The open call for BSR Cultural Pearls 2027 has now closed. Thirteen candidates have been selected among applications submitted by small- and medium-sized municipalities across the Baltic Sea Region. They will now take their first step in the development of their Culture and Resilience Action Plan, in anticipation of the final selection by the international…
For the first time, municipalities in Norway are invited to apply for the Cultural Pearls title as part of the 2027 call for applications, now open for pre-selections. This expansion reflects Norway’s growing engagement in Baltic Sea Region cooperation, including its recent steps toward full membership in the EU Strategy for the Baltic Sea Region…
The BSR Cultural Pearls initiative proudly announces the opening of the fourth call for applications for the BSR Cultural Pearls Title. The call for BSR Cultural Pearls 2027 is a unique opportunity to strengthen your city or town through peer-learning, expert sessions and regional exchanges. As an applicant, you gain access to webinars, networking opportunities…
The 2025 Summary Report captures insights and reflections from each of the six titleholders of 2025: Smiltene (Latvia), Helsingborg (Sweden), Peipsiääre (Estonia), Płock (Poland), Kaskinen-Kaskö (Finland) and Alytus District (Lithuania). The report showcases their unique approaches to overcoming challenges commonly faced by small and medium-sized cities: including depopulation, youth outmigration, and weakening community ties. From…
In 2024, when Rūjiena held the title of “Cultural Pearl of the Baltic Sea Region”, several new traditions were established. One of them was the initiative “Meet Your Neighbour”, which encouraged getting to know the people living both nearby and further afield. Within this initiative, the outdoor exhibition “Postcards from the Borderland” was created, aiming to introduce the residents of…
We invite you to join our second webinar of our Networking event series 2026, organised by BSR Cultural Pearls and its project partner, the Northern Dimension Partnership on Culture (NDPC). Presented by Haakon Hildish from KEA European Affairs, this session will focus on how BSR Cultural Pearls cities can prioritise outcomes, track progress, and support learning before,…
On January 20, the 2026 Cultural Pearls title year was officially inaugurated in an online kick-off event. Since the announcement and celebration of their awarding in November and after months of preparation work, awardees Glücksburg(GER), Kristinestad-Kristiinankaupunki (FIN), Krosno (POL) and Schleswig (GER) are eager to put their Culture and Resilience Action Plans (CuReAPs) into practice. These roadmaps for the title year recognize the potential of cultural initiatives, bringing people together, involving citizens and developing a…
The Northern Dimension Partnership on Culture (NDPC) has released a new publication that gives municipalities a clear, practical method for using culture to build stronger, more resilient communities. Culture-Driven Social Resilience: A Practical Toolkit & Casebook for Municipalities to Take Action is part of the Interreg Baltic Sea Region project BSR Cultural Pearls. Produced by Creative Insights Studio, the…
Imagine a small town where cultural activities bring people together, boost local pride, and create lasting change. This is happening right now in the Baltic Sea Region, where the BSR Cultural Pearls project is using culture to help small cities and towns become more connected, resilient, and innovative. The BSR Cultural Pearls project is an initiative aimed at…
On October 16–17, the first Peipsiääre Municipality youth hackhathon ’How to Become (Culturally) Rich in Your Hometown?’ took place at Kadrina Manor. Five teams with 14 young participants from Alatskivi, Kolkja, Pala, and Vara schools took part. Over two days, the youngsters developed and tested their ideas. The youth hackhathon for 12–25-year-olds is part of…
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