In an initiative led by the National Platform “Serbia Creates” and the Ložionica Center, the first gathering of creative hubs, organizations, and initiatives from the region took place in Belgrade, leading to the establishment of the Regional Creative Network, the Serbian government announced.
This network comprises creative centers, organizations, and initiatives from Serbia (Ložionica), Slovenia (Rog Center), Croatia (Pučko otvoreno učilište Varaždin – Centar kulturnih i kreativnih industrija UPVŽ), Bosnia and Herzegovina (Sklonište, Banja Luka), North Macedonia (UMPACI), Albania (Creative Industries Agency Municipality of Tirana), and Montenegro (CIM Forum Kotor, Kotor ART Festival).
The inaugural meeting highlighted the immense potential of creative industries and innovations for regional cooperation, cultural diplomacy, and the creation of a creative ecosystem. It also emphasized the importance of strengthening the region’s international positioning and fostering joint economic and technological progress.
Representatives from UNESCO, international experts from Denmark (BLOXKUB, Copenhagen), and France (Centquatre-Paris and BAAZAR from Lille) also participated in the first regional gathering. The participants were introduced to the project for the reconstruction and adaptation of the old Ložionica building into Serbia’s first creative industries center.
The event was organized with the support of UNESCO – Antenna Office Sarajevo, the Embassy of the Kingdom of Denmark in Serbia, and the French Institute in Serbia.