BSR Cultural Pearls

THE DAY OF THE BIG REVEAL HAS COME! Who are the Awardees of the BSR #CulturalPearlsTitle 2025? The international jury has chosen 6 municipalities from the Baltic Sea Region to be awarded the Cultural Pearls 2025 title based on convincing and ambitious Culture and Resilience Action Plans aimed at enhancing community resilience through cultural initiatives. These municipalities selected from 14 outstanding candidates across the Baltic Sea Region are: Helsingborg (Sweden) Alytus District (Lithuania) Peipsiääre (Estonia) Płock (Poland) Kaskinen- Kaskö (Finland) Smiltene (Latvia) Becoming a Cultural Pearl and implementing a well-prepared Culture and Resilience action plan brings many advantages for the awarded municipality and its residents. By involving residents in decision-making and cultural activities, these municipalities create a stronger sense of belonging. This connection helps communities face unexpected challenges together with greater confidence and mutual trust. The dedication and efforts of the non-selected candidates in striving to strengthen social resilience in their communities have been acknowledged too. Along with the BSR Cultural Pearls 2025, they become part of the project network, joining the BSR Cultural Pearls 2024: Svendborg (Denmark), Kiel (Germany), Jakobstad-Pietarsaari (Finland) and Rūjiena (Latvia). We thank all candidates, our jury (Jonas Büchel, Ann Irene Sæternes, Julie Hervé, Oleg Koefoed, Külli Hansen, Leena Marsio, Antoni Wyligała) and our partners for making the BSR Cultural Pearls journey in strengthening our communities worth taking! To read more visit: https://lnkd.in/dCGmvB7Y #culturalpearls #culturalpearlstitle #cultureforresilience Heinrich-Böll-Stiftung Schleswig-Holstein    Loov Eesti/Creative Estonia   Varde Kommune   Vidzemes plānošanas reģions / Vidzeme Planning Region   Alytaus miesto savivaldybė   Regional Council of Ostrobothnia   Northern Dimension Partnership on Culture - NDPC  Danish Cultural Institute Danish Cultural Institute in Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania   Council of the Baltic Sea States   Interreg Baltic Sea Region Helsingborgs stad Smiltenes novada pašvaldība

CULTURAL PEARLS 2025 JURY We are happy and honoured to introduce you to the other 4 out of 8 members of the International jury selecting BSR Cultural Pearls 2025! They again represent different organizations enabling the holistic assessment that reflects the multifaceted nature of the challenges and opportunities faced by communities in the region. This diversity enhances the credibility and fairness of our evaluation process, fostering innovation and inclusivity in the towns and cities we champion. Read more: https://lnkd.in/dXBbsZiH #cultureforresilience #bsrculturalpearls #culturalpearlstitle #madewithinterreg Heinrich-Böll-Stiftung Schleswig-Holstein    Loov Eesti/Creative Estonia   Varde Kommune    Vidzemes plānošanas reģions / Vidzeme Planning Region   Alytaus miesto savivaldybė   Regional Council of Ostrobothnia   Northern Dimension Partnership on Culture - NDPC   Danish Cultural Institute Danish Cultural Institute in Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania   Council of the Baltic Sea States   Interreg Baltic Sea Region Baltic Sea States Subregional Co-operation (BSSSC) Tartu Centre for Creative Industries

