News

On February 24, Estonian Independence Day, the prestigious Baltic Sea Region Cultural Pearl title was awarded for the first time in Estonia. The recipient of this recognition was Peipsiääre Rural Municipality. The celebratory event took place in the municipality centre Alatskivi, starting with a parade and continuing with a folk festival. The award was officially…

Last year the town of Rūjiena enjoyed a lot of attention both locally and internationally as it carried the title of the BSR Cultural Pearl 2024. Over the course of the year, numerous events were held in the town and its vicinity aimed at strengthening local community and fostering its social resilience. The diverse creative…

The BSR Cultural Pearls programme is proud to announce the opening of its third call for applications for the BSR Cultural Pearls 2026 title, inviting local authorities to join a programme building resilient communities through culture. The call provides a unique opportunity to gain international recognition for their work while joining a regional network of…

The main challenge Svendborg Municipality (Denmark) wanted to address when applying for the BSR Cultural Pearl 2024 title was loneliness among young people. They noticed that many children and teenagers were not taking part in social activities, feeling isolated, and disconnected from their community. After getting the title, the municipality aimed to find ways to…

Sea creatures in the water, a ship on the high seas, a sunken treasure chest, and much more are depicted in a new, massive, and legal graffiti in downtown Kiel. In Hopfenstraße youngsters have created a new artwork on a building wall at the city playground. The maritime graffiti is six meters high and 14…

Date: Tuesday, 4th February 2025 Time: 14:00-15 pm CET Explore how cultural anchors and creative industries can build pride, cohesion, and engagement in small cities. This webinar highlights the role of creative intermediaries in connecting communities with local leaders to tackle key challenges. Led by an expert in creative industries and cultural entrepreneurship, the session…

The BSR Cultural Pearls Team invites you to the next pearl learning session open to all interested parties “Participatory methods” with PhD Anne Tortzen, on January 15th 2025, from 09.00-10.00 CET  What is participatory methods and co-creation? How can it add value? And what does it take to succeed?   These are some of the questions this…

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…

Unlock the power of storytelling to highlight your city’s unique cultural strengths and create a compelling narrative that truly resonates with its residents. In this webinar, you will discover practical strategies for engaging local communities, boosting cooperation, and fostering a strong sense of belonging. Gain valuable insights on how small cities can revitalize themselves from…

With only a few weeks left before the deadline for submitting the Culture and Resilience Action Plan (CuReAP) for towns and cities vying for the BSR Cultural Pearls 2025 title, we are excited to introduce the members of our international jury. This esteemed group will evaluate candidates based on their compelling action plans that leverage…