SERDA Hosted European CHERRY Project Partners in Sarajevo

The project partnership brings together institutions from Italy, Finland, Romania, Latvia, Hungary, Greece, France, Belgium, Albania and Bosnia and Herzegovina, while the Lead Partner is the Friuli Venezia Giulia Autonomous Region – Department for Culture and Sports (Italy). The project's main objective is to improve regional and local policies in the field of Cultural and Creative Industries, with a particular focus on strengthening the contribution of the CCI sector to local economic growth, social inclusion and innovation.

The opening session of the meeting featured welcoming remarks by representatives of SERDA and the Lead Partner, followed by a presentation on the current state of Cultural and Creative Industries in Sarajevo Canton, as well as the activities implemented by SERDA to support their development and advancement.

The central part of the meeting was dedicated to project team discussions, during which partners reviewed the status of policy implementation and action plans aimed at further enhancing Cultural and Creative Industries in the partner countries. Participants analysed the results achieved so far and discussed the next steps in monitoring the impact of project interventions on regional and local policies. Particular attention was given to the sustainability of the achieved results and the long-term contribution of Cultural and Creative Industries to regional development.

In addition to the working sessions, project partners had the opportunity to explore the rich cultural heritage of Sarajevo and Bosnia and Herzegovina, as well as examples of good practice in the Cultural and Creative Industries sector. As part of the study visits, participants visited the National Museum of Bosnia and Herzegovina, where they learned about the Museum’s role in preserving cultural heritage, promoting education and engaging local communities through various programmes and activities.

Participants also took part in a tour of Sarajevo as a multicultural city and a UNESCO City of Film, during which they visited several sites closely linked to the cultural and creative sector.

On the second day of the meeting, a study visit was organised to the Planet Sarajevo Interpretative Centre, which represents a contemporary example of the creative interpretation of historical and cultural narratives through multimedia formats. The programme continued with a visit to Sarajevo City Hall, one of the city’s most recognisable symbols of cultural resilience, followed by a visit to Trebević and sites reflecting Sarajevo’s rich Olympic heritage.

This gathering of project partners provided an excellent opportunity to promote the cultural potential of Sarajevo Canton and Bosnia and Herzegovina as a whole, while showcasing local examples that demonstrate the importance of culture and creativity as drivers of social and economic development.

Through the CHERRY project, partners continue to work together to strengthen policies that support the development of Cultural and Creative Industries and enhance their contribution to the sustainable development of European regions.