About the programme
The Europe Challenge
The Europe Challenge is a rolling one-year programme that kicks off with an open call and brings together teams from libraries and communities across Europe.
The “challenge teams” receive funding to work on their solutions locally and enjoy a series of inspiring online and face-to-face working sessions including:
- learning exchanges with other libraries and communities across Europe
- Downloadable tools for community engagement, prototyping and storytelling
- Opportunities to showcase ideas and connect with peers and potential new partners
Each library and community group focuses on a local concern, which is often a common concern shared by many other groups across Europe.
Seven libraries from Latvia to Spain took part in the pilot programme from May 2021 to May 2022 – working on a range of innovative solutions including installing urban beehives at libraries to champion biodiversity and tapping into virtual reality to tackle digital exclusion.
The 2022 edition, launched in May 2022, includes 32 libraries and communities from 14 countries and 29 different locations – from the Outer Hebrides in Scotland to one of the most easterly islands in Greece – representing schools, prisons, universities, volunteer libraries and special issue libraries.
Their ideas and prototypes are presented in May 2023 with a series of online and offline publications including a book and a downloadable poster exhibition.
The third edition of the Europe Challenge is to be launched in autumn 2023. Stay tuned…
Sense of Belonging
‘Sense of Belonging’ showcases the 39 initiatives created during the Europe Challenge between 2021 and 2023, and tells the back-story: why and how the programme was conceived. Order a copy here.
Europe Challenge Slide deck
A slide show featuring the 39 initiatives is also a free download. The slideshow is available as a PowerPoint presentation and as an autoplay presentation for TV screens.
The poster exhibition
A poster exhibition-in-a-box. Is offered as free downloads. Any library or community across Europe can organise their own exhibition and inspire their public.
