both temporary and permanent. She promotes the idea of theater as an accessible tool for everyone, serving as an educational resource and a means of building relationships.

Silvia Cipriano

Passionate about co-design and participatory methodologies, I believe that encounters with others are essential for creating enriching realities and opportunities. As a keen observer, I enjoy critically analyzing the city and am fascinated by the relationships that exist between individuals and spaces. My passions include design, urban exploration, cinema, flea markets, and chocolate cakes

Maria Chiara Scelsi

I am interested in the possibility that bottom-up processes can have on changes in the city and urban spaces. I think architecture should have a purely social role in capacitating citizens to the tool of shared design. I am interested in processes of reappropriation of spaces and community building.

Martina Tresca

Passionate about collective creation of knowledge through participatory practices. I believe in the power of communities and that together, people can create new, alternative realities through imagination and transformative change. I would like to explore how new communities can be built, how they can reclaim their spaces as commons, and resegnify them through arts and culture. I love long walks in cities but especially in the nature and festivals of any kind.

Germany

Mariana Matoso

I have always been interested and invested in cultural and creative projects, and recently I have been working more in the non-formal education sector with NGOs, and international mobilities. Having recently relocated to Germany, I’ve missed having opportunities to follow my creative expression and integrating artistic initiatives, which were things I was heavily involved in while in Portugal. The opportunity to become a Cultural Ambassador is aligned with my wish to reconnect with the creative sector and contribute to the city.

Lotte Ann-Sophi Siefert

I love sharing creative techniques with others and bringing together different artistic expressions to create something new. Inclusion is a key focus in my work—I strive to make sure everyone feels welcome and engaged. I believe art is a powerful tool for fostering empathy, understanding, and an appreciation of otherness. Currently, I am organizing upcoming events in Erfurt as part of my Solidarity Corps project, collaborating with artist friends from Erfurt’s ‘Jederkann Galerie.

Zaida Guerrero Casado

I am deeply interested in concepts such as in-between and liminal spaces. Language and communication have also always been among my passions, and for the first time, I have started incorporating text into my work. I am excited to see where this exploration will lead me in my future projects.

Cyprus

Georgia Papamichael

With knowledge of Cyprus’ legal framework, this ambassador is passionate about using their legal expertise to promote green change. They actively support environmental NGOs and are focused on projects that drive sustainable policies and practices, ensuring that environmental laws pave the way for a more sustainable future.

Andria Petrou

Volunteer and member of the govenance boards at Active Zone (NGO), also a volunteer at Citizens Act (NGO). She loves nature, outdoor activities, and sustainable living, which drives my work in environmental protection and community projects.

Polycarpos Sofokleous

Passionate about preserving the legacy of the past, this ambassador focuses on restoring historic buildings while maintaining their cultural significance. My future projects aim to bring new life into forgotten architectural treasures, transforming them into dynamic spaces that serve modern needs while celebrating their history.

Philitsa Panayidou Sofokleous

Dedicated to creating a sustainable future, she is committed to designing buildings that minimize environmental impact while maximizing energy efficiency. Their passion lies in merging sustainability with aesthetic beauty, and future projects will focus on eco-friendly architecture that promotes harmony between urban development and the natural environment.

Bulgaria

Yana Petrova

Philosopher with experience in investment projects in the field of cultural heritage; digitization and mapping of cultural, historical and natural sites with an interest in creating sustainable management models by exploring the needs of different stakeholders.

Nedelya Syarova

Anthropologist with an interest in cultural analysis, fieldwork and understanding of social dynamics. She is an intern at Greenpeace, where she focuses on sustainable environmental practices, community building, volunteer coordination, and event organization. Interned at the UNESCO Regional Centre for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage for Southeast Europe.

Iva Stanisheva

Practicing architect and teacher with international experience and interests in regenerative design, urbanism and the search for innovative solutions to adapt the urban environment to climate change. As a board member of the Circular Economy Institute (CEI), she is active in the field of education and promotion of the circular economy and the potential it offers as an alternative solution to the current economic model.

Ventsislav Kartselin

A practicing architect with interests in architectural theory, sustainable building development, and the relationship of architecture to history, politics, and economics. He works as a journalist and contributor to the digital platform Stroiinfo with a focus on architecture, urban planning and sustainable development. He broadens his expertise through practical experiences such as curating at the Christo and Jeanne-Claude Centre.

Belgium

Raquel Bastos

I am passionate about arts, In the future I hope to keep on being an artist and to work with the community

Kaat De Witte

As someone who works closely with youth from all walks of life, I believe heritage spaces should not only be preserved, but also reimagined by the communities that will shape their future. New Inherit offers the tools and trust needed to make that possible.

Ahmed Boulif

New Inherit is a big and ambitious project where each partner and participant tries to create a change on a European and local level. So far the results and activities are and have been already amazing.

Tuba Güclu

Participating in the New Inherit project has proven to be very enlightening and informative, as it taught me what the realistic proces of organizing projects is (brainstorming, data gathering, funding, applying, open call, et cetera) and also all the difficulties of maintaining an NGO (authorization from municipality, maintaining stable funding, etc…).

Tatiana Bello

New Inherit allows us to see beyond limits, beyond barriers, beyond what we often consider obstacles. New Inherit allows us to embrace our differences and, within them, find the essence of what unites us as a society. The pleasure of exploring the possibilities together to find a balance that connects us, that gives us greater spatial justice, equity, and inclusion.

Spain

Joaquín Berenguel

Joaquín Berenguel is a painter, multidisciplinary artist, and director of the Arlequín Art Laboratory. He was born in the province of Almería (1993), where he became involved in creation from an early age. Due to his artistic interests, he graduated in Fine Arts (2013-2017) and completed a Master’s degree in Artistic Management and Production (2017-2019), both at the University of Murcia.

Jesús Cobarro

Jesús Cobarro is an English teacher at the Official School of Languages ​​and a graduate in English Philology. He has combined his teaching career with an intense career in music for over two decades. He is a founding member, vocalist, and main composer of the Murcian alternative rock band Noise Box, active since 2001, with whom he has toured throughout Spain and also performed abroad, in cities such as Athens and Liverpool. Throughout his career, he has participated in numerous festivals and published an extensive discography that has received excellent critical acclaim.

Laura Espinosa

Laura Espinosa is a lawyer, business Partner, and manager of “7 Heroes” Bookstore.
She also manages cultural activities and cultural events, particularly those related to the comic book and illustration sector. She also works in coordination of artists, adminsitrators, and various other institutions.