European Network of Cultural Centres (ENCC)
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Against the Tide: Empowering Marginalised Voices through Socio-Culture

Kotor
 – 
20090719 Crkva Gospa Od Zdravlja Kotor Bay Montenegro
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On September 17th - 19th, our 2025 annual conference will explore participation and inclusion in and through culture, with a special focus on young generations.

What is the role of the cultural sector in the face of the gradual erosion of democratic norms we are witnessing across Europe?

In our depleted societies, where marginalised communities and young generations face growing challenges to meaningful participation in civic life, cultural organisations are called on to serve as amplifiers of their voices and catalysts of their agency.

Against the backdrop of Kotor, a UNESCO World Heritage site, hosted by our member Kulturni centar Nikola Đurković, we will address these issues and search for meaningful answers together. Through a rich programme spanning panel discussions, workshops, study visits, and moments of networking, let's explore innovative practices promoting inclusion through socio-culture. Let's reflect on how to breathe new life into concepts such as inclusion and democracy, and how to strengthen the capacities of the European socio-cultural sector to promote participation, civic engagement, and social cohesion.

The event will also aim to foster new synergies and cooperation among socio-cultural workers from across Europe and beyond, but also between actors from different sectors, in order to pursue systemic change.

Get your ticket here by July 31st

N.B.: Participants from Montenegro are eligible for a reduced ticket price: reach out to us at office@encc.eu to learn more.

Wednesday, September 17th: opening and setting the scene

  • 09:30-12:30 Members' meeting (ENCC members only)

  • 12:30-14:00 Welcome lunch and registrations

  • 14:00-14:30 Official opening and welcome by ENCC chairperson Vittorio Bianco, the host Kulturni centar Nikola Đurković, and local authorities

  • 14:30-16:00 Opening panel and Q&A: "Safe spaces in practice: moving beyond buzzwords", with Hamish McIntosh (Nord University), Patrick Krebs (Divadlo Bez Domova), Kaća Dimitrijević (Platforma Kooperativa)

  • 16:00-16:30 Coffee break

  • 16:30-18:00 From reflection to action: workshops by ENCC Members

  • 18:15-19:30 Guided tour of the old town (optional)

  • 19:30-21:00 Networking dinner and free time

  • 21:00 onward Cultural event (TBC)

Thursday, September 18th: learning and exchange

  • 09:00-09:30 Welcome and registrations

  • 09:30-10:00 Inspirational speech

  • 10:00-11:00 Thematic conversation: "Engaging youth: culture as a trigger for participation, democracy, and resistance", with Mustafa Sheta (Freedom Theatre Jenin) and Jelena Božić (Asocijacija Kulturanova)

  • 11:00-11:30 Coffe break

  • 11:30-13:00 BOLD youth-led session (details TBC)

  • 13:00-15:00 Lunch and free time

  • 14:00-15:00 Visit to an art exhibition in the old town (optional)

  • 15:00-16:30 "Culture in action": local case studies roundtable

  • 16:30-17:00 Coffee break

  • 17:00-18:30 Beyond the sessions: peer roundtables for shared learning:

    • "Creative dissonances: the role of cultural centres and artistic movements when the world is in crisis"

    • "Towards a Balkan hub: connecting socio-cultural spaces across the region"

    • "Youth in focus: strategies for meaningful engagement"

  • 19:00-20:30 Free time and dinner

  • 20:30 onward Concert

Friday, September 19th: co-creation and conclusions

  • 09:00-09:15 Welcome and slow start

  • 09:15-10:45 Laboratories:

    • "Re-thinking collective, democratic creativity: a crowd-searching exercise contributing to the INTRACOMP intercultural and transcultural competency framework", with Ingrid Danckaerts and McIntosh from INTRACOMP

    • "Beyond borders: amplifying non-EU voices in European cultural networks", with Théo Majcher

    • "Activating the toolbox: collaborative practices for real-life challenges", with Anna Maria Ranczakowska from FULCRUM

  • 11:00-12:30 Closing panel: "From safe spaces to bold futures: culture and creativity for systemic change", with: Barbara Stacher (European Commission, TBC), Kalina Dukovska (Laboratorium, Youth Educational Forum) (more speakers TBC).

  • 12:45-13:45 Lunch

  • 14:00-17:00 Farewell boat tour (optional) and departures

Find all useful travel information here.