#1Social Resilience through Culture

An expert presentation “Forging New Futures – rebuilding society and reusing heritage” by Hanna Szemző (Metropolitan Research Institute in Budapest, Hungary), opened the first session. Key takeaways included the importance of having an open and flexible process to be ready to adapt, as well as pulling from various resources rather than relying on just one, such as state funding. The first presentation was followed by Oksana Dovgopolova’s reflection on “Memory, Culture and Social Resilience: dimension of the war”. Professor Dovgopolova is co-founder and curator of the memory culture platform Past / Future / Art in Ukraine. Her intervention pertained to memorialising as a natural human response to a tragic shock and an opportunity to retell an imposed historical narrative. After a short Q&A, the participants moved on to the setting of breakout rooms to discuss protecting heritage and its potential to absorb adversities.

#2Culture as a Source of Emancipation and Well-Being

The second objective of Day 2 was to explore the potential of culture, including institutions, artistic interventions, and cultural heritage, as an increasingly crucial asset in addressing global and local issues, including public health or sustainable urban planning.

#3The required policy and institutional framework

The deliberations on the final theme were enriched by a two-day program that included a panel discussion and two insightful interventions by experts. The discussions encompassed a range of case studies, specifically focusing on the film industries in the USA, Croatia, and Ukraine. Additionally, attention was directed towards collaborative and systematic approaches to developing cultural hubs and city branding.