Last week in Ljubljana it was held The Creative Forum Ljubljana organized by the Slovenian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Union for the Mediterranean in cooperation with EMUNI University.
The Creativity Forum provideed capacity building and networking opportunities as well as room for debate and policy review. It is an advocate for policy change that aimed at creating an enabling environment for the cultural and creative sector at the regional level.
More than 200 representatives of creative hubs, entrepreneurs, civil society and high representatives of EU institutions, ministries from the Euro-Mediterranean regions, international and local organisations were gathered in Ljubljana from 12 to 15 November 2019.
In this year’s Forum, the President of EMUNI University Prof. Dr. Abdelhamid El-Zoheiry moderated the panel “Leaders’ Panel: Fuelling Creative Economy” with the panelsit Aleksandar Bogdanović, Minister of Culture (Montenegro), Miro Cerar, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs (Slovenia), Valdrin Lluka, Minister of Economic Development (Kosovo), Khaled Al-Osaily, Minister of National Economy (Palestine), Aida Riđanović, Euro-Med Forum Director (Anna Lindh Foundation) and Valbona Shujaku, Deputy Minister of Culture (Albania)
In his speech as a moderator, the President of EMUNI Prof. Dr. El-Zoheriy stated “The Western Balkans and the South Mediterranean are particularly rich in cultural heritage and creative talent. Reaching beyond national borders, creativity can connect and stabilise. However, there are numerous constraints – from limited mobility to limited credit access. The panel will pave the way for regional policies and actions to make creative economies flourish, including South–South. Innovating the region through creativity means recreating its narrative – based on intercultural understanding and co-creation.”
The Creativity Forum was inspired by the Positive Agenda for Youth – a Slovenian initiative that was first launched in the Western Balkans and, in 2017, was integrated in the Roadmap of the Union for the Mediterranean. The lack of prospects for young people is among the most pressing regional challenges and the cultural and creative sector is transformative in generating jobs and opportunities, especially for the vulnerable social groups. The forum’s objective was to demonstrate the potential of clusters and creative industries as a driver of economic growth and social resilience in the Southern Mediterranean region.
To access the full programme and read more about the event, please referee to the official webpage of the Forum at creativeforum.si/
