”My purpose is to think and create better conditions for the practice of independent creative work and thereby contribute to increase the impact that the creative and collaborative ecosystem has on society and economy.

It was with this drive that in 2012 I created CRU Creative Hub in the artistic quarter of Porto, where dozens of professionals from the creative industries meet daily to work, learn and socialize.

It is also for this purpose that I advocate for the sustainability and proliferation of Creative Hubs in a European political context.

Purpose & Work

CRU, in a single place, combines a coworking space with an informal and flexible environment aimed at professionals from the creative industries, a design store that emphasizes not only the originality of each product but also the commitment of each brand to sustainability and fair trade, a specialty coffee bar as a unique meeting point for the entire community, an art exhibition area with regular programming and audiovisual production studios, namely photography and audio recording.

CRU offers space and services continuously adjusted to the practice of each member of its community, focusing on creative practice, facilitating networking and promoting an environment of productivity and well-being in the community.

website | instagram | linkedin

The European Creative Hubs Network is a peer-led network with a mission to enhance the creative, economic and social impact of hubs.
As focal points for creative businesses, hubs offer the most effective way to support the growth and development of creative industries.

To achieve this, hubs themselves need to network, to pool resources, share best practices, and build on advocacy, policy and opportunities.

It is clear that the European Creative Hubs Network offers the best route to support hubs, and hence Europe’s creative industries.

website | instagram | linkedin

Bombarda – Quarteirão Criativo (QC) is an non profit Association for Local Development  and aims to promote the identity of the territory known as Bombarda – the Porto Creative District.

The mission of Quarteirão Criativo Association is designed around the building of a local economy where the collective management, sharing of resources and coordination of actions of the local community guarantee the intelligent and sustainable growth of the business ecosystem and the consequent enhancement of the quality of life of its residents.

website | instagram | linkedin

MORE ABOUT TÂNIA

About

Tânia Almeida Santos was born and is based in Porto, Portugal.

She is graduated in Psychology and a is Master practitioner in Economics and Innovation Management, at FEP – Porto University.

In 2012 she founded CRU, a Creative Hub dedicated to developing a multidisciplinary and extensive community of professionals from the creative industries, based in Porto, Portugal.

With more than 10 years of experience running this hub and managing this creative community of professionals, Tânia’s main interests and work focus are Entrepreneurship and Creative Business Development, Creativity, Human Centered Design, Collaborative Work and Innovation in the Cultural and Creative Industries.

Since 2018, Tânia is a board member of the European Creative Hubs Network, a non-profit organization that aims to connect and support creative hubs across Europe. In 2019 Tânia was elected, and reelected in 2022, as vice-president of this international network.

In 2022 she co-founded Quarteirão Criativo – Associação para o Desenvolvimento Local, a non-profit organization that aims to promote Bombarda – the creative district of Porto in it’s multi-dimensions: cultural, social, urbanistic, environmental and and economic, in a local, regional and international level.

She is a consultant and trainer in several international organizations in the fields of Creative Industries, Innovation, Community Building and Community Management.

Tânia Santos is a regular speaker at international conferences on topics as Coworking, Collaborative Networks, Creative Hubs and the Future of Work.

CURRICULUM VITAE

Academic Background

2017 | 2019
Economics and Innovation Management Master
FEP - Porto University
2001 | 2006
Psychology Graduation
ISMAI

Actual Positions

2022 | Now
Co-Founder and President
Bombarda - Quarteirão Criativo
2019 | Now
Vice President - Board of Directors
European Creative Hubs Network
2012 | Now
Co-Founder
CRU Creative Hub

Conferences and Special Events

2021| Ljubljana, SL
Moderator at 'Creative Forum: Future Unlocked!'
"Creative Hubs Session"
2020 | Online
Speaker at 'Hack Coworking' Conference
"Covid19: Coworking Stories"
2019 | Recife, BR
Speaker at 'RECn'PLAY'
"European networks and business experience in Creative Hubs"
2019 | Porto, PT
Moderator at 'Indie Workers Bootcamp'
"Creative Work and Collective Spaces"
2019 | Begrade, SR
Speaker at 'Creative BackSlash: from precarious individuals to resilient organizations'
"Creative Hubs: from serendipity places to engineered networks"
2019 | Porto, PT
Panelist at 'XING Fest'
"New Work"
2019 | Matera, IT
Speaker at 'The Era of Creative Hubs'
"Presentation of European Creative Hubs Network"
2018 | Porto, PT
Speaker at 'Porto RH Meeting'
"Coworking, creative ecosystems and the future of work"
2018 | Helsinki, FI
Panelist at 'LIFT - Culture and Media Arts Festival'
"European Creative Hubs Network Launching Presentation"
2018 | Vienna, AU
Panelist at 'Challenging the Content' for Austrian European Presidency
"Survival of the fittest or teamwork: alliances and innovation to European content for the future"
2018 | London, UK
Panelist at 'CONNECT!' for Creative Europe UK
"Value of Networks and How do you put a network together?"
2018 | Lesbos, GR
Speaker at 'Changemakers Summit'
"Creating Hubs as catalysts of change - stimulating local economic development, programs, integration, and investments"
2017 | Vitoria-Gasteiz, SP
Panelist at 'CoCoLab: Cooking ideas and the new collaborative networks'
"CRU Cowork study case"
2017 | Seville, SP
Speaker at 'Coworking Spain Conference'
"How to monetize a coworking space"

What can I do for you?

Teach

Coworking and Community Management, in formal or informal contexts, to groups or individuals

Speak

In Conferences and Special Events, about Creative Hubs, Coworking, Networks and Community Management

Consult

In new or existent projects of Creative Hubs, Coworking Spaces and other Creative Industries' related projects anywhere in the world
Get in touch for further info!