On February 12, 2025, Brussels became the vibrant center of innovation and collaboration within the Cultural and Creative Industries (CCI) sector with the Pan-European Ecosystem Forum. This event, organized by JA Europe as part of the Creative Europe-funded CulturalBEES project, gathered professionals, entrepreneurs, policymakers, and educators to shape the future of youth entrepreneurship in the CCIs.
A Crucial Initiative for the Future of CCIs
Following the success of the National Ecosystem Forums held in Italy, Cyprus, Bulgaria, Slovenia, and Poland, the Pan-European Forum represented a vital step in joining forces and co-designing concrete solutions. The primary goal was to break down the barriers young entrepreneurs face in the sector, providing them with the necessary tools and skills to thrive.
Event Highlights
- Interactive Workshops: Participants worked together to develop innovative initiatives, focusing on engaging young entrepreneurs and promoting creativity.
- Expert Presentations: Policymakers and stakeholders shared their visions and strategies for creating supportive ecosystems for creative entrepreneurship.
- Panel Discussion “Emerging Trends and Opportunities in the CCI sector”: Moderated by Diana Filip (JA Europe), the panel featured Marco Acri (University of Nova Gorica), Antigoni Komodiki (JA Cyprus), Rolf Hughes (EIT Culture & Creativity), and Stavros Kyriakides (Kyriakides Piano Gallery), discussing emerging trends and opportunities in the sector.
- Co-creation Sessions: Participants addressed key challenges such as inclusivity, sustainability, accessibility, youth engagement, and the integration of artificial intelligence in CCIs.
Voices of the Key Participants
Diana Filip (JA Europe)
“Youth entrepreneurship is key to the future of the Cultural and Creative Industries. Today’s discussions reinforced the need for collaboration between industry, policymakers, and educators to create new opportunities for young creatives. Through the Cultural BEES project, we are empowering young talents to ‘BEE the change’– to transform their ideas into impactful businesses that shape the future of CCI.”
Ilona Lelonek Husting (European Commission)
“Our aim is to support entrepreneurship and address challenges ahead us. We believe that the creative sector is a really dynamic sector. The CCI sector is recognized as an industrial ecosystem under the EU Industrial strategy and skills is an integral part with main focus on the digitalization and sustainability of the cultural and creative sector”.
Constantinos Georgiou (Cyprus Ministry of Education, Sport and Youth)
“It is essential to consider cultural heritage as a pillar of the societal economy. We should pave the way of a new generation of skills and create professionals in cultural and creative industries. I am confident that opportunities for young people will effectively been expanding in the cultural and creative industries supporting the professional and personal development. We should learn from each other and inspire young visioners in the cultural and creative sector.”
Insights from the National Forums
The National Forums highlighted:
- The need for cohesive national strategies for cultural heritage.
- The importance of education in developing entrepreneurial skills.
- The necessity to overcome legislative and training barriers.
- The role of cultural heritage as an economic catalyst.
- The importance of youth involvement in regional development.
Cultural BEES: Cultivating the Future of CCIs
Cultural BEES is a Creative Europe-funded project that aims to develop a training program and digital toolkit to promote entrepreneurial skills in CCIs among young people. The project includes training 1,000 students in Cyprus, Bulgaria, and Italy.
The Pan-European Ecosystem Forum represented a crucial moment for the CCI sector, laying the groundwork for a more inclusive and prosperous future for young entrepreneurs. The commitment and collaboration demonstrated during the event are an encouraging sign for the future of European creative entrepreneurship.
Join the Hive!
To learn more about the project and its outputs, visit www.culturalbees.eu.
