Culture for Change
Culture for Change is the first Greek Network that represents and empowers the voices of more than 100 professionals working at the intersection of social and cultural innovation.
Culture for Change was born as a collective effort by professionals from the civil society and cultural sectors, with the aim of creating a common platform for representation, collaboration and the exchange of experiences and methodologies. In 2019, Peripatos undertook the management of the grant administered through the Goethe-Institut Thessaloniki, for the purposes of the informal alumni group of the Start Create Cultural Change programme. The coordination team consisted of Eva Anagnostaki, Alexandra Tiligadi, Nikos Vandoros and on behalf of Peripatos Evangelia Pelentridou. After a series of procedures, workshops and internal processes, with the contribution of many more alumni of the programme, the conditions for the creation of a representative body matured.
At the same time, another group took action and worked towards the establishment of a cross-sectoral body of Civil Society professionals. Bosch Alumni Network is the network of all Robert Bosch Stiftung programmes, including Start, and counts over 200 members in Greece alone. In 2020, the regional coordinators of the network were Konstantina Aggeletou, Natasa Handa Martin, Rania Mavriki, Aggeliki Tseliou, Violetta Tsitsiliani, Stelios Voulgaris and from Peripatos, Maro Magoula.
The shared visions and needs of the two groups soon led to an organic collaboration. With the consensus of both informal networks’ members, the decision was made to establish a new Association: Culture for Change.
The Association was officially established in December 2020. Over 70 founding members from all over Greece and mainly the temporary management team – formed by Konstantina Aggeletou, Natasa Handa Martin, Maro Magoula, Evangelia Pelentridou, Angeliki Tseliou, Nikos Vandoros and Stelios Voulgaris – worked together to organise the Association and prepare the first General Assembly and the Elections.
The main objectives of the Association are the development of relations of cooperation and solidarity between the members, the collaborating bodies and the communities where they operate. At the heart of Culture for Change’s mission is the promotion of social and cultural innovation, through the development of practices, methods, and tools that respond to the challenges and needs of each era.
Today, Culture for Change counts more than 100 members and functions as a community of researchers, practitioners, and professionals working in social and cultural innovation. It continues to build bridges of collaboration, empower professionals across the country, and co-create actions with a meaningful social footprint. What began as a shared need for representation and coordination has now evolved into a structured initiative, built on consistency, connection, and impact.
From our side, we extend a heartfelt thank you to all our colleagues and companions whose energy and collaboration made this experience truly unique.
