Project partners from Aarhus, Gdynia, Kiel, Riga, Tallinn and Turku gathered in Riga on 18-19 January for the first in-person meeting of the project “Creative Circular Cities”.
In the project 14 organisations in the Baltic Sea Region have joined forces to produce guidelines & tools to involve the Culture and Creative Sector and Industries (CCSI) into the transition to circular economy at local level.
“Working in the cultural sector I am convinced of the significant knowledge and experience it has to support and develop circular business models and practices, as well as the role of culture in influencing people’s habits and mindsets. In the CCC project we will build on this potential,” said the regional director of the Danish Cultural Institute in Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania Lizaveta Dubinka-Hushcha at the kick-off event.
The guidelines and tools developed within the project will be tested in 6 cities – Aarhus, Gdynia, Kiel, Riga, Tallinn and Turku. The testing will include establishing a network of stakeholders, creating incubation programs for CCSI businesses to integrate the circularity aspect in their business models, engaging the citizens by organizing events and campaigns as well as integrating the results of the testing in the long-term strategies of the cities.
During the project a CCC Starter Kit for local authorities, business support organizations and NGO’s will be produced and distributed in the wider Baltic Sea Region. The CCC Starter Kit will be an online resource including case studies from the project cities and replication guidance on creating business incubation models and promoting circular lifestyles.
In 2024 four labs (multi-day workshops) will take place in the cities participating in the project, focusing on policy, business, citizen engagement and strategy to involve the CCSI in the transition to circular economy.
