InnoCulture Conference – Culture and Creativity driving innovative solutions – Gdańsk, Poland

Inese is an expert in the field of development planning, business and entrepreneurship, environment and climate change as well as external funding. She holds and has held multiple roles within this field for many years. Currently, she is Deputy Mayor of Cēsis Municipality, Deputy Chair of Vidzeme Planning Region Development Board and Lead of Innovation Transfer Group of international political network BSSSC. Further, she is an experienced speaker and moderator for international conferences and workshops.

Krista is a Helsinki-based artist and developer who is interested in topics connected to art in societal renewal and sustainability. She is an expert on Arts-Based Innovations with her work at the Northern Dimension Partnership on Culture (NDPC) Secretariat in Riga as well as her ongoing PhD revolving around the topic. She sees cross-border collaborations as a key to a more sustainable future to be supported by practical tools and policies.

Kazimierz is Senior Adviser for priority area Regional Identity in the Council of the Baltic Sea States Secretariat in Stockholm and responsible for matters related to culture, higher education, and youth. Before joining the CBSS in 2023, he worked as a professor at the Institute of Scandinavian and Finnish Studies at the University of Gdańsk, Poland where he focused on studying regional cooperation and societies in Northern Europe and the Baltic Sea area.

This participatory lab will explore European perspectives on enhancing mental health and well-being through arts-based solutions and multi-stakeholder alliances involving cities and regions. Participants, including researchers, health and arts sector representatives, and Arts on Prescription practitioners, will collaborate to develop policies that integrate arts into health promotion and well-being initiatives. Inspired by a World Health Organisation report highlighting the health benefits of the arts, the lab will focus on sharing best practices and experiences, particularly from regions like Denmark and Sweden that have made significant progress. The “Arts on Prescription in the Baltic Sea Region” project, involving partners from Denmark, Finland, Germany, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, and Sweden, serves as a model for implementing and evaluating such initiatives. The event aims to create recommendations for national funding programmes to expand arts interventions for health. It targets policy-makers, researchers, cultural and health professionals, and anyone interested in arts and well-being, with promotion on social media and partner websites to reach a broad audience.

Welcome to the ‘Culture x Sustainability’ workshop, conducted by the Goethe Institut and the CCI Contact Desk. This engaging and insightful session will explore the intersection of culture and sustainability, discussing how the cultural and creative industries can contribute to a more sustainable future. Together, we will delve into innovative ideas, practical strategies, and real-life examples that showcase the potential for cultural initiatives to drive positive environmental and social change. Get ready to be inspired, learn from each other, and explore the endless possibilities at the nexus of culture and sustainability!

This workshop aims to explore best practices in entrepreneurship within the creative sector, raising awareness of tools and ideas that drive success. By engaging participants from diverse creative backgrounds cross-sectoral innovation shall be sparked and valuable insights provided on how entrepreneurial thinking can be enhanced. The key question driving our discussions: “How can we learn and benefit from each other’s work in fostering entrepreneurship?” This workshop also addresses the need to connect entrepreneurs with the cultural and creative sectors to foster growth and innovation.

Join us to explore the challenges and opportunities related to temporary cross-border movement for artists and cultural professionals. This workshop will focus on the critical role of residency programs in supporting their work and provide a comprehensive overview of EU programs in this area. Participants will gain insights into how to carry out joint mobility projects with international partners and take part in discussions on best practices and innovative approaches. Our goal is to provide participants with the knowledge and resources necessary to navigate the complexities of cross-border cultural exchange and to encourage meaningful international collaborations.

The field of cultural practice for social change is expanding, focusing on engaging community members through cultural activities to foster social resilience and empowerment. According to Alexis Frasz in her article “Culture and Community Power Building,” the arts play a critical role in transforming individuals from passive participants in democracy to active agents within it. When people engage in shared cultural experiences, they develop relationships and a sense of agency that can be leveraged in various contexts, such as addressing urban challenges or developing long-term community strategies. This engagement not only empowers communities to push for change but also enhances individuals’ health and well-being by fostering social cohesion.

The upcoming workshop aims to introduce cultural planning as outlined in the UrbCulturalPlanning project, emphasizing its role in promoting innovation and engaging communities through creative processes. Participants will learn tools for designing bottom-up initiatives that leverage local cultural resources. Using the cultural planning roadmap, the workshop will guide attendees in developing strategies for community engagement and empowerment through cultural assets like libraries, art centers, and local theaters. The workshop will be led by Professor Dorota Kamrowska-Załuska and Dr. Hanna Obracht-Prondzyńska, both experienced in urban design and community projects.