On 30 and 31 October @EUSBSR Annual Forum 2024, the yearly gathering for collaboration in the #BalticSeaRegion within the framework of the EU Strategy for the Baltic Sea Region is taking place in Visby, Sweden. #Sustainability, #Resilience, and #Security being the main themes, the BSR Cultural Pearls project Lead partner Council of the Baltic Sea States is organizing a panel discussion on 30 October, 16:45 "Recipes for Resilience – Communities, Culture and Comprehensive Security". Join researchers, national agencies for civil protection, local authorities, and Ukrainian stakeholders in a conversation on how to integrate various resilience narratives into a regional understanding of comprehensive security: How can the narratives of civil protection and social resilience be united in practice? What formats for learning, development and exchange exist in the BSR? What can the experiences of Ukraine teach us about communities in crisis? And what role does culture, cohesion and identity play? And #bsrculturalpearls is of the practical examples! Many of our dear project partners are also attending the Annual Forum, so you might run into them! Read more on the upcoming panel: https://lnkd.in/deuSdbeR #cultureforresilience #bsrculturalpearls #culturalpearlstitle Heinrich-Böll-Stiftung Schleswig-Holstein    Loov Eesti/Creative Estonia   Varde Kommune    Vidzemes plānošanas reģions / Vidzeme Planning Region  Alytaus miesto savivaldybė   Regional Council of Ostrobothnia  Northern Dimension Partnership on Culture - NDPC   Danish Cultural Institute Danish Cultural Institute in Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania     Interreg Baltic Sea Region  

WEBINAR ON STORYTELLING To conclude the series of the webinars for our BSR Cultural Pearls 2024 title holders sharing insights on how to strengthen the communities and their sense of belonging to a place in order to make them more resilient in the face of unexpected challenges, we invite everyone interested to unlock the power of storytelling to highlight your city's unique cultural strengths and create a compelling narrative that truly resonates with your residents. In this webinar, you will discover practical strategies for engaging local communities, boosting cooperation, and fostering a strong sense of belonging. Gain valuable insights on how small cities can revitalize themselves from within by focusing on their own residents, building pride and identity. Una Rozenbauma, a creative director and expert in storytelling, will share practical approaches for building a city’s cultural identity. With experience in promoting Latvian culture and creating powerful narratives, Una will offer valuable insights on how storytelling can transform community engagement and strengthen a city's identity. Monday, November 4, 9:00 CET To register for the webinar, follow: https://lnkd.in/dP8AcuUk #culturalpearls #bsrculturalpearls #culturalpearlstitle #cultureforresilience #storytelling #culture Heinrich-Böll-Stiftung Schleswig-Holstein    Loov Eesti/Creative Estonia   Varde Kommune    Vidzemes plānošanas reģions / Vidzeme Planning Region  Alytaus miesto savivaldybė   Regional Council of Ostrobothnia   Northern Dimension Partnership on Culture - NDPC   Danish Cultural Institute   Council of the Baltic Sea States Danish Cultural Institute in Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania   Interreg Baltic Sea Region   Svendborg Kommune  Staden Jakobstad - Pietarsaaren kaupunki  Valmiera City  Landeshauptstadt Kiel

INTRODUCING THE JURY SELECTING CULTURAL PEARLS 2025 With only a few weeks left before the deadline for submitting the Culture and Resilience Action Plan (CuReAP) for towns and cities vying for the BSR Cultural Pearls 2025 title, we are excited to introduce the members of our international jury! Meet the first 4 out of 8! The international jury will evaluate candidates based on their compelling action plans that leverage culture to enhance citizen engagement, foster a sense of belonging, and build stronger, more resilient communities. Read more: https://lnkd.in/dXBbsZiH #cultureforresilience #bsrculturalpearls #culturalpearlstitle #madewithinterreg Heinrich-Böll-Stiftung Schleswig-Holstein    Loov Eesti/Creative Estonia   Varde Kommune    Vidzemes plānošanas reģions / Vidzeme Planning Region   Alytaus miesto savivaldybė   Regional Council of Ostrobothnia   Northern Dimension Partnership on Culture - NDPC   Danish Cultural Institute Danish Cultural Institute in Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania  Council of the Baltic Sea States  Interreg Baltic Sea Region  

