Municipalities awarded BSR Cultural Pearls 2025 title announced

The International jury has announced six municipalities from the Baltic Sea Region awarded the Cultural Pearls 2025 title: Helsingborg (Sweden), Peipsiääre (Estonia), Alytus district (Lithuania), Płock (Poland), Kaskinen (Finland), and Smiltene (Latvia). These municipalitiesselected from 14 outstanding candidates across the Baltic Sea Region, will now embark on a transformative journey to strengthen their communities.

Each candidate prepared an ambitious Culture and Resilience Action Plan aimed at enhancing community resilience through cultural initiatives. The most innovative and convincing action plans were selected by a jury of experts in social resilience, urban planning, arts, and culture, as well as representatives from pan-Baltic and European organisations and networks of cities.

This year’s high number of applications and increasingly bold action plans highlight the growing importance of community resilience across our region.  It is good for the people living there, good for the future of these cities and good for the resilience of our region, says Felix Schartner Giertta, BSR Cultural Pearls project manager representing Lead partner Council of the Baltic Sea States Secretariat.

A year of growth and collaboration
Helsingborg, Peipsiääre, Alytus district, Płock, Kaskinen- Kaskö and Smiltene will now participate in a tailored Cultural Pearls programme. This includes:

  • Mentorship and capacity-building with expert interventions;
  • Networking, international exchange;
  • Seed money initiative for establishing innovative collaborations with the local Culture and Creative Sector.

Becoming a BSR Cultural Pearl and implementing a well-prepared Culture and Resilience action plan brings many advantages for the awarded municipality and its residents. Most importantly, community connections can be strengthened through this process. By involving residents in decision-making and cultural activities, these municipalities create a stronger sense of belonging. This connection helps communities face unexpected challenges together with greater confidence and mutual trust. The focus on culture in the BSR Cultural Pearls project also develops cooperation between different groups—citizens, local organizations, and decision-makers—leading to better relationships.

Finally, the process of developing and implementing a Culture and Resilience Action Plan with the help of mentors and experts of the BSR Cultural Pearls project, helps decision-makers better understand how to support their communities, bring people together and involve the residents in the process.

The dedication and efforts of the non-selected candidates in striving to strengthen social resilience in their communities have been acknowledged too. Along with the BSR Cultural Pearls 2025 they become part of the network, joining the BSR Cultural Pearls 2024: Svendborg (Denmark), Kiel (Germany), Jakobstad-Pietarsaari (Finland) and Rūjiena (Latvia).

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