In the dynamic world of cultural and creative entrepreneurship, innovation is the key to success. At Nova Iskra, we understand this and are excited about our ongoing project, Collab4HySust CCI.
A New Approach to Cultural Entrepreneurship
Collab4HySust CCI is not just a project; it’s a mission to establish an incubator for innovative ideas in the cultural and creative sectors. First of its kind in South-East Europe. We believe in the power of collaboration and aim to provide a platform where organizations can bring their groundbreaking ideas to life. Fortunately we are not alone in this endeavor and we benefit from the synergy of an amazing consortium which brings knowledge and dedication: Intercultura Consult from Bulgaria, Syn+ Ergasia from Greece, The Flying Theatre from Denmark and Materahub from Italy as a lead partner.
The Importance of Developing an Incubator for Culture and Creative Sectors in Serbia
The development of an incubator for the culture and creative sectors in Serbia could be a significant contribution to the country’s socio-economic growth. This initiative is embodied in the project Collab4HySust, which is being developed by Nova Iskra in collaboration with partners.
The Collab4HySust project aims to enhance the innovation capacities of the CCI in Europe, including Serbia. It seeks to demonstrate that transforming the CCI at the local level can impact both the communities they are directly connected with and those they help create.
Open Call for Innovation
We invited organizations to join us on this path by submitting their innovative projects through and open call. The selected projects not only received financial support through small grants but they are also paired with experienced international mentors. This unique combination of financial backing and expert guidance is designed to propel these projects towards success.
How do innovative ideas look like in the Culture and Creative Sectors in Serbia? And afterall are not all culture and creative projects innovative? How do we value innovation? There is no simple answer to this, there is only practice and examples. As far as we can go in generalization we can conclude that innovation in CCS includes multisectoral collaboration, different approaches to the audience, environmental awareness and bringing social value to burning issues that our societies face.
Innovation brought us ideas of beautifully designed furniture which tell a story of illegal deforestation in Serbia and the region which is part of the project developed by Aska&Wolf in collaboration with Polyhedra. Project developed by Belgrade Street Art reminds us that trees in nature bring us more joy than the wood in our furniture. This innovation brought a product that enables visually impaired persons to learn the beauty and importance of street art, through 3D models. Innovation lies in the initiative to cure the abandoned orchards by the local community while offering cultural events in the same orchards, developed by the Rural Cultural Centar Markovac and its community. This initiative is developed as a model that can be reproduced in many rural areas in the Balkans that are struggling with similar problems. And finally, an innovative project of a decentralized online radio station is being developed by Community Centar Roof. It creates space for the students of Faculty of Philosophy, Ethnomusicology and Faculty of Dramatic Arts and the general public interested in creating Schools of Visual Anthropology, promoting open access, open software while providing ability to produce and air online radio shows from any spot that has access to the internet.
Conclusion
The culture and creative sectors bring immense value to society, far exceeding the investments made in these sectors. They enrich our lives, foster creativity and innovation, and contribute to the social and economic development of our communities. The development of an incubator for these sectors, as exemplified by the Collab4HySust project, is a significant step towards harnessing this value. It not only benefits the organizations involved but also contributes to the broader socio-economic development of the country, underscoring the importance of continued investment and support for these sectors.
Join Us on This Journey
We’re thrilled about the potential of Collab4HySust CCI and the impact it can have on the cultural and creative sectors. Stay tuned for more updates on this exciting project and the upcoming knowledge sharing events.
The project Collab4HySust CCI is funded by the European Union and co-financed by the National Culture Fund of Bulgaria as well as supported by Municipality Plovdiv (ECoC 2028). Views and opinions expressed are however those of the author only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or European Education and Culture Executive Agency. Neither the European Union nor the granting authority can be held responsible for them.
Written by Ivan Manojlovic, Project Manager – International Cooperation, Nova Iskra
