Magic Carpets Platform

What Magic Carpets Platform does

Magic Carpets Platform is a Creative Europe-funded non-profit cultural platform, coordinated by Kaunas Biennial in Kaunas, Lithuania, and founded in 2017. It operates as a network of 17 cultural organizations across 17 European Union and candidate countries (Lithuania, Portugal, Ukraine, Croatia, Italy, Romania, Latvia, Serbia, Austria, Georgia, Poland, Estonia, Sweden, Malta, Czech Republic, UK, Turkey, and France). The platform's core function is to create international residency opportunities for emerging artists, enabling them to travel to unfamiliar locations and collaborate with local artists and communities to produce socially engaged art that addresses cultural-accessibility and storytelling gaps. Beyond residencies, it runs an Emerging Curators' Capacity Building Program and produces culminating international exhibitions, notably MagiC Carpets Landed (Kaunas 2021/2022) and Superorganism (Tartu 2024). Cumulative program impact includes 425 participating artists (local and international), 427 local partners, 7,093 community members engaged, 323,516 audience reached through public presentations, and 8 million+ reached through communication channels.

The platform's products include the Magic Carpets Platform itself (the coordinating network), Artist Residencies (the core offering across 21 documented host cities), and MC Landed (the international exhibition showcasing residency outcomes). Underlying technology is described as not applicable — the platform is operationally a cultural-program orchestration layer rather than a technology product, with no proprietary software, no API, and no mobile app. Distribution runs through open calls distributed via the website (magiccarpets.eu) and newsletter, with selection and hosting managed locally by the 17 member cultural organizations.

Magic Carpets is fully grant-funded: 100% of disclosed funding derives from the Creative Europe Programme of the European Union, disbursed across three successive multi-year phases (2017-2022, 2022-2025, 2025-2028). Artist fees (€1,200 gross for documented Riga residency), travel, and accommodation are covered through these grants. The platform employs 11 staff and has no commercial revenue streams, no patents, no certifications, and no M&A history. It does not operate a traditional pricing model; participation is artist-application-driven and fully subsidized for residents.

Name

Magic Carpets Platform

Legal name

Magic Carpets

Website

https://magiccarpets.eu

Company type

Private

Founded year

2017

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Magic Carpets Platform is a Creative Europe-funded non-profit coordinating a network of 17 European cultural organizations that host international residencies for emerging artists, enabling them to collaborate with local communities and produce socially engaged art across 17 EU and candidate countries.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Artist Residency & Cultural Exchange Programs

NAICS

Museums, Historical Sites, and Similar Institutions (7121), Independent Artists, Writers, and Performers (7115)

SIC

Services-Amusement & Recreation Services (7900)

akta.pro primary industry

Art Galleries & Exhibition Spaces (Commercial & Nonprofit) (THAJADAH)

Keywords

• Artist residency programs
• Cultural exchange platform
• Emerging artist support
• Creative europe network
• Community engaged art

Headquarters

HQ city

Kaunas

HQ country

Lithuania

HQ region

Europe

Offices18 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Supply Chain

Revenue model

1. Creative Europe Programme Funding: The Magic Carpets platform is co-funded by the Creative Europe Programme of the European Union. The platform provides artist fees, travel, and accommodation covered for residency participants. This is a grant-based model rather than commercial revenue generation.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Magic Carpets is a Creative Europe platform uniting 17 European cultural organizations that create artist residency opportunities for emerging artists. The platform enables selected artists to travel across European cities, collaborate with local artists and communities, and produce socially engaged art. Residencies are hosted by member organizations, culminating in international exhibitions such as MagiC Carpets Landed and Superorganism, while artist fees, travel and accommodation are covered through Creative Europe funding.

Product overview

Magic Carpets Platform is a unified Creative Europe initiative comprising three interconnected offerings: the main Magic Carpets Platform (a network of 17 European cultural organisations facilitating artist residencies), MC Landed (an international exhibition showcasing completed residency works), and Artist Residencies (the core residency programs across European cities). The platform enables emerging artists to travel to unfamiliar locations, collaborate with local artists and communities, and create socially engaged art that addresses cultural accessibility and community participation.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Magic Carpets Platform A Creative Europe network of 17 cultural organisations that delivers artist residency opportunities across European cities, enabling emerging artists to collaborate with local artists and communities to create socially engaged art.
• Artist Residencies Short-term residency programs hosted by platform members in 17 European cities that allow emerging artists to work with local communities, develop new artistic works, and receive a grant-covered artist fee plus travel and accommodation.
• MC Landed (MagiC Carpets Landed Exhibition) International contemporary art exhibition that showcases the artistic outcomes produced through Magic Carpets residencies across partner countries.
• Emerging Curators' Capacity Building Program Professional development program offering mentoring, networking, and capacity building opportunities for emerging curators working with the Magic Carpets network.
• Superorganism International exhibition, symposium and storybook created as the final showcase of the second phase of the Magic Carpets platform, presented during Tartu 2024 European Capital of Culture.

Quantifiable outcome

• 425 artists (local & international) have participated in residencies
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers8 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

19 partnerships are on record, tiered core, major and minor.

