Baltic Sea Cultural Cities
Project Duration
1 June 2019 – 30 November 2020
Water connects us, but culture unites us.
Keywords
Baltic Sea Region, cultural cooperation, regional identity, youth participation, small municipalities.
Summary
How can culture strengthen connections across borders without the pressure of competition? The Baltic Sea Cultural Cities initiative set out to answer this by inviting cities and regions to step into the spotlight together, showcasing their culture while inspiring and learning from each other.
This cross-border project fostered cooperation and regional identity across the Baltic Sea Region (BSR) by proposing a recurring, cooperative nomination of “Baltic Sea Cities/Regions of Culture.” Unlike many models focused on big cities, BSCC highlighted small and medium-sized municipalities as active contributors to the region’s cultural future. It encouraged shared initiatives and citizen-led participation, with a strong emphasis on engaging young people and groups often left out of decision-making.
Objectives
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Highlight the rich cultural diversity of the Baltic Sea Region
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Build a sense of shared identity and belonging through culture
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Create opportunities for young people to engage in shaping regional policies
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Empower local communities and future region-builders through inclusive participation
Key Activities
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Hosting digital workshops on funding opportunities (Creative Europe, Interreg)
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Participating in the 13th PA Culture Workshop to align with regional strategies
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Mapping future funding strategies in collaboration with REM Consultancy
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Maintaining and expanding collaboration despite COVID-19 disruptions
Results
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Built a strong network of cultural actors across 10+ organisations in the region
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Shaped a long-term vision for a recurring cultural city/region nomination process
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Raised the visibility of cultural cooperation across the Baltic Sea Region
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Developed a strategic pathway for moving from pilot funding to sustainable support
Explore the project’s results and learnings.