The PeerMent Barcelona Gathering

The Creative and Cultural Industries (CCI) have always been dynamic, innovative, and boundary-pushing. However, behind this glamorous world lies a harsh reality for young professionals just stepping into the field: precarity, Imposter Syndrome, creative burnout, and fierce competition.

So, how can we support emerging talents as they navigate this stormy sea? To answer this question and share the innovative solutions we have developed, the PeerMent project consortium came together with our local stakeholders in the historic and inspiring atmosphere of Centre Cívic Pati Llimona in the heart of Barcelona.

Digital and Practical Solutions for Real Industry Needs

Our multiplier event brought together a highly valued group of 30 key stakeholders, including vocational education and training (VET) providers, creative hub managers, young designers, and policymakers. It was not just a presentation, but a powerful brainstorming session on the future of the creative industries.

During the event, we introduced the core outputs we brought to life under the Erasmus+ KA210 VET program, which transform mentoring from an informal, unstructured advice process into a standardized and measurable framework:

MENTRA (Mentoring Training Programme): A VET curriculum specifically tailored to industry dynamics, focusing on role clarity and balancing power dynamics.

MENTGEE (CCI Mentoring Guide): Our ultimate handbook for mentors, featuring practical tools like the V.I.B.E. (Vision, Needs, Barriers, Action) goal-setting framework and the W.A.I.T. (Why Am I Talking?) active listening principle to effectively guide young professionals (Rising Stars).

MOP (Mentoring Online Platform): A comprehensive digital ecosystem equipped with self-paced learning modules, video training series, and an automated certification system.

Innovation Born from Crisis: Mentoring Beyond Borders

One of the most engaging parts of our gathering at Pati Llimona was sharing how we turned unavoidable project crises into massive opportunities. When unforeseen force majeure events halted our physical mobilities, we didn’t give up. Instead, utilizing our lump-sum budget flexibility, we transformed our training into a fully digital, innovative bootcamp.

We proudly presented the Online Facilitator Guide and the Interactive Digital Playbook, which we developed with extra effort during this transition. Advanced digital pedagogy techniques, such as the 10-Minute Interaction Cycle to prevent screen fatigue, alongside screen-sharing tools like the Skill Gap Analysis, received high praise from attending educational institutions and freelancers.

Walking Together Towards the Future

The networking session at the end of our event proved just how eager the local Barcelona ecosystem is for structured support mechanisms. Seeing participating organizations express their desire to integrate the MENTRA and MENTGEE tools into their own internal training programs was the greatest reward for our sustainability goals.

Hosted by OTOXO Productions, with the invaluable contributions of Les Créatives de demain (France) and EFTA (Turkey), PeerMent has proven to be more than just an educational project; it is a pan-European peer mentoring network that supports, grows, and empowers its members.

We would like to thank all the participants who joined us at Pati Llimona, shared our vision, and believed in the power of solidarity within the creative industries.

You can access all our open-source materials, digital guides, and the online learning platform for free on our project website. You are not alone in your creative journey!