OPEN CALL | Cafés as European Cultural Heritage

Do you have a special place in your heart for cafés? Are they tied to meaningful memories or stories in your life? Would you like to help share this heritage?

Take part in the Open Call for the European project CAFÉ!

A collective memory initiative, gathering photos, images, and personal stories to narrate the history of cafés.

WHAT IS THE CAFÉ PROJECT?

CAFÉ is a project co-funded by the European Union’s Creative Europe programme. Its goal is to celebrate and revitalise the historical, social, and cultural significance of European cafés—recognising them as vibrant spaces of gathering, creativity, and shared memory, rooted in a rich tradition of social and intellectual exchange. Project partners include: Hadik (Hungary), ECCOM (Italy), ZRC SAZU (Slovenia), and KEA (Belgium).

The project involves contemporary artists and people who regularly visit cafés. We’re collecting a wide range of contributions—stories, images, memories—to build a collective history of cafés.

WHO CAN PARTICIPATE

Everyone is welcome! Whether you’re a regular or occasional café-goer, an artist, a story enthusiast, or simply someone who enjoys these spaces—citizens of all ages and backgrounds are invited to participate.

Participation is free and open to all.

HOW TO PARTICIPATE

Fill in the online form with your personal details and upload the following materials:

• A short personal text responding to one or more of the guiding questions below (max. 300–350 words).
• At least one image, illustration, audio or video file, either historical or contemporary.
  • Images: JPG or PNG, up to 5 MB
  • Videos: MP4, up to 150 MB, max. duration 2 minutes

Contributions will be featured in the Emotional Map of European Cafés, published on the project website and shared through our social media. They will also inspire the work of participating artists.

GUIDING QUESTIONS

Please choose one of the three themes below and freely answer one or more of the related questions.

Theme 1: Cafés as spaces of collective creativity

• What do cafés represent to you today?
• Do you often choose cafés as places for:

• Meeting others
• Socialising
• Finding inspiration

Tell us how.

Theme 2: Intangible elements and Emotional memories

• Which cafés do you remember fondly? What sensations or elements are tied to those memories? (sounds, smells, feelings, etc.)
• What’s your favourite “ritual” when you are in a café?

Theme 3: Design and atmosphere

• If you were to design a café, what objects or elements would be essential in creating its atmosphere?
• If you had to choose a film, painting, or image to represent a café you love, what would it be?

DEADLINE

Submit your contribution by June 30, 2025.

CONTACT

Follow us on social media for updates: @eccom_it
Questions? Email us at hello@keanet.eu

PRIVACY NOTICE

The materials will be used exclusively for research, dissemination, and documentation purposes related to the CAFÉ project. By submitting this form, you accept the terms and conditions. You can consult the full privacy policy here: [link to Privacy notice]