16.09.2015 - 17.09.2015

Conference „Culture as a driving force for social and economic development of the Baltic Sea Region”

The Ministry of Culture and National Heritage of the Republic of Poland cordially invites all cultural practitioners from the Baltic Sea Region for the Baltic Sea Cultural Gathering that will be held from the 15th to the 18th of September in Gdańsk. The Gathering will be organized as a main event of the Polish Presidency in CBSS within the framework of the “Creativity” priority. The event will consist of following parts:

  • Meeting of Ministers of Culture of the Baltic Sea States on the 16th of September 2015 at the Maritime Culture Centre and the European Solidarity Centre in Gdańsk. It will be the first meeting of cultural ministers from the Baltic Sea States to be held since 2008.
  • Working groups’ meetings, 15 – 18.09, Maritime Cultural Centre, Gdańsk According to the catchphrase of the Polish Presidency in CBSS, which is „Sustainability, Creativity, Safety. Synergy in diversity”, the conference will be accompanied by back-to-back meetings of all key cultural organizations in the region:
    • Northern Dimension Partnership on Culture;
    • Policy Area Culture Steering Group (EUSBSR);
    • ARS BALTICA Organizing Committee;
    • Union of Baltic Cities Committee For Culture;
    • CBSS Committee of Senior Officials (CSO);
    • Joint meeting of National Coordinators of the EUSBSR and coordinators of the Policy Areas working under the strategy goal of „Increasing Prosperity”;
    • Project Support Facility committee meeting;
  • Conference „Culture as a driving force for social and economic development of the Baltic Sea Region”, 16-17 September 2015, European Solidarity Centre, Gdańsk.

The conference will focus on showcasing the evidence of impact of culture on society and economy of the region and its development. During two days filled with discussions and workshops, we will try to collect hard data as well as methods for enhanced communication between cultural, financial and administrative sectors that sometimes do not fully grasp the importance of culture for regional growth.

The conference will constitute the main event organized within the framework of the “Creativity” priority of the Polish Presidency in the CBSS and will be related to the currently ongoing chairmanship of Poland in the Northern Dimension Partnership on Culture as well as to Poland’s coordination of the Policy Area Culture of the European Union Strategy for the Baltic Sea Region.

The program of the conference includes among others:

  • A panel discussion of Ministers of Culture of the Baltic Sea States;
  • Workshops presenting the relationship of culture with various socio-economic fields such as:
    • Culture & Entrepreneurship;
    • Culture & Social Innovation;
    • Culture & Education;
    • Culture & Sustainability;
    • Culture & Creative Cities;
  • Presentations of successful regional initiatives from the field of culture;
  • A panel dedicated to creative cities in the region: „Smart cities” – case studies.
  • Furthermore, the conference aims to present brave and visionary statements of experts and thinkers from the interdisciplinary fields at the crossroad of culture and other socio-economic sectors.
  • After the end of the conference, the Baltic Cultural Centre invites all the participants to take part in the Cultural Innovations Lab workshop on 17-18.09;

Moreover, on the first day (15.09) all participants of the Gathering will be welcomed with a special concert organized in St. John’s Centre with the cooperation of The Baltic Sea Cultural Centre. The concert will also be open for the local public and the citizens of Gdańsk. On the very same day, the exhibition of the "The Baltic House Lab 2015” project, coordinated by the Baltic Sea Cultural Centre will be opened in St. John’s Centre – as one of the potential flagship projects of the Priority Area Culture (EUSBSR).

On the second day of the event (16.09.), the Ministry of Culture and National Heritage of the Republic of Poland will be inviting all the conference attendees to one of the creative spaces of the so-called “3-City” for a networking dinner.

Please register now for the conference!

Memebrs of working groups and Ministers meetings may register for the conference here.

Full programme of the conference.

Practical information for conference attendees and working meetings participants.