Against the Tide: Empowering Marginalised Voices through Socio-Culture
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 ENCC Members meeting (ENCC members only)
12:30-14:00 Welcome lunch and registrations
14:00-14:30 Official opening
14:30-16:00 Opening panel: "Safe spaces in practice – Moving beyond buzzwords"
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 Kotor 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"
11:00-11:15 Coffe break
11:15-12:45 BOLD meeting (youth-led session, details TBC)
13:00-15:00 Lunch break and free time
14:00-15:00 Optional cultural visit (art exhibition in the old town)
15:00-16:30 Local case studies roundtable: "Culture in action"
16:30-17:00 Coffee break
17:00-18:30 Beyond the sessions reflection groups:
"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 collaborative lab contributing to the INTRACOMP intercultural and transcultural competency framework"
"Beyond borders: Amplifying non-EU voices in European cultural networks"
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; Natalia Kallio - author and international human rights advocate, European Youth Forum.
12:45-13:45 Quick lunch
14:00-17:00 Optional farewell boat tour and departures
Find all useful travel information here.