Time for (S) Heroes: ESPRONCEDA joins a European Movement for emerging creative talent

Time for (S) Heroes is a European cooperation project led by South-Eastern Finland University of Applied Sciences (Xamk), bringing together six partner organizations from across Europe. The initiative supports emerging creative talents through design innovation, international residencies, business incubation, and cultural exchange, while addressing some of the most urgent challenges of our time.

Over the coming years, Time for (S) Heroes will foster cross-border collaboration and professional growth through a rich programme including the Design Wave Festival, international Residencies, and a final Symposium. The project merges sustainability, art installations, digital processes, and co-design, empowering students, recent graduates, and emerging professionals to collaborate internationally and develop future-oriented creative practices.

A core element of the project is a design challenge, where selected participants can win a residency in Finland or Spain, combined with mentoring, business incubation, and structured project development.

Espronceda’s Role in Time for(S) Heroes

Espronceda, Institute of Art & Culture plays a key role in the development of the Time for (S) Heroes project in Spain and strongly believes in this initiative dedicated to emerging creative talent.

Thanks to its deep knowledge of the local cultural ecosystem, ESPRONCEDA facilitates communication with organizations, universities, and independent practitioners, helping to build strong bridges between local and international contexts. Beyond existing networks, ESPRONCEDA actively seeks new partnerships to expand the scope and impact of the project, contributing to a more solid and diverse European creative network. As part of its commitment, ESPRONCEDA will host the project residencies in Spain during 2026–2027, providing a space for experimentation, collaboration, and professional growth at the intersection of art, design, and digital innovation.

Key themes of the project

Time for (S) Heroes is built around a set of shared values and forward-looking themes:

• Sustainable design & circular economy
• Cross-disciplinary international collaboration
• Digital innovation and new technologies
• Mentoring & professional growth
• Inclusive storytelling and cultural exchange

Time for (S) Heroes Ambassador Programme

The (S) Heroes Ambassador Programme is a growing, cross-disciplinary community for individuals who want to be part of a wider movement around sustainable, collaborative, and future-oriented design.

The ambassador role is light, flexible, and adaptable, offering opportunities to grow professionally while building meaningful international connections.

What ambassadors do:

• Represent the project in their local context
• Share opportunities and insights on social media (optional, with ready-made templates)
• Join occasional online catch-ups with the international team
• Use a simple activity tracker to keep an overview of involvement

What ambassadors gain:

• International visibility and global connections
• Professional and creative growth
• An official certificate
• Added value for portfolios and CVs

Who we’re looking for:

We welcome ambassadors from different backgrounds, disciplines, and career stages who are:

• Interested in sustainability, culture, or cross-disciplinary collaboration
• Curious about international cooperation
• Open to connecting with people from different fields and countries
• Comfortable communicating in English
• Motivated to engage in flexible outreach activities

Join the (S) Heroes Ambassador Initiative

Are you looking to gain experience in an international EU-funded creative project while growing your professional profile, communication skills, and creative network?

As an (S) Heroes Communication Ambassador, you become part of a European initiative connecting sustainability, design, and creative communities across borders. The role is flexible and co-shaped with the team—you choose how and when to get involved.

Even if you’re not fully sure yet, you’re welcome to join. Joining does not commit you to anything—it simply opens a conversation.

Get involved: https://timeforsheroes.eu/ambassadors

Stay tuned: https://timeforsheroes.eu/

Open Call: Coming Spring 2026

The Open Call for Time for (S) Heroes will be announced in spring 2026.

Participants will gain access to free learning materials and capacity-building support through a dedicated digital portal, including guidance on sustainability and circular practices, Installation art, Integration of digital technologies in fashion and costume design.

This phase is designed to equip participants with both conceptual tools and practical skills before moving into collaborative project development.

At ESPRONCEDA, we are proud to support Time for (S) Heroes and to be part of a European network that empowers emerging creatives through sustainability, collaboration, and innovation.