Culture and Creativity for the Western Balkans - CC4WBs

“The creative sector has been amongst the hardest hit by the COVID-19 pandemic. Therefore, this new project is a great opportunity to build on the power of culture and creativity as a driver for sustainable development”, stressed Ernesto Ottone R., UNESCO Assistant Director-General for Culture.

The Western Balkans (WBs) are home to a rich and diverse cultural heritage, reflecting significant parts of European history and identity. The region is also a vibrant hub of contemporary creativity, with lively cultural scenes, promising creative industries and abundant cultural festivals and events.

Although systematic data on the culture and creative sector is lacking, available evidence shows that cultural and creative industries (CCIs) in the WBs account for an average of 3.5% of the workforce*, demonstrating alignment with European statistics** and showing that culture is responsible for an important part of national production, generating income and sustaining livelihoods.

However, several constraints prevent the region from fully harnessing the potential of the cultural and creative sectors. For instance, compared to the contribution of culture to economies in the WBs, public spending on culture is very low and exposed to further cuts due to the crisis generated by the COVID-19 pandemic. While the interest in regional cooperation and co-creation among cultural workers in the region is high, the lack of support mechanisms and mobility opportunities are barriers for collaboration. The low level of diffusion and advancement of inclusive, participatory and integrated cultural policies is accompanied by scarce training opportunities and a fragmented approach to capacity-building that often fails to include all components necessary to effectively develop sectoral capacities.

* Percentage derived from UNESCO CDIS Reports for Bosnia and Herzegovina (2015), Montenegro (2016), and Serbia (2020)

** EU average is calculated based on https://ec.europa.eu/eurostat/web/products-eurostat-news/-/DDN-20180222-1

Over a 48-month period, the CC4WBs project aims to develop the capacities of cultural and creative sectors across the Western Balkans by acting at multiple levels and through the implementation of a system of mutually reinforcing activities leading to complementary outputs. The combined outcomes of these outputs, underpinned by a common strategic vision, are expected to enhance culture for social cohesion and sustainable development (Intermediate objective) and to foster reconciliation and good neighborly relations in the Western Balkans (Long-Term overall objective).

In particular, by bringing together their respective strengths and competitive advantages, the three Partners will support more inclusive and effective cultural policies, enhance regional cultural cooperation, promote the mobility of artists and cultural operators, enhance the circulation of creative goods and services, and provide financial and technical assistance for cultural and creative industries. The project will also stimulate the protection, management and promotion of cultural heritage, as well as enhanced public-private partnerships in the cultural and creative sectors.

The Action will offer a systemic, effective and viable approach to enable progress across governance, policy and operational frameworks, by combining advice for policy improvement with data for informed decision-making, capacity-building, support to public-private partnerships, networking and funding opportunities.

The Action’s target groups include relevant authorities (and their staff) with direct and indirect competence in the field of culture, including local stakeholders and cultural institutions; cultural and creative organizations, businesses and individual professionals; Civil Society Organizations and community groups; youth, women, and disadvantaged or vulnerable groups; education and research institutions, including individual students; media professionals from independent media and networks, bloggers and emerging journalists working on cultural contents.

It is estimated that more than 800 cultural and creative industries, 9000 cultural professionals, 30 institutions, and 150 individual public officers will directly benefit from the project. Final beneficiaries also include broader cultural audiences - both citizens and visitors in the region - who will benefit from the increased opportunities for cultural participation and enjoyment through the festivals, events and cultural contents produced with the support of the Action. In addition, the Action aims at reaching at least 1.5 % of the general population of the WBs, as indirect beneficiaries of the Action’s socio-economic impact, and therefore their economies and societies.

Supporting the WBs in improving the appreciation, management, and promotion of the region’s diverse cultural resources, the Action contributes to the integration of culture in sustainable development processes in line with the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. The Action will especially impact on SDG 11 and Target 11.4 on the protection of the world’s cultural and natural heritage, producing results that will also contribute to ending poverty (SDG 1), gender equality (SDG 5), economic growth (SDG 8), innovation (SDG 9), reduced inequalities (SDG 10), and peaceful and inclusive societies (SDG 16).

The Action will additionally capacitate the WBs to integrate culture into broader sustainable development programmes, including those related to the UN Sustainable Development Cooperation Frameworks (UNSDCF).

• 06/05/2022 Press release The European Union, UNESCO, the British Council and the Italian Agency for Development Cooperation launch the project “Culture and Creativity for the Western Balkans (CC4WBs)”
• 19/05/2022 EU supports culture in Western Balkans with €8 million initiative
• 22/12/2022 Official presentation of “Culture and Creativity for the Western Balkans” to Bosnia and Herzegovina
• 10/02/2023 EU project "Culture and Creativity for the Western Balkans" presented in Sarajevo, Banja Luka and Mostar generated interest in Public Calls for stakeholders in Culture, Creativity and Media sectors 
• 29/03/2023 Open Call for Proposals within CC4WBs (extended deadline: 31 May 2023)
• 05/04/2023 Open Call for Expressions of Interest in Cultural Leadership and Media Programmes within CC4WBs (extended deadline: 15 May 2023)
• 12/06/2023 EU-funded project, Culture and Creativity for the Western Balkans, at the Open Door Info Sessions across the region