An international jury has recently revealed the winners of the BSR Cultural Pearls title for 2024. Among the 12 contenders from the Baltic Sea Region, the cities of Svendborg (Denmark), Kiel (Germany), Jakobstad (Finland), and Rūjiena (Latvia) stood out for their outstanding efforts in crafting Culture and Social Resilience Action Plans.
These plans, designed to enhance community resilience through culture and creativity, earned the nod from a diverse international jury of experts in social resilience, urban planning, arts, and culture. The jury, inclusive of representatives from pan-Baltic and European organizations, carefully selected the most impactful and convincing action plans.
The winning cities—Svendborg, Kiel, Jakobstad, and Rūjiena—will embark on an enriching year-long Cultural Pearls program. This includes mentorship for action plan implementation, expert interventions for capacity-building, networking opportunities, international exchanges, and a ready-made model for procuring services from the local Culture and Creative Sector, all covered by the project.
Even though not all candidates secured the title, their dedication to enhancing social resilience has not gone unnoticed. As part of the BSR Cultural Pearls network, they will have access to valuable knowledge and best practices on culture-driven social resilience.
The next call for applications opens on April 1st and is open to all towns, cities, and regional authorities in the BSR. For more information, visit the website: www.culturalpearls.eu or contact the project lead, Felix Schartner Giertta – CBSS Secretariat, felix.schartner.giertta@cbss.org.
UBC is an Associated Partner in the project.