• Kaunas BiennialcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCoordinating entity for the Magic Carpets Platform. Manages overall platform coordination, organizes international exhibitions (MagiC Carpets Landed in Kaunas 2022), and leads the network of cultural organizations.
• Folkestone FringemajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPlatform partner based in Folkestone, UK. Hosts artist residencies and cultural events as part of the Magic Carpets network.
• DiyalogmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPlatform partner based in Istanbul, Turkey. Organized Mahalla Festival and presented Community Award to Büyük Valide Han artisans in 2026.
• Centre Claude CahunminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPlatform partner based in Nantes, France. Participates in the Magic Carpets network as a cultural organization.
• Jam Factory Art CentermajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPlatform member based in Lviv, Ukraine. Hosts artist residencies focusing on themes related to the ongoing Russian invasion of Ukraine, displacement, and community building through cultural practices.
• New Theatre Institute of LatviamajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPlatform member based in Riga, Latvia. Organizes the Homo Novus International Festival of Contemporary Theatre and hosts artist residencies including the Klapping project.
• Tbilisi Photo FestivalmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPlatform member based in Tbilisi, Georgia. Hosted Emerging Curators' Capacity Building Program in March 2026, connecting European curators with local art scene.
• Latitudo Art ProjectsmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPlatform member based in Rome, Italy. Curated MagiC Carpets Landed exhibition and organizes Follow the Waves talk series.
• Ideias EmergentesmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPlatform member based in Porto, Portugal. Hosts artist residencies and collaborates with local communities.
• LAB 852majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPlatform member based in Zagreb, Croatia. Engages in cultural events, audience development, and artist residencies.
• Openspace InnsbruckmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPlatform member based in Innsbruck, Austria. Creative platform at the interface between art and design.
• META Cultural FoundationmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPlatform member based in Bucharest, Romania. Manages exhibitions, symposia, workshops and international artist collaborations.
• Novo Kulturno NaseljemajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPlatform member based in Novi Sad, Serbia. Cultural organization involved in artist residencies.
• The Wroclaw Institute of CulturemajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPlatform member based in Wroclaw, Poland. Cultural institute supporting artist residencies.
• Tartu 2024majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPlatform member associated with Tartu European Capital of Culture 2024, hosting Superorganism final event.
• OPENARTminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPlatform member based in Örebro, Sweden. Art organization participating in the network.
• Unfinished Art SpaceminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPlatform member based in Gzira, Malta. Art space organization in the Magic Carpets network.
• Budweis 2028minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPlatform member associated with České Budějovice's cultural development, future European Capital of Culture candidate.
• SuperorganismmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerInternational exhibition, symposium and storybook forming the final event of the 2022-2025 Magic Carpets edition, held in Tartu 2024.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• European Cultural Foundation: Amsterdam-based pan-European cultural foundation supporting cultural cooperation across the continent. Comparable in supporting pan-European cultural collaboration and receiving EU-aligned funding, but operates at broader foundation level rather than as an artist residency/exhibition platform.
• Pro Helvetia: Swiss Arts Council funding international cultural exchange and artist residencies. Comparable in supporting artist mobility and cultural cooperation funded by public sources, though operating at national level rather than as a multi-country residency network.

Direct peers

• Liverpool Biennial: UK biennial of contemporary art commissioning emerging and established artists with community programming. Comparable exhibition-driven model supporting emerging artists and engaging local communities, though UK-based rather than networked across multiple European countries.
• Res Artis: Global network of artist residencies operating across more than 60 countries. Most directly comparable peer: both operate as residency-enabling networks supporting artist mobility and cultural exchange, though Res Artis operates at larger global scale and lacks the EU-specific exhibition focus.
• Akademie Schloss Solitude: German-based international artist residency program offering residencies across multiple disciplines. Comparable in offering paid residency stipends, international artist selection, and exhibition outcomes, though focused on a single physical location rather than a multi-country network.
• Nida Art Colony: Lithuanian artist residency operated by Vilnius Academy of Arts in Neringa. Directly comparable as Baltic-region residency supporting international emerging artists with community engagement, and operates within the same Lithuanian cultural ecosystem as Magic Carpets' coordinator Kaunas Biennial.
• Cove Park: Scottish artist residency organization offering funded residency programs. Comparable mission of supporting emerging artists with international mobility and community engagement, though single-site rather than networked across multiple countries.
• Manifesta: European roving biennial that moves between host cities and explicitly engages local communities through contemporary art. Comparable in pan-European cultural collaboration model, focus on emerging artists, and EU-co-funded operating structure.
• Fondation Jan Michalski: Swiss foundation supporting literature and artistic creation through residencies and programs. Comparable as a publicly-funded European cultural foundation offering artist residencies, though focused on writing and literature rather than visual/performance arts.

Others

• IETM: International network for contemporary performing arts with members across 50+ countries. Comparable as a pan-European cultural networking organization with EU funding, but focused on performing arts industry professionals rather than visual artist residencies and exhibitions.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/MagiCCarpetsCreativeEurope
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/magic-carpets-platform

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

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 Magic Carpets Platform