News

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…

From September 18th to 19th, the 4th in-person Partner Meeting within the BSR Cultural Pearls project took place in Kiel, Germany with the topic of durability high on the agenda. The meeting also coincided with the Transnational Exchange of the BSR Cultural Pearls 2024 – Kiel, Jakobstad/Pietarsaari, Rūjiena and Svendborg, creating the opportunity for the partners…

On 18-19 September the representatives from the cities awarded the BSR Cultural Pearls title for 2024 – Kiel (DE), Svendborg (DK), Jakobstad/Pietarsaari (FI) and Rujiena (LV), met in Kiel to take part in the BSR Cultural Pearls Transnational Exchange. During the two-day visit they got to know the Kiel Welcome Centre and their marketing strategies…

In the webinar Abbas Sbeity will explore innovative ways to support social cohesion in cities through creative and cultural approaches. Drawing from his experiences working with municipalities, Abbas will present case studies on placemaking, public interventions, and participatory methods that have contributed to building more connected communities. Moreover, he will demonstrate how these strategies can be applied…