TRANSNATIONAL EVENTS

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Collab4HySust CCI in Athens Region: A Collective Leap for Cultural and Creative Innovation in Europe

 

Article by Emilia Bouriti, director and Takis Ktenidis, research consultant - Syn+Ergasia International Art Platform, photos by Voula Androni

 

On February 27 and 28, 2025, cultural and creative innovators from across Europe gathered in Greece for a milestone event under the Collab4HySustCCI project.
 

Hosted at the Cultural Centre of Municipality of Aspropyrgos and the Stavros Niarchos Foundation Cultural Centre in Athens, the event marked an important step forward in collaborative innovation.
 

The Knowledge Sharing Session 5 (KSS5), titled Review: Collab Innovation Pilots Growing Stronger & Collab for CCI Innovation International Exchange, brought together key stakeholders to exchange insights, strengthen partnerships, and explore new pathways for sustainable innovation in the cultural and creative industries.
 

This two-day gathering marked a pivotal moment in the evolution of the Collab4HySust CCI initiative, dedicated to fostering sustainability and innovation within the Cultural and Creative Industries (CCI) through co-creation, cross-border collaboration, and experimental pilot projects. Hosted in the historically and culturally rich Region of Athens (Attica), the event provided an inspiring setting for a dynamic exchange of knowledge, experiences, tools, and aspirations.
 

A Collaborative Celebration of Progress
 

The event’s structure reflected the core values of the Collab4HySustCCI initiative: openness, dialogue, and co-design. On day one, at the Cultural Centre in the Municipality of Aspropyrgos, the focus was on peer review of the innovation pilots, providing a platform for each team to present their journey—what they tested, what they learned, and the impact they have created and aim to sustain in the future. It was a moment of mutual recognition among peers piloting diverse methodologies to address common challenges such as community engagement, sustainability, circular practices, and digital experimentation.
 

The decision to hold the session in Aspropyrgos—a historically rural, post-industrial, and multicultural city in the Region of Athens—was intended to immerse participants in the local culture and inspire ideas for inclusion. As discussions unfolded, it became clear that many pilots address fragile communities and climate change. Recognizing the cultural diversity and dynamics of regional cities aligns with the goals of innovative projects such as Collab4HySustCCI, supporting their development in meaningful ways.
 

On day two, at the Stavros Niarchos Foundation Cultural Centre, the focus shifted toward showcasing results and deepening cross-border dialogue, with interactive sessions designed to facilitate knowledge-sharing and strengthen the collaborative ties between participants and other stakeholders. It wasn’t just about exchanging information—it was about fostering a culture of mutual learning, creating a shared vocabulary of innovation, and generating momentum for future initiatives.

The Power of Syn+Ergasia: Working With, Not Just Alongside
 

The Greek term Syn+Ergasia—meaning cooperation or collaboration—was not just part of the event's title, but the spirit animating every interaction. This ethos translated into an atmosphere of trust, generosity, and curiosity. Participants didn't just talk about collaboration—they practiced it in real-time, across languages, sectors, and regions.
 

What made this event particularly impactful was its interpersonal dimension. Beyond the formal sessions, there were informal moments of insight: shared meals, walking conversations, spontaneous brainstorms during coffee breaks. Aspropyrgos and Athens offered not just a venue, but a lived experience of cultural richness and connectivity.
 

Key Takeaways from the Region of Athens
 

   • Pilots as Laboratories of Change: Each innovation pilot demonstrated how local, grassroots experimentation can contribute to broader European transformation. From circular design in urban contexts to community storytelling in rural areas, the pilots are pioneering new pathways for sustainable cultural practice.
   • Exchange is Impact: The international scope of the event elevated every local initiative. Through peer feedback, shared tools, pitching and comparative reflection, the value of each pilot was both affirmed and amplified.
   • Building a Common Language for CCI Innovation: By bringing together practitioners, researchers, cultural managers, and policy shapers, the event helped to articulate a clearer shared framework for what cultural and creative innovation is today and where it's headed tomorrow.
   • Athens Region as Connector: The city’s legacy as a cradle of democracy, creativity, and philosophy provided a poetic resonance for the event. It reminded all participants that meaningful innovation is rooted in dialogue, participation, and civic imagination.
 

A Moment Within a Movement
 

As captured in the recent review published by Materahub this event is part of something larger: a collective European commitment to cultural innovation. The Collab project is not just coordinating pilots—it’s weaving a network of trust and experimentation that transcends borders and disciplines.
 

