We just got back from Tirana, Albania, where Materahub took part in the Anna Lindh Foundation Forum 2025, an incredible gathering full of energy, ideas, and inspiring voices from across the Mediterranean. Picture over a thousand people from across 43 countries: artists, activists, policymakers, academics, youth leaders, journalists, all coming together to talk about the future of the Euro-Mediterranean region.
that change is possible when culture leads the way.
This year’s Forum had a special energy as it celebrated two important milestones: 20 years of the Anna Lindh Foundation and also the 30th anniversary of the Euro-Mediterranean Partnership, also called Barcelona Process, which set the stage decades ago for collaboration across both shores of the Mediterranean.
The Forum was co-organised by the Anna Lindh Foundation, the Municipality of Tirana, and Albania’s Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs, and Tirana truly lived up to its role as the Mediterranean Capital of Culture and Dialogue 2025.
Matera, a Special Guest
Materahub was invited to the Forum not just as the newest members of the Anna Lindh Foundation network (we joined earlier this year), but also to represent Matera, which will take on the title of Mediterranean Capital of Culture and Dialogue in 2026. And our presence represented a natural continuation of the journey that started when Matera became European Capital of Culture in 2019.
As Materahub, we also took part in a panel hosted by the Organisation for European Programmes and Cultural Relations, known for backing the Academy for Cultural and Creative Industries in the Euromed region. Together with a mix of speakers from Italy, Cyprus, Egypt and Jordan, the conversation dug into the current state of cultural and creative industries around the Mediterranean.
The conversation was rooted in the everyday realities that creative organisations face, from staying financially afloat to competing in a fast-changing landscape, all while often lacking the entrepreneurial skills that could really make a difference. One thing everyone seemed to agree on was the frustrating gap between what formal education offers and what the creative industries actually need. That disconnect isn’t new, but it’s still a huge hurdle. There was also a clear sense that we can’t just tinker around the edges anymore.
If we’re serious about making culture a driver for economic growth and social cohesion, especially across such a diverse region, then we need to think bigger.
A key takeaway from the session was that, even though each country and context is different, the cultural and creative sector across the Mediterranean shares a lot of the same needs.
There’s a clear call for stronger networks, better knowledge-sharing, and cross-border policy frameworks that go beyond national agenda.
And in all of this, Italy has a real chance to lead, not just because of its rich cultural heritage, but also thanks to its central role in the region. Beyond the professional discussions, the Forum touched on some of the most pressing and profound issues of our time.
We looked at how art and culture can support major transitions: from the green shift to interfaith dialogue, from reimagining life in small, rural communities to transforming cities into spaces of true inclusion. And of course, the realities of ongoing conflict, like what’s happening in Gaza, were very present in the conversations. They reminded everyone that cultural cooperation isn’t just nice to have, it’s essential for peace and resilience.
As we look ahead to Matera’s role as Mediterranean Capital of Culture and Dialogue in 2026, we carry the energy and ideas from Tirana with us. At Materahub, we believe in a creative Mediterranean that’s not just rich in culture, but also economically vibrant and deeply inclusive.
The Forum reminded us that this future is possible, but only if we build it together.
