What b.creative does

b.creative is an international non-profit association (AISBL) registered in Brussels, Belgium, that operates as a global network for cultural and creative entrepreneurs. Founded as a network in 2016 and formally registered in 2019, the organization connects cultural organisations, creative hubs, artists, entrepreneurs, and creative professionals across multiple continents. Its service portfolio comprises four interconnected programmes: CREAPOLIS, a week-long exchange and capacity-building programme currently focused on Ukrainian civil society and creative professionals and hosted in rotating European cities (Šibenik, Matera, Malta); a monthly Capacity Building Series of webinars and workshops; a Mentoring Programme for peer-informed exchange; and 'Visions from Our Network', a collaborative editorial series.

Membership is open and free, with members accessing capacity building, events, and collaboration opportunities. The coordination office is hosted by KEA European Affairs in Brussels, and the organisation's Secretary General (Arthur Le Gall) is concurrently the Managing Director of KEA. Governance is decentralised and member-led via a General Assembly, a Board of up to 13 members drawn from across regions and disciplines, and the small coordination office of approximately five core staff.

The business model is non-commercial; b.creative does not sell products or charge membership fees. Its primary revenue mechanism is institutional grant funding — most notably ERSTE Foundation as core funder of CREAPOLIS — supplemented by European and national project grants managed via calls for proposals and tendering. The technology footprint is minimal: WordPress hosts the website, Mailchimp drives the newsletter, Typeform and Google Forms handle registrations, and LinkedIn serves as the primary social channel. There is no proprietary technology, no AI/ML capabilities, and no app or API surface. The network is not venture-backed and discloses no funding rounds.

Name

b.creative

Legal name

b.creative AISBL (Association Internationale Sans But Lucratif)

Website

https://bcreativetracks.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2019

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

b.creative is a Brussels-based international non-profit association operating a global, free-to-join network for cultural and creative entrepreneurs, delivering exchange programmes, capacity building, mentoring, and editorial publishing for practitioners worldwide.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Creative and Cultural Sector Network Services

NAICS

Arts, Entertainment, and Recreation (71)

akta.pro primary industry

Community Arts, Culture & Creative Placemaking Enterprises (BPAGALAO)

akta.pro secondary industry

Cultural Centers & Community Cultural Organizations (BPAGAHAD)

Keywords

• Cultural network services
• Creative entrepreneur support
• Capacity building programs
• International exchange programs
• Creative sector networking

Headquarters

HQ city

Brussels

HQ country

Belgium

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Membership: b.creative operates an open membership model for cultural organisations, creative hubs, artists, entrepreneurs, and creative professionals globally. Membership provides access to capacity building sessions, events, collaboration opportunities, and international project participation. Participation in capacity building is described as free for members.
2. International Project Coordination and Programme Delivery: b.creative leads and coordinates large-scale international programmes such as CREAPOLIS, funded in partnership with ERSTE Foundation and local hosts. The organisation manages European and national-level calls for proposals and tendering processes, securing project grants and institutional funding to sustain its operations and member programming.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

b.creative is a global non-profit membership network that connects cultural and creative entrepreneurs, organisations, hubs, and policymakers for collaboration and exchange. Its core offerings are four interconnected programmes: CREAPOLIS (an immersive European exchange and capacity-building programme, currently supporting Ukrainian professionals), the Capacity Building Series (monthly online webinars and workshops), the Mentoring Programme (peer-informed exchange), and Visions from Our Network (a collaborative editorial platform). Membership in the network is open and free.

Product overview

b.creative is a membership-based international network platform for cultural and creative entrepreneurs, offering a portfolio of interconnected services. The core offerings include CREAPOLIS (an exchange programme for Ukrainian recovery), the Capacity Building Series (monthly skills webinars), the Mentoring Programme (peer exchange), and the Visions from Our Network editorial series. Members access the network for collaboration opportunities, project partnerships, event participation, and international visibility.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Network Membership
• CREAPOLIS
• Capacity Building Series
• Mentoring Programme
• Visions from Our Network

Quantifiable outcome

• 18 Ukrainian professionals per CREAPOLIS cohort successfully connect with European peers and develop project ideas for their home contexts
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers9 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Four partnerships are on record, tiered flagship and core.

