Tastes of Tolerance

Art and Food Against Hate

The Tastes of Tolerance project, funded by the European Union’s CERV programme, aims to combat hate speech through art and gastronomy while promoting inclusive citizenship.

The Growing Challenge of Hate Speech in Europe

Across Europe, online and offline hate speech continues to fuel discrimination, polarisation and social exclusion, disproportionately affecting vulnerable groups and undermining fundamental rights. Despite increasing awareness, effective and lasting action against hate is hindered by fragmented responses, limited cooperation and persistent underreporting.

Art and Gastronomy to Combat Hate

Art and gastronomy promote intercultural dialogue, empathy, mutual understanding, and inclusion. Gastronomy is a universal practice rooted in memory, identity, and belonging. Sharing a meal can create safe spaces for connection and dialogue, bridging linguistic, generational and cultural differences. Similarly, participatory arts, including storytelling, theatre, visual arts and creative writing, offer non-confrontational ways to broaden perspectives, humanise different experiences and challenge stereotypes.

From Local Action to European Impact

Implemented in four pilot cities — Barcelona, Lisbon, Rome and Lyon —, Tastes of Tolerance brings together civil society organisations, educational institutions, social and solidarity economy enterprises and public authorities through a 5-Helix cooperation model to co-create Local Action Plans tailored to local needs and challenges related to hate speech and discrimination.

Through educational programmes, capacity-building activities, creative workshops, community events and awareness campaigns, the project aims to empower vulnerable communities, young people, and educators while strengthening local cooperation and promoting diversity, dignity and inclusion.

To ensure long-term impact, the project will develop practical toolkits, educational resources through the Tastes of Tolerance Academy, and evidence-based policy recommendations, developing a replicable methodology that other communities and organisations can adopt across Europe.

Five Partners Across Four European Countries

Tastes of Tolerance brings together five complementary organisations from Spain, France, Italy and Portugal, combining expertise in social inclusion, education, gastronomy, culture and European project development.

The consortium is coordinated by Mescladís (Spain) and includes:

Kaléido’Scop (France)

ENGIM (Italy)

CRESCER (Portugal)

B.Link Barcelona Strategic Projects (Spain)

Together, the partners will combine local knowledge and transnational cooperation to develop, test and share practical approaches to combating hate speech and fostering more inclusive communities across Europe.

B Link will act as the leader of the Communication and Dissemination strategy, ensuring the design and implementation of a plan that puts forward the value and renders the project’s contribution to the combat of hate speech visible and relevant. In parallel, B. Link will also handle the financial and administrative management and monitoring to ensure an effective implementation and secure the achievement of the project’s objectives.

Coordinator contact details – Mescladís: carlota@mescladis.org

Funded by the European Union. Views and opinions expressed are however those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or the European Education and Culture Executive Agency (EACEA). Neither the European Union nor EACEA can be held responsible for them.