The Athens Region meeting embodied this ambition. It wasn’t simply a reporting exercise—it was a springboard. The ideas exchanged and relationships built during these two days will echo forward in the coming months, informing new activities, partnerships, and policy conversations.
 

Looking Ahead
 

The energy and inspiration generated in Athens Region will now feed into the next phases of the #Collab4HySustCCI project. In March 2025, the project is being showcased at the  European conference dedicated to cross-innovation CrossCon in Sweden’s Subtopia presented by Petya Koleva, Intercultura Consult. As pilots continue to evolve, the lessons learned during this exchange will shape future iterations, guide dissemination strategies, and spark new collaborative experiments.
 

More than an event, Collab in Athens Region was a demonstration of the power of working together, of cultural innovation as a shared European journey, and of the belief that sustainability, inclusion, and creativity must go hand-in-hand.
 

Stay tuned. The journey continues—stronger, deeper, and more connected than ever.

This project is co-funded by the Creative Europe Programme of the EU, the National Culture Fund of Bulgaria, and the Ministry of Culture of the Republic of Serbia, with additional support from Plovdiv Municipality as an associated partner.

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Collab4HySustCCI | Knowledge sharing session

 

From a innovation incubator to the emergence of transformative changes in the creative sector

 

The three-year European project Collab4HySustCCI, which aims to strengthen European cultural and creative actors based on sustainability, inclusiveness and innovation, is implementing its 4th and last knowledge sharing session. Five partners from Italy, Bulgaria, Serbia, Greece and Denmark, as well as 15 selected cultural organisations from the above mentioned countries, meet in a two-day action dedicated to innovation.

 

A participatory workshop with the local communities of West Attica, a constant reference and action point of Syn_Ergasia inaugurates the first day, while the second day welcomes interested cultural organisations from Greece.

 

Cultural organisations have the opportunity to share experiences, expectations and concerns about the present and future of the creative and cultural industries and to participate in exchange and networking actions with the perspective of new international partnerships in South-Eastern Europe and the horizon of innovative participatory and sustainable methods.

 

Dates: 27-28 February 2025

Location:Aspropyrgos Cultural Centre of Municipality of Aspropyrgos, Aspropyrgos (27.02.2025) & Stavros Niarchos Cultural Centre, Athens (28.02.2025) /online

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Who can participate? 

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✔️27 February, Aspropyrgos: women's communities of West Attica, women professionals of the cultural and creative sector from Aspropyrgos & Elefsina

✔️28 February, Athens: Cultural and creative industries professionals, cultural organizations, associations, social enterprises, creative professions cooperatives, representatives of cultural institutions

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The action will be hosted in Greece by Syn+Ergia, in partnership with the organisations: Matera Hub (Italy), Intercultura Consult (Bulgaria), Det Flyvende Teater (Denmark), Nova Iskra (Serbia), National Cultura Fund of Bulgaria for Collab4HySust, an innovation incubation project implemented with the support of the European Union and aimed at empowering cultural and creative actors in Europe to develop in a sustainable, participatory and innovative way.

 

The project provides mentoring, capacity building and small grants to selected organisations, leading the creative industries sector into a new era.

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At the same time, through targeted networking activities, the two-day event brings together cultural organisations, policy makers and funders, fostering cross-sectoral collaboration.

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Practical Information:

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🔖 27 February 2025 

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Subject: "Collab: a participatory workshop with local communities"

Time: To be announced (TBA)

Location: Cultural Centre of Municipality of Aspropyrgos, Aspropyrgos 

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✔️ Women's communities of West Attica, women professionals of the cultural and creative field from Aspropyrgos & Elefsina and wider in West Attica

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🔔 Stay tuned for more information and the possibility to participate

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🔖 28 February 2025 

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Topic: "Collab: international exchanges for innovation in the creative sector"

Time: 9:30 - 14:00

Location: Stavros Niarchos Cultural Centre, Athens & online

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✔️ Cultural and creative professionals, cultural organisations, associations, social enterprises, creative professions cooperatives, representatives of cultural institutions

 

Detailed programme for both days here

 

For more information, contact:

📧 Email: synergasia.org@gmail.com 

📞Tel: +30 6938707706, Emilia Bouriti, Artistic Director of Syn+Ergasia

 

Registrations here by the 20th of February

 

The following cultural organisations are participating in the international event:Club Silencio, Altrementi Labs, Il salone dei Rifiutati amaneï association (Italy), Αrte Urbana, Karakasyan & Artists, Flatline Collective, Ot nota do Cviat (Bulgaria), Street Art Belgrade, Polyhedra, Seoski kulturni centar Markovac (Servia), Open Farm, Acey-Europe (Greece), Limfjordsteatret (Denmark)

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Hybrid Horizons: Cultivating Creativity and Audience Engagement

 

Join us for the third Collab4HySust CCI event - an international knowledge-sharing hybrid event.

