Providing opportunities for cooperation in the Baltic Sea region 2024
Providing opportunities for cooperation in the Baltic Sea region The summer heat is here and we would like to wish you all a happy summer with our final newsletter for this term, themed around culture and cultural exchanges.We are also happy to announce that 28 new projects in 11 countries have been approved within the SI Baltic Sea Neighbourhood Programme. You can find the complete list on our website. In addition to that, we have an ongoing seed funding call open until 17 September. You’ll find more information about the call on our website and further down in the newsletter.Looking ahead, we have many exciting events planned for the autumn. From 29-31 October, we invite you to the Annual Forum of the EU Strategy for the Baltic Sea Region on the beautiful island of Gotland, Sweden, located in the heart of the Baltic Sea. The Forum will focus on sustainability, resilience, and security, aiming to deepen our understanding and enhance cooperation in these crucial areas. The Swedish Institute (SI) will co-host an optional side event on 29 October, aimed at increasing engagement in the implementation of the strategy among the local level, civil society, youth organizations, and the business