ENCATC is dedicated to sharing, exchanging and reflecting on world-class research and trends is part of the network’s aim to strengthen the European research area and to build knowledge societies. So far, more than 435 researchers and educators from around the world have benefited to use this international platform to present their work and gain feed-back from peers. Many have gone on to publish their research in ENCATC’s scientific publication, the European Journal of Cultural Management and Policy.

The awards ceremony, held annually as part of the ENCATC Congress, celebrates the winners of ENCATC recognitions to excellence in research and education: the ENCATC Research Award on Cultural Management and Policy, the ENCATC Congress Research Paper Award, the ENCATC Congress Teaching and Educational Practice Award, the Young and Emerging Researchers Forum Award, and the Best Student Paper Award.

The Global Conversations are organised in the framework of ENCATC's Memorandums of Understanding with the Association of Arts Administration Educators (AAAE) and the Taiwan Association of Cultural Policy studies (TACPS) to offer an international platform for a global debate on education on cultural management and policy.

The Young and Emerging Researchers' Forum is designed for a new generation of young and emerging researchers entering into the cultural policy and cultural management field to help them advance in their careers and enlarge their networks in Europe and beyond.

This working group aims to improve academic standards and quality of education by breaking stereotypes, understanding “otherness”, and embracing diversity in education. The goal is to lead to innovative approaches in managing creative projects and new working opportunities for graduate students, keeping in mind the economic, social and academic impact of internationalisation to extend beyond personal growth and contribute to the advancement of the arts and culture field as a whole. This working group will convene each year through 4 online webinars and one meeting in presence. One of the outcomes will be the production of a toolkit for the internationalisation of culture programmes including a list of best practices at the end of 2026, to be updated in 2028, and similarly an article each for the annual Policy Tracker in 2026 and 2028.

The ENCATC Study Tours aim to immerse participants in different cultural contexts, enabling hands-on learning, cross-cultural dialogue, and networking opportunities.

Cultural Happy Hour is ENCATC’s flagship initiative designed to bridge the long-standing gap between European cultural networks, EU institutions and Brussels’ local arts and cultural ecosystem. Since 2013, these informal yet strategic gatherings have created a shared space for professionals from across Europe to connect, exchange, and build partnerships — breaking institutional silos, increasing access to European cooperation and funding, and strengthening cultural collaboration across borders.