 

Event Details:

 

Date: May 10, 2024

Location: Nova Iskra Dorćol, Belgrade, Serbia, and Online

 

Overview:

The event will feature engaging sessions led by international mentors and professionals from the cultural and creative industries. The mentors leading sessions and sharing their expertise are Jovana Tomić (Comms.coach, RS), Ivana Stančić (Smart kolektiv, RS), and Viktoria Draganova (Swimming Pool, BG). Covered topics will include strategies for communication in digital and hybrid environments, as well as crafting communication strategies for art interventions. The event will also include workshops and provide insights into 15 selected innovative project pilots from Collab 4 HySust.

 

Who Should Attend?

 

This event is open to creative and cultural workers, groups, and businesses in the arts and creative fields.

 

Program and registration:

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https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSf2S1zveH648PFXi8JTeNKyt8hHJa9k_YNxLFhfy-S26O7-CA/viewform

 

Registration: Until May 5, 2024

 

About Collab4HySust CCI:

Collab4HySust CCI is an initiative aimed at fostering partnerships and networking opportunities among professionals in the cultural and creative industries. Through collaborative efforts, the project aims to promote sustainability and innovation within these sectors. Collab 4 Hy Sust CCI is co-funded by the Creative Europe Programme of the EU and the National "Culture" Fund of Bulgaria, also supported by Plovdiv municipality as an associated partner.

 

Project Partners:

Materahub, Italy

Intercultura Consult, Bulgaria

Syn+ Ergasia, Greece

The Flying Theatre, Denmark

Nova Iskra Creative Hub, Serbia

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Collab 4 HySust CCI

Transnational Opening Event in Plovdiv, Bulgaria

 

PRESS RELEASE

 

INVITATION TO CULTURAL AND CREATIVE INITIATIVES

FOR A MEETING IN PLOVDIV

 

We are excited to announce the upcoming Transnational Launch Event, a hybrid gathering centered around the Balkan region, set to take place in Plovdiv, Bulgaria on September 1st, 2023. This event offers a fantastic opportunity for participants to gain practical advice and valuable insights on thriving in the Creative and Cultural Industries (CCI) ecosystem in South East Europe. It also explores the potential of establishing sustainable relationships with audiences through hybrid means.

 

The Transnational Launch Event is organized by Intercultura consult as a host in collaboration with Plovdiv – European Capital of Culture 2019 – as an Associated Partner, with the aim of identifying specific needs of CCI organizations in the Balkan region and boosting their visibility. Leveraging Plovdiv's rich legacy as a European Capital of Culture, the event will create an ideal environment for fostering collaboration.

 

The in-person component of the event will feature representatives from 20 organizations in the Balkan region who are actively interested in driving innovation and creativity. Additionally, the online component is expected to attract between 30 and 50 participants from around the world.

 

One of the event's highlights is a knowledge sharing session featuring the partners MateraHUB, Syn+Ergasia, and DFT. These partners will share their invaluable experiences in nurturing creative practices that address critical issues like audience development and (organizational) sustainability. This knowledge exchange aims to inspire attendees and generate innovative ideas for driving positive change in the CCI sector.

 

To ensure broad participation and raise awareness, the event partners have established strong collaborations with prominent SEE creative hubs and CCIs networks. Furthermore, the event has gained support from key organizations including the Association Independent Culture Scene Of Serbia, Toplocentrala center for arts inSofia, the region of West Attica in Greece, the municipalities of Plovdiv in Bulgaria, Billund in Denmark and Matera in Italy. The involvement of these esteemed organizations amplifies the event's significance and emphasizes its potential to foster cross-border cooperation.

 

The Transnational Launch Event guarantees an engaging and enriching experience for participants, equipping them with invaluable tools, insights, and networks to thrive in the CCI ecosystem. Join us on September 1st to seize this extraordinary opportunity and become an integral part of shaping the future of the creative and cultural industries in South East Europe.

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Useful information

 

the COLLAB 4 HY SUST CCI website https://deuscci.eu/collab-4-hysust/call-collab-4-hysust/

 

If you want to learn more about the project, join us on 1 September in Plovdiv (Bulgaria) or online and be part of the launch of this international project.

 

Secure your place by registering by 21 August at this link: https://tinyurl.com/75xurfrd

DEADLINE EXTENDED! Register by: end of day August 28, 2023

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