The Pilot of the BSR Cultural Pearls programme is launched

The partnership within the project “Baltic Sea Region Cultural Pearls for more resilient cities and regions” co-financed by the Interreg BSR programme has launched a pilot of the BSR Cultural Pearls programme and a title for 2024. Applications for participation in the pilot can be submitted by September 8. More information on www.culturalpearls.eu.

The aim of BSR Cultural Pearls is strengthening the capacity of cities to increase social resilience through culture by helping cities, towns and municipalities to work with their communities to increase quality of life, attractiveness and well-being, while strengthening their international profile and visibility.

Annually, four candidates – each from a different Baltic Sea Region country, will be awarded the title of BSR Cultural Pearl by an international jury.

The first cities, municipalities and other settlements are invited to participate in the pilot of the project to become the first BSR Cultural Pearl title holders while helping the partnership to develop this new initiative.

The application process for becoming a BSR Cultural Pearl launched on 10 August has two stages: a Pre-Selection questionnaire to select a limited number of candidates based on their eligibility, motivation and potential to enter the second round, and a full application during which the selected candidates will be invited to develop more detailed vision and programme based on the Culture & Resilience Action Plan template. Those submitting the most convincing action plans will be awarded the BSR Cultural Pearl title.

After the Selection process pilot, the four successful BSR Cultural Pearls 2024 will be announced on 1 December, 2023.

More information about the project can be found on www.culturalpearls.eu.


The BSR Cultural Pearls project is co-funded by the Interreg Baltic Sea Region programme and implemented by Council of the Baltic Sea States Secretariat, Regional Council of Ostrobothnia, Danish Cultural Institute, Vidzeme Planning Region, Baltic Sea Cultural Centre, Heinrich Böll Foundation Schleswig-Holstein, Creative Estonia, Ministry of Justice, European Affairs and Consumer Protection of Land Schleswig-Holstein, ARS BALTICA / Nordkolleg, Varde Municipality, Alytus city municipality administration and us – Northern Dimension Partnership on Culture.