Across Europe – and far beyond it – democracy, equality, independent culture, and human rights are under growing pressure. Authoritarian politics are rising, disinformation is spreading faster than truth, migrants and marginalized communities are increasingly targeted and public spaces for culture, debate, and solidarity are shrinking.
At the same time, people everywhere are searching for alternatives: new ways to organize, participate, create and care for one another across borders. For almost 20 years, European Alternatives has brought together artists, activists, journalists, researchers, workers and citizens to build democratic, inclusive and transnational alternatives for Europe and beyond. From feminist assemblies and migrant-led organising, to independent media, cultural festivals, democratic innovation and digital commons, we work to create spaces where people can imagine and shape a more just future together.
We believe democracy cannot survive without participation, culture, solidarity, and independent civic spaces.
Your support helps us:
- Organize feminist assemblies and democratic participation initiatives
- Support migrant, youth, LGBTQIA+ and grassroots organizing across the EU, wider Europe and the Mediterranean
- Articulate an alternative vision of Europe’s planetary responsibilities
- Build alternatives to exploitative and centralized digital systems
- Sustain independent cultural spaces like Teatro Garibaldi in Palermo
- Counter disinformation, authoritarianism and the rise of the far right through media, culture and civic action
- Keep our programs free, accessible, multilingual and open to all.
Impact:
Since our foundation in 2007, European Alternatives has worked to promote democracy, equality, culture, and participation beyond borders. We believe that the most urgent political and social challenges of our time – from authoritarianism and inequality to migration, climate crisis, and digital transformation – cannot be understood or addressed at the national level alone.
Over nearly two decades, European Alternatives has grown into a transnational and trans-local network active across Europe and beyond, bringing together citizens, artists, activists, researchers, journalists, movements, and communities to imagine and build democratic alternatives together.
Recent Impact Highlights (2023–2024)
Our work in 2023–2024 included:
- Organising transnational assemblies, festivals, trainings and civic participation programmes across Europe
- Expanding democratic innovation initiatives and citizenship education
- Supporting migrant organising, feminist organising, LGBTQIA+ rights advocacy and youth-led movements
- Developing programmes addressing digital rights, misinformation, AI governance and democratic digital commons
- Sustaining independent cultural and civic spaces such as Teatro Garibaldi in Palermo
Long-Term Reach and Achievements
Across the past years, European Alternatives has:
- Worked in more than 30 countries and cities across Europe and beyond
- Trained more than 10 000 young activists, organisers, artists and citizens through schools, assemblies, mentoring programmes, exchanges and campaigns
- Connected hundreds of civil society organisations, universities, movements, trade unions, artistic initiatives and grassroots groups
- Organised hundreds of public events, assemblies, debates, performances, workshops, festivals and conferences
- Developed multilingual publications, podcasts, documentaries, digital campaigns and online educational tools reaching audiences across borders
During 2023-2024, European Alternatives engaged participants from more than 30 countries, trained over 1 000 people across 24 EU Member States, organised 8 transnational assemblies, supported campaigns involving over 20 organisations and 24 MEP signatories and contributed to democratic participation through initiatives that reached more than 1 400 assembly participants, 100+ civil society organisations, 100 young artists and 150+ students annually. Participant satisfaction exceeded 90%, while the organisation’s research and methodologies were referenced 20 times in academic literature.
Testimonials:
“I understand better what it means to be European. We are united around the same values for Europe: above all equality and solidarity beyond nation states. European Alternatives is a great experiment in transnational democracy where everyone can have a say.”
– Mara Gabrielli, member of European Alternatives
“I became a member because European Alternatives is unique in combining political, social and artistic projects across Europe.”
– Flore Murard, member of European Alternatives
“Finding European Alternatives was like discovering a twin I hadn’t met before.”
– Tania Bruguera, artist and activist
Support European Alternatives
Whether you are based in Europe, the United States, or elsewhere, supporting European Alternatives means investing in democratic resilience, cross-border solidarity, and the belief that another future is possible.
For supporters based in Europe: Make a tax-deductible contribution through our partnership with Giving Europe
For supporters based in the United States: Make a tax-deductible contribution through our partnership with Myriad USA
Donations by bank transfer can be made to the following French bank account:
IBAN: FR7610278060390002120280107
BIC: CMCIFR2A
Please note that donations to this account do not give rise to any tax benefit and no tax receipt can be provided.
Privacy policy
At European Alternatives, we want to be completely transparent on why we need the personal details we request when you support us and how we will use them.