The Aim
The main aim of our conference will be to analyze and disseminate the experiences of four cultural laboratories established in France, Italy, Slovenia and Montenegro in the framework of the Sostenuto Project. These pilot experiences, carried out with the support of the European Union’s Med Programme, have proved that culture can be understood as a channel for individual and collective expression but also as the driving force for a kind of social and economic change based on citizens and their links to their territories.

The context
At a time when Europe is seeing its foundations trembling, the European Union’s member States are aware of the need to set aside the old development models and look for alternatives to brace its future. Now that the next Culture Programme and the future Cohesion Policy are taking shape, it is essential to redirect our gaze towards culture and place it on the frontlines of the efforts to build a smarter, more sustainable and more inclusive Europe.

The programme
During the conference, the project partners the conference we will present the experiences of the cultural laboratories and the research conducted throughout the project. We will also encourage discussions around the role of culture in Europe’s future, the influence of cultural policies in the territories and the relationships between culture, creativity and innovation.

The conference is addressed to
Artists, cultural operators and cultural managers
 Researchers specialized in cultural economics, cultural policies, creativity and innovation
 Advisors and policymakers in charge of cultural policy, innovation and local/regional development in Europe and the Med space
 Culture-curious, art-loving and creative individuals