Gain a unique opportunity to experience Open House festivals in different cities across Europe! For the second time, three selected volunteers from Open House Prague will have the chance to participate in the Volunteer Exchange Programme as part of the international Open House Europe project.
Get a behind-the-scenes look at the festival!
Enjoy an exciting experience with Open House volunteers from other European cities. By taking part in the Open House Europe Volunteer Exchange Programme, you will gain new experiences, deepen your knowledge of architecture, and connect with like-minded enthusiasts. Beyond volunteering, this experience allows you to immerse yourself in local culture, discover a new city, and become part of the vibrant Open House community abroad. The goal of this European programme is to foster connections between volunteers and enhance their understanding of architecture’s role in shaping communities.
Selected participants will have their travel, accommodation, and subsistence costs covered.
Which cities can you visit this year?
Three selected applicants will have the opportunity to attend one of the following festivals:
- Open House Lisbon (Portugal), May 10–11, 2025
- Open House Dublin (Ireland), October 18–19, 2025
- Open House Thessaloniki (Greece), November 22–23, 2025
What will be your role?
Each Open House festival is unique. In some cities, you may guide tours or coordinate building access, while in others, your photography or organizational skills may be needed. Most importantly, you will become an ambassador of the Open House festival and gain valuable experience to share with us and other volunteers!
Application Requirements
- You are over 18 years old.
- You have a good command of English.
- You have at least one year of volunteer experience with Open House Prague.
- You are available on the specific festival dates.
All selected participants in the volunteer exchange programme will be required to sign a cooperation agreement. After completing the exchange, each participant must fill out a feedback questionnaire.
What is the application deadline?
The call for applications will open on February 10, 2025, and you can apply until February 20, 2025. Candidates will be selected through personal interviews by March 6, 2025.
What were the experiences of last year’s participants?
In May, during the 10th anniversary edition of the Open House Prague 2024 festival, we welcomed five volunteers and two festival organizers from various European cities (Dublin, Essen, Stockholm, and Tallinn). We prepared a special festival route for them, allowing them to explore as many interesting buildings and tours as possible.
In the autumn, we sent three of our experienced volunteers to Essen (Germany), Tallinn (Estonia), and Stockholm (Sweden). Read about their experiences on our blog:
The uniqueness of the Essen festival was a big surprise to me.
Aitäh, Tallinn. Thank you, Tallinn!
I truly enjoyed the exchange programme! I definitely learned that the history and cultural context of a city
— Laura Heskin, Open House Dublin volunteer
have a significant impact on the buildings constructed over time. Throughout the weekend,
I saw a great variety of architectural styles and was amazed by the details of some designs. (…)
I was fortunate to have an amazing guide throughout the weekend,
who showed us some incredible architectural gems in Prague.
Interesting, educational and most of all – fun. Definitely worth applying.
— Ulle Smolina, Open House Tallin volunteer
I am so very happy to be picked for the volunteer exchange program.
— Heli Jurisson, Open House Tallin volunteer
The city is absolutely gorgeous and the volunteers were lovely…
Overall I had a great time!
During my volunteer exchange I worked alongside a fantastic team of four other volunteers
— Rosanna Frutsche, Open House Essen volunteer
from three different European countries. It was a great experience, getting to know dedicated volunteers
of Open House Praha and discovering some of Prague’s most interesting buildings.
This experience has given me valuable insight and inspiration for our upcoming Open House festival in Essen.
It was lovely!!! I loved visiting Prague by being a part of the festival.
— Klara Nordgren, Open House Stockholm volunteer
Our exchange guide Kateřina was so nice and helpful and she also had a lot of knowledge
about the history of Prague, which made the trip even more special. She was very accommodating
and helped us a lot…. I was so grateful I was chosen to go to Prague.
I will always cherish the memories I have.
About the project
Open House Europe is a collaborative project involving 16 European cultural organizations with a shared vision to promote architecture as a positive force for social change. Open House Europe is co-funded by the European Union.