LOOKING FOR A PRACTICAL GUIDE ON HOW TO STRENGTHEN YOUR COMMUNITY? If you are a local or regional authority eager to strengthen and empower your community and looking for some inspiration, examples and concreate introduction to the topic, we suggest delving into the 'Culture for social resilience Guidebook', a publication by the 'BSR Cultural Pearls' project available in English, German and Latvian. We believe that strong, capable, and engaged communities can create liveable, well-managed cities prepared for the future. They ensure better lives for their inhabitants, allow for better decision-making, and ultimately create resilient societies able to withstand and overcome challenges. The Guidebook gives answers to the following questions: ·      What is social resilience? ·      How does culture build social resilience? ·      Why does participation matter? ·      Where do I start? – The Culture & Resilience Action Plan We invite you to join us and participate in the process of making your town, city, or municipality more resilient by building a better, stronger, and more flexible community – in other words, a community better prepared for today's challenges and for future ones. To read and download the “Culture for social resilience Guidebook” please visit https://lnkd.in/dUfWCP_2 Learn more what BSR Cultural Pearls project and a Title is about by visiting www.culturalpearls.eu #cultureforresilience #bsrculturalpearls #culturalpearls #madewithinterreg Heinrich-Böll-Stiftung Schleswig-Holstein Loov Eesti/Creative Estonia   Varde Kommune    Vidzemes plānošanas reģions / Vidzeme Planning Region  Alytaus miesto savivaldybė   Regional Council of Ostrobothnia   Northern Dimension Partnership on Culture - NDPC   Danish Cultural Institute Danish Cultural Institute in Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania Council of the Baltic Sea States   Interreg Baltic Sea Region

CULTURAL PEARLS MEET TO LEARN, TO EXCHANGE, TO NETWORK On 18-19 September the representatives from the cities awarded the BSR Cultural Pearls 2024 title – Kiel (DE), Svendborg (DK), Jakobstad/Pietarsaari (FI) and Rujiena (LV), met in Landeshauptstadt Kiel to take part in the BSR Cultural Pearls Transnational Exchange. During the two-day visit, they got to know the landmarks of Kiel and the things the city is proud of, but mainley shared their success stories and challenges of the title year so far. These exchanges help cities avoid repeating mistakes, speeding up the process of finding effective solutions by learning from others. The second day of the exchange programme took place back-to-back with the Baltic Sea States Subregional Co-operation (BSSSC) Annual Conference, raising the profile of the project and offering international visibility to our first BSR Cultural Pearl title holders. The exchange visit ended with the grand Cultural Evening at the Schauspielhaus Theatre where the representatives of the Cultural Pearls 2024 had the chance to introduce themselves to the international BSSSC Annual Conference delegate’s audience with their aims in engaging the local communities, achievements, experiences, and future plans regarding the BSR Cultural Pearls project. To learn more what the BSR Cultural Pearls Transnational exchange programme entails follow: https://lnkd.in/dqqhWAxd #cultureforresilience #bsrculturalpearls #culturalpearlstitle #MadewithInterreg Svendborg Kommune  Staden Jakobstad - Pietarsaaren kaupunki  Valmiera City  Landeshauptstadt Kiel Heinrich-Böll-Stiftung Schleswig-Holstein    Loov Eesti/Creative Estonia  Varde Kommune    Vidzemes plānošanas reģions / Vidzeme Planning Region  Alytaus miesto savivaldybė   Regional Council of Ostrobothnia   Northern Dimension Partnership on Culture - NDPC   Danish Cultural Institute Danish Cultural Institute in Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania   Council of the Baltic Sea States   Interreg Baltic Sea Region

HOW DOES CULTURE BUILD SOCIAL RESILIENCE? Join our webinar on 25th September, 10:00 CET with Abbas Sbeity to explore innovative ways to support social cohesion in cities through creative and cultural approaches. Drawing from his experiences working with municipalities, Abbas will present case studies on placemaking, public interventions, and participatory methods that have contributed to building more connected communities. Moreover, he will demonstrate how these strategies can be applied to enhance collaboration and engagement in urban settings. Abbas Sbeity (b. 1991, Lebanon) is a designer, curator, and cultural manager based in Helsingborg, Sweden. He leads Creative Insights Studio, offering design and research consultancies for the public sector and development agencies, and runs his curatorial practice through his newly founded organization, Kulturrummet, focusing on site-specific, community-driven projects. He also teaches Design Theory and Management at the Académie Libanaise des Beaux-Arts (Lebanon) and is a guest lecturer in the Embedded Design program at HDK-Valand, Gothenburg University (Sweden).   Link for joining the webinar: https://lnkd.in/dcFU57Hr #cultureforresilience #bsrculturalpearls #culturalparls #culturalpearlstitle Heinrich-Böll-Stiftung Schleswig-Holstein    Loov Eesti/Creative Estonia   Varde Kommune    Vidzemes plānošanas reģions / Vidzeme Planning Region   Alytaus miesto savivaldybė   Regional Council of Ostrobothnia   Northern Dimension Partnership on Culture - NDPC   Danish Cultural Institute Danish Cultural Institute in Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania Council of the Baltic Sea States   Interreg Baltic Sea Region  

