From 16 to 18 June 2026, KEPA participated in the 5th Exchange of Experience (EoE#5) of the Interreg Europe project CCSI4CCSI, hosted by ENTER Koprivnica and the City of Koprivnica in Croatia. The event brought together project partners, local stakeholders, policy-makers, and representatives of the cultural and creative sectors to exchange experiences and explore how Cultural and Creative Industries (CCSI) can contribute to social inclusion, community development, and policy innovation.
The three-day meeting focused on the social dimension of CCSI, showcasing inspiring examples of social entrepreneurship, community engagement, and inclusive cultural initiatives from across Europe. Participants were introduced to the creative ecosystem of Koprivnica and learned about local policies and support structures that foster social innovation and cultural participation.
A key highlight of the event was the exchange of good practices addressing social challenges through culture and creativity. Among them were initiatives supporting the employment of persons with disabilities, community-based cultural programmes, youth engagement through social experimentation, and innovative approaches to strengthening local communities through participatory cultural activities (HEDONA LLC from Croatia, Marshall Office of Malopolska Region from Poland, Frivilling Kolding from Denmark, Lieve Zusjes Stoere Broers from Belgium). Representatives from Central Macedonia (Christina Vlachou from Off-Stream and Maria Kokorotskou from MOMus) contributed to the discussions by presenting examples of inclusive cultural experiences and community practices developed through collaboration between cultural organisations and creative professionals.
The programme also included study visits to local organisations and initiatives, providing participants with first-hand insight into how cultural and creative projects generate social impact. Visits to the FUNK cultural centre, the Podravka Foundation, and the visitor centre of the Đurđevački pijesci protected landscape, highlighted the role of creativity, heritage, and community engagement in local development.
The second day focused on policy learning and peer review activities. Project partners reviewed the progress of their policy instruments, discussed monitoring and assessment mechanisms, and exchanged feedback on policy improvements developed within the framework of the project. KEPA actively contributed to the workshop sessions, facilitating discussions on policy improvement processes within Interreg Europe projects and supporting the exchange of experiences among partner regions.
The meeting concluded with Steering Committee discussions on project implementation, future activities, communication actions, and the development of policy recommendations. Particular emphasis was placed on identifying effective support structures and networks for Cultural and Creative Industries, with the aim of strengthening their contribution to regional development and social cohesion.
The Exchange of Experience in Koprivnica represented another important milestone for the CCSI4CCSI project, enabling partners to deepen their understanding of the social impact of Cultural and Creative Industries and to further develop policy solutions that support inclusive, innovative, and resilient creative ecosystems across Europe.
KEPA remains committed to promoting the role of culture and creativity as drivers of social innovation and sustainable regional development, bringing valuable knowledge and experiences from the project back to the regional ecosystem of Central Macedonia.
