Slovakia: ESC: Photographer, Videomaker, Social Media and Content Creator

About the local hosting organization

The cultural centre Záhrada (“Garden”) was founded in 2010, and is located in the historical city centre of Banská Bystrica, an old mining town. It has a venue, where concerts, theatre and dance performances, discussions, workshops, art residencies and festivals are organised (200 events/year). The volunteers are free to contribute to its daily operation, enjoy the program and/or initiate projects on their own. It also runs space for relaxation and free time activities in the adjacent garden (e.g. frisbee, slackline). The mission of the cultural centre is to promote contemporary artists and their work, and create opportunities for engaging them in educational activities and social life. The European Solidarity corps projects offer learning opportunities and experience for volunteers who are interested in cultural management, technical aspects of event organisation, and the topics of arts, culture and youth work. The organisation hosts Theatre from the Passage (www.divadlozpasaze.sk), community-based theatre employing people with special needs. Association SKOK! for contemporary dance and physical theatre is also based here (physicalarts-sk.com). It has managed several artistic and cultural exchange projects and cooperated with a range of Slovak and international artists and institutions. It is a regular member of Anténa Association – Network for Independent Culture (www.antenanet.sk). Zahrada's mission is to: - provide space for presentation of contemporary art productions (theatre, dance performances, concerts, visual arts, multimedia), - support creation of new artistic works (artistic residencies, coproductions), - teach young people and adults in non-formal educational settings (workshops, seminars), - promote principles of civil society, and democracy, and raise environmental awareness (public discussions, events), - cooperate on projects with other Slovak and international artists, cultural managers and institutions, - revitalize and maintain public space for relaxation and free time activities in the adjacent garden. Target groups: -general public (visiting café and cultural events, festivals, joining free time outdoor activities), -young people / secondary school and university students (visiting cultural events, festivals, workshops, volunteering, doing seasonal work in the garden), -artists (performing, leading workshops), -disadvantaged communities / Roma, immigrants, people with special needs (volunteering, visiting cultural events), -seniors (visiting cultural events, community development projects).

Presentation of the programme

The activity offers learning experience for someone interested in arts, culture and youth work. The participant is welcome to contribute to daily operation and in-house duties of the cultural centre, event management, technical production or realisation of artistic projects and thematic events. Selection of activities: - marketing, social media, production & promotion of content and events - graphic design, website, ticketing - documentation, photography, video making, writing blogs, interviews - production of cultural/community events, - park keeping, gardening

About the accomodation

Accommodation is provided in a shared flat with 2 single rooms and 1 kitchen-living room, with bathroom and all the facilities. The flat is situated in a walking distance to the cultural centre (15 min) or train/bus station (5 min). There is a lot of hiking and traveling opportunities around the city of Banská Bystrica, the region is famous for its cultural tourism and picturesque landscape. Food and pocket money is provided on a monthly basis. In case of activities that require traveling, e.g. collaboration with other parts of the region, attending workshops and/or events, costs are refunded.

About the leisure activities

The participant will be offered various trainings according to their needs, preferences and learning objectives: -pre-departure training -on-arrival training (introduction to the organisation and the local community) -language course -mentoring program -daily support from the host organisation -thematic workshops (optional participation in workshops organised in the cultural centre, e.g. photography, dance, sound, light design)

Requirements

The Participant profile: The Záhrada cultural centre is looking for a curious, open-minded, flexible, responsible and adventurous young person for a one-year project in Slovakia. The activities are designed to offer you learning opportunities in the field of creative production, promotion and technical realisation of events, community organising, venue maintenance or park keeping while enjoying and/or contributing to the program of the cultural centre.Deadline: 31/07/2026 00:00