Street Art Youth Exchange - Painting Public Spaces Across Europe

We are Latvijas Kultūras Izaugsmes Fonds - a Latvian cultural foundation behind two community street art projects in Riga:

Mana Pietura ( facebook.com/manapietura )
Together with local and invited artists we have transformed 55 ordinary public bus stops into vibrant community artworks.

Uzlādē Krāsas ( facebook.com/uzladekrasas )
In partnership with Sadales Tīkls (national electricity operator) we painted 10 electricity distribution buildings across Riga, Latvia.

Both projects involved 100+ young volunteers and emerging artists. Many participants later used their experience as a portfolio for art schools or found jobs in art and design.

THE NEW PROJECT - WHAT WE WANT TO BUILD

We are preparing a Creative Europe - Cooperation Projects application and looking for 2-3 partner organisations from different European countries to build an international street
art exchange network.

The concept is simple and powerful:
- Artists and young volunteers travel between partner cities.
- Together they paint public bus stops, shelters or utility buildings selected in each city.
- Each cycle ends with an open gallery exhibition of participants' own works for the general public.
- Creative evenings and open discussions about the importance of visual identity in the city, how aesthetics shape the daily life of residents and visitors.

WHAT WE NEED FROM A PARTNER

We are looking for organisations who can help with:

1. Finding local volunteer artists for the exchange and sourcing existing murals in their city - so participants have visual references and inspiration for creating joint works and sketches

2. Navigating local bureaucracy - helping to obtain permissions and agreements from municipal or state authorities for painting selected public locations.

3. Supporting the organisation of the local gallery exhibition and public events at the end of each cycle.

WHAT WE OFFER

- A proven concept with real results (65 transformed public objects, 100+ young volunteers across both projects)
- Every visiting artist gets a unique opportunity: to paint their own dedicated bus stop in Riga - a permanent public artwork in the city centre of the Latvian capital.
- One bus stop per partner organisation, designed and painted by their visiting artists as a lasting symbol of the exchange.
- Full coverage of travel, accommodation and artist fees from the project budget.
- Our experience working with municipalities and public infrastructure partners.
- A genuine, community-driven approach - not just art for art's sake, but art for people.

WHO WE ARE LOOKING FOR

- Youth or cultural NGO with experience in street art, murals, public space or community art.
- Based in an EU / Creative Europe country.
- Open to hosting visiting artists and sending their own.
- Ideally with existing connections to local authorities for location permits.

Partner application deadline: May 3, 2026

Email your applications and questions to:
edgar@latkif.lv
facebook.com/manapietura
facebook.com/uzladekrasas