The Citizen Artist Incubator (CAI) aims bridge the gap between traditional categorizations of ‘high’ and ‘low’ (or‘community’) arts by facilitating unprecedented initiatives on the edge of artistic innovation and human need. It builds on the “Citizen Artist” phenomenon (Aspen Institute/June 2013;full definition Project Description p1), which describes artists, who recently started to seek innovative ways of employing their craft with the goal to maximize transformative impacts and reach underrepresented audiences. Developing and realizing such initiatives is challenging, as it requires a high level of artistic skill, a bird’s eye view, vision, creativity, an entrepreneurial spirit & a network to develop new partnerships. Hence not surprising, they remain few and their initiatives dispersed. In line with the new EU external cultural relation agenda, the CAI is the first program worldwide designed to strategically professionalize and empower a larger generation of Citizen Artists through an intense incubation program. To ensure high quality outcome, it will assemble 15 carefully selected performing artists from across Europe at a time, who demonstrate potential to become cultural entrepreneurs successfully impacting society. The CAI is designed to offer opportunities of interaction among European stakeholders (Policy makers, academics, experts etc.), all of which will also benefit from direct interaction & exchange with artists. The Incubator will offer: 1.Training and information sessions on topics that form a vital foundation to Citizen Artists’ work, e.g. policy goals, IR & cultural diplomacy, change management, media, conflict resolution. 2.Time & space for exchange of ideas with experts and other participants, and to develop concrete Citizen Artist Initiatives & implementation plans.3.A network to form collaborations with new partners and develop innovative funding plans for their projects. 4.A Virtual Incubator to support Incubees during project implementation.