• Culture VentureflagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2026Culture Venture is the Malta-based local host for CREAPOLIS Malta 2026. The organisation works at the intersection of cultural strategy, policy development, and international cooperation, with particular focus on capacity-building, structural development, and long-term cultural ecosystem impact.
• UdjenzaflagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2026Udjenza is the Malta-based arts production sister organisation to Culture Venture, experienced in developing and touring artistic work locally and internationally. Together with Culture Venture, Udjenza forms a complementary model connecting artistic practice with governance, policy thinking, and international collaboration for the CREAPOLIS Malta 2026 edition.
• Materahub (Consorzio Materahub)flagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025Materahub is the local host for the CREAPOLIS Matera 2025 edition, providing the physical venue (Hubout social innovation space), local expertise, the Creative Project Canvas methodology, and access to Matera's creative and civic ecosystem. Materahub is a leading organisation in fostering creative entrepreneurship and cross-sector collaboration in Matera, Italy.
• KEA European AffairscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerKEA European Affairs hosts the b.creative coordination office in Brussels and contributes longstanding expertise in culture, creativity, and policy to b.creative's development. Arthur Le Gall, Managing Director of KEA, serves as Secretary General of b.creative and leads capacity building sessions. KEA manages the association's operations and supports fundraising and project coordination.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• IETM (International Network for Contemporary Performing Arts): International membership network for performing arts professionals and organisations, providing meeting platforms, research, and advocacy. Comparable to b.creative as a membership-based, peer-exchange network for cultural practitioners with a transnational governance structure.
• European Creative Hubs Network (ECHN): Pan-European network of creative hubs, coworking spaces, and innovation centres supporting creative entrepreneurs. Closely comparable to b.creative in serving creative hubs and entrepreneurs, with overlapping programming around capacity building, peer learning, and policy advocacy.
• Culture Action Europe: European-level cultural-policy network and membership association representing cultural organisations, artists, and activists. Directly comparable to b.creative in operating as a transnational membership body advocating for cultural-sector interests, though Culture Action Europe has a stronger policy-advocacy remit and Brussels base.
• Trans Europe Halles: A network of 140+ cultural centres across Europe, supporting member venues through peer exchange, capacity building, and project collaboration. Highly comparable to b.creative in its member-led, capacity-building model and focus on cultural hubs and creative spaces, though anchored in physical venue operators.
• European Festivals Association: Europe-wide association representing music, dance, theatre, and multidisciplinary festivals, providing networking, advocacy, and professional development. Comparable to b.creative as a member-led cultural-sector network; notably, EFA's Secretary General (Kathrin Deventer) sits on b.creative's board, evidencing direct overlap.

Broad incumbents

• ELIA (European League of Institutes of the Arts): Europe-wide network of higher arts education institutions, representing 300+ schools across Europe. Comparable to b.creative in serving arts educators and institutions through peer exchange and pan-European collaboration, but operating at the academic/educational tier rather than the grassroots-collective tier.

Others

• KEA European Affairs: Brussels-based policy design and research centre specialising in culture, creativity, and the creative economy, and the host organisation of b.creative's coordination office. Not a competitor but a strategic operational partner — included for comparability given how closely KEA's mission (cultural policy and creative entrepreneurship) intersects with b.creative's.
• Materahub: Italian consortium based in Matera fostering creative entrepreneurship and cross-sector collaboration; the local host and co-delivery partner for CREAPOLIS Matera 2025. Included as an operational/strategic partner peer rather than a competitor, given Materahub's overlapping mission in cultural and creative entrepreneurship support.

Emerging players

• Reload Greece: Network supporting social entrepreneurship and creative ventures among the Greek diaspora and broader European ecosystem. Comparable to b.creative in operating a community-led network for cultural/social entrepreneurship with capacity-building and peer-exchange programming, though with a stronger Greek-diaspora identity.
• Global Cultural Districts Network (GCDN): International network of cultural district leaders and managers sharing practice on place-based cultural ecosystems. Comparable to b.creative in the cultural-placemaking and Third-Place discourse evidenced in member contributions, though focused on city-level cultural districts rather than individual practitioners.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/bcreative_net
• Facebookfacebook.com/b.creativenetwork
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/b-creativenet

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles17 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about b.creative