BSR Cultural Pearls is a title for small and medium size towns and cities that provides awarded municipalities with peer-learning opportunities and support to use culture to build social resilience.

By engaging and involving their citizens, increasing quality of life, sense of belonging and trust, they will be able to make their communities stronger and more resilient.

The Cultural Pearls initiative strengthens communities and promotes social resilience in the Baltic Sea Region. Our network supports towns and cities to harness the potential of culture and creativity to empower their local communities.

Annually, we welcome local authorities in the region to join this transformative journey and develop action plans for community engagement and culture-driven resilience. Through a meticulous selection process, the candidates with the most outstanding and impactful action plans are awarded with the Cultural Pearls title.

Award recipients then embark on a one-year title year during which time their action plan is implemented. The Cultural Pearls Network ensures visibility and provides opportunities for peer-learning with previous Pearls, as well as access to materials and online webinars.

Showcased across the region, the BSR Cultural Pearls recipients highlight the power of community and culture. Both awardees and the other participating municipalities join the  Cultural Pearls Network, gaining international exposure and continuing to enhance their community’s resilience.

The Cultural Pearls initiative was developed by the 2023-2025 project BSR Cultural Pearls, co-funded by Interreg BSR.