MEET THE BSR CULTURAL PEARLS AND PROJECT PARTNERS Within the Baltic Sea States Subregional Co-operation (BSSSC) annual conference on September 19th and 20th, BSR Cultural Pearl 2024 Landeshauptstadt Kiel is inviting all interested individuals to a cultural evening at the Schauspielhaus Theater Kiel on September 19th at 19:30 CET. Admission is free of charge. Registration is mandatory. As does the whole BSR Cultural Pearls project, the event will explore how culture can contribute to social resilience. A panel discussion, moderated by Kiel based television journalist Kristin Recke from the NDR Schleswig-Holstein, will include representatives from all four Cultural Pearls: Svendborg (Denmark) Svendborg Kommune, Kiel (Germany) Landeshauptstadt Kiel, Jakobstad (Finland) Staden Jakobstad - Pietarsaaren kaupunki and Rūjiena (Latvia). The cultural programme will feature performances by the academies of Kiel Theatre, the MeerManege Kiel as well as an excerpt from the Kiel Theatre's current production of 'Romeo and Juliet'. Registration for the event is mandatory and can be done via email kreativ@kiel.de We are looking forward to meeting you in Kiel! Find out more here: https://lnkd.in/dBrv_NVH #cultureforresilience #bsrculturalpearls #culturalpearlstitle #madewithinterreg Heinrich-Böll-Stiftung Schleswig-Holstein    Loov Eesti/Creative Estonia   Varde Kommune    Vidzemes plānošanas reģions / Vidzeme Planning Region   Alytaus miesto savivaldybė   Regional Council of Ostrobothnia  Northern Dimension Partnership on Culture - NDPC   Danish Cultural Institute   Danish Cultural Institute in Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania Council of the Baltic Sea States   Interreg Baltic Sea Region  

HOW TO ENGAGE THE COMMUNITIES Continuing our Webinar series, we are exploring this question, and invite you to join the session on 12 September, 10CET in Zoom to hear more. The webinar is a part of the BSR Cultural Pearls 2025 Culture and Resilience Action plan Developemen phase when the candidates are in the process of shaping their visions, but everyone interested is welcome to participate. The presentation lead by Ida Brændholt Lundgaard will share insights from the Danish project fund Art and Culture in Vulnerable Residential Areas, organized by the Danish Agency for Culture. The fund supports locally rooted partnerships between social housing stakeholders, residents, cultural workers, and artists, with co-creation being a key requirement for all projects. Ida will explain why this approach is crucial, what co-creation can contribute, and how projects are implemented through site-specific practices, learning, and method development. She will also share a few concrete examples of these projects. The presentation will be followed by a conversation, inviting questions and the sharing of personal experiences with co-creation. JOIN in ZOOM: https://lnkd.in/dEnWQa_k #cultureforresilience #bsrculturalpearls #culturalpearlstitle #madewithinterreg Interreg Baltic Sea Region Heinrich-Böll-Stiftung Schleswig-Holstein    Loov Eesti/Creative Estonia   Varde Kommune    Vidzemes plānošanas reģions / Vidzeme Planning Region   Alytaus miesto savivaldybė   Regional Council of Ostrobothnia   Northern Dimension Partnership on Culture - NDPC   Danish Cultural Institute Danish Cultural Institute in Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania  Council of the Baltic Sea States