On 22 and 23 April, ERRIN took part in the third Interregional Meeting of the Interreg Europe project PROSPERO, hosted by Sarajevo Economic Regional Development Agency and the Ministry of Culture and Sport of Sarajevo Canton. As an advisory partner, ERRIN joined partners from across Europe to explore how cultural and creative industries (CCIs) can foster sustainable growth, community engagement and regional resilience.

Exploring Sarajevo's creative and cultural landscape

The meeting opened at the building of the Government of Canton Sarajevo with welcome speeches from the director of SERDA and the Chair of the Mentana City Council, lead partner of the PROSPERO project. It was followed by informative presentations about the current situation and future plans for the development of the CCI sector at different levels: regional, cantonal and municipal. Special focus was given to the Sarajevo Film Festival as one of the key good practice examples, serving as a catalyst for Sarajevo's CCI ecosystem development. The session concluded with a presentation of UNESCO's work in Bosnia and Herzegovina on how to link cultural heritage and contemporary creative practices.

Throughout the visit, participants explored highlights of Sarajevo's creative and cultural development, from its vibrant old town and City Hall to Planet Sarajevo centre, the tunnel of hope and the national museum.

Leading the way to policy improvement

In a dedicated workshop, PROSPERO partners presented their territorial analyses, sharing their progress but also barriers faced in the development of culture in their territory. The exchanges led to ideas on good practices and policy recommendations. These exchanges reaffirmed PROSPERO's mission: to place culture and creativity at the centre of regional policy, linking cultural vitality with inclusion, innovation and sustainability.

The Sarajevo meeting showcased how CCIs can strengthen communities and contribute to a more creative, connected and resilient Europe.

ERRIN is proud to be part of PROSPERO, to work towards strengthening cooperation among regions and showcasing how CCIs can contribute to a more creative, connected and resilient Europe.