Network
The BSR Cultural Pearls project is all about building stronger, more resilient communities through collaboration and shared learning.
By connecting cities, regions, and their partners across the Baltic Sea Region (BSR), the project provides a space for participants to exchange ideas, co-create solutions, and learn from each other’s experiences.
Key elements of the network:
Local mentoring
Local mentoring is at the heart of how we support cities and towns taking part in the Cultural Pearls programme. Each country has appointed one or two national mentors who work closely with both the Pearls (cities awarded the title) and the Candidates (those preparing their Culture and Resilience Action Plans, or CuReAPs).
These mentors are much more than contact points. They are trusted guides who understand the local context and have regular, personal contact with the municipalities they support. They help promote the programme and the title within their countries, reaching out to municipalities, cultural organisations and community stakeholders. They also play a key role in identifying potential Candidates and encouraging them to join.
Mentors support Candidates as they shape their CuReAPs, helping them understand what social resilience means in practice and how to plan for real impact. Once a city becomes a Pearl, mentors continue to provide hands-on support during the title year. They follow the progress of local actions, offer advice, and gather examples of good practice. (This support currently applies to Pearls 2024/25)
Mentors also support each other. They meet regularly online, exchange experiences, and take part in sessions led by an external expert. We use a twin mentoring system where experienced mentors pair up with newcomers. Those who have already worked with a Pearl city bring valuable insights that help others navigate the process more confidently.
Transnational exchange
The structure of transnational exchange is designed to be inclusive and flexible, so that all participants have the chance to contribute and learn. The main elements include:
- Regular Partner Meetings: These regular gatherings provide opportunities for partners to exchange insights, address challenges, and plan upcoming actions These meetings, both online and in person, offer a safe space for partners to discuss their experiences, openly share challenges, and celebrate successes. In-person workshops during partner meetings focus on hands-on collaboration, allowing participants to co-create solutions and test ideas in real time.
- Webinars Led by Experts: Webinars provide valuable insights from experts on topics such as resilience, co-creation, and community engagement. These sessions offer practical takeaways for cities to apply locally and can also attract new cities interested in joining the Cultural Pearls network.
- Annual Conferences and Partner Meetings: Each year, cities and partners come together to reflect on progress, share updates, plan future steps, and work collaboratively to refine resilience strategies These conferences include keynote speakers and focused workshops, where cities define their challenges and work with mentors to find solutions.
- Cultural Programmes: Cities take part in cultural events organized by awarded cities, where they can see resilience-building efforts in action and learn from real-world examples.
- Ongoing Feedback and Evaluation: Throughout the project, participants provide feedback to ensure the exchange continues to meet their needs and remains effective.
Learning sessions
Learning sessions are designed to help local and regional teams build confidence and develop the skills they need to implement their CuReAPs. The sessions respond to the needs of the cities, shaped by regular feedback and experience on the ground.
Topics range from storytelling and participatory planning to inclusive engagement and strategic thinking. Every session is interactive, down-to-earth and focused on what works in real life.
Most sessions take place online to make it easier for a wide group of people to join in. These include municipal staff, cultural workers and community leaders. After each session, we share useful materials like recordings, presentations or key takeaways.
We are also planning to create a learning archive on the website. This will offer cities and others across the region a chance to revisit and reuse tools, examples and methods introduced throughout the programme.
Events
Our events range from small club sessions to larger public occasions. Highlights include the Culture for Resilience Forum, where partners and Pearls meet for learning and collaboration, and the official award ceremonies, where new Cultural Pearls are celebrated and recognised for their commitment to building resilient communities.
We also run creative sessions such as workshops and themed talks, which provide inspiration and space to reflect. Some events are open to the public, while others are more focused and tailored to those actively involved in the programme.
You can explore upcoming and past events in our events calendar here:
