ANTRIM is participating in the transnational project “Culture trAnSforming communiTies and economies” (CAST), which aims to harness the rich cultural heritage of the Danube Region to promote social inclusion and stimulate economic growth in the context of the green transition.

„Culture trAnSforming communiTies and economies” (CAST)

Although the Danube Region stands out for its exceptionally rich cultural heritage, much of this potential remains untapped. Culture is still not fully recognized or utilized as a key driver of economic progress and social cohesion. The CAST project aims to shift this perspective by promoting a new understanding of culture – not as a relic of the past, but as an active resource that fosters innovation and strengthens communities. By building on existing experience, the initiative seeks to transform culture into a cornerstone of sustainable development, contributing to a fair and green transition aligned with the European vision.

Partners from eleven countries in the Danube Region are working together to develop a model designed to support local communities in creating inclusive cultural activities and sustainable tourism products. This model will be tested and validated through pilot actions carried out in diverse settings to ensure its applicability and effectiveness across various cultural contexts.

Pilot actions

  1. Iskriva, Slovenia: industrial (steel) heritage in the Koroška region
  2. Nice and homely, Slovenia: relevance of bees and beekeepers for culture and biodiversity
  3. Koprivnica Križevci County, Croatia: naïve art gallery road and Albergo Diffuso(“dispersed hotel”)
  4. Tourism Organization of Vojvodina, Serbia: accessible cultural and natural heritage in Novi Sad and Zone 021
  5. Urban Cult, Montenegro: accessible events
  6. Savaria Museum, Hungary: accessible museum district and jobs for vulnerable groups
  7. The Collective, Bulgaria: rebuilding identity in peripheral urban residential areas (Lyulin, Sofia)
  8. Transylvania Trust Foundation, Romania: heritage training programme and business opportunities in the Cluj-Napoca area
  9. Kolárovo, Slovakia: multicultural tourism
  10. National Inbound and Domestic Tourism Association of Moldova: community-based cultural festival
  11. Development Agency Zepce, Bosnia and Herzegovina: multiculturalism and natural resources for green business and tourism

Project objectives

Objective 1: Increase capacities and empower local communities.

By organising workshops, training sessions, and study visits specifically targeted at culture and tourism professionals – identified as crucial stakeholders – we will increase existing knowledge on culture-based social inclusion in local communities, stimulating and guiding a meaningful dialogue within communities. Practitioners from 14 Danube regions will be empowered to change the co-development and implementation of local cultural activities.

Objective 2: Create inclusive and accessible services and products in lighthouse communities (pilot actions).

We will test how new cultural understanding transforms community dynamics and stimulates economic growth at 11 pilot locations in 10 countries. Pilot activities will include cultural interventions via participatory design, improving physical access for vulnerable groups, and producing videos for better informational access. Rather than inventing new processes, we will reconfigure existing community relationships and cultural views. The results will form the basis of the CAST Model (SO3), a process-based model on materialising culture as a key transformative element for resilient communities, in line with EU Green Deal objectives.

Objective 3: Capitalise, mainstream and transfer the CAST Model across the Danube region.

Based on the results from the pilot actions, we will develop the CAST Model into a tool that can be used across the Danube Region. Through collaborative promotion and policy integration, we will mainstream the model to ensure region-wide policy uptake as well as transferring it to other regions. By promoting the model at existing and tailored events, including the unique Danube Caravan Festival, we will reach a wide audience and ensure maximum impact.

Budget: €2,761,660

Funding: Interreg Danube Region Programme (80%). The DRP is co-funded by the European Union.

Duration: April 2025 – March 2028 

Project manager: Elena Stepanov (estepanov@antrim.md)

ANTRIM project team:

  • Communications manager: Elvira Boenciuc (eboenciuc@antrim.md)

More information can be found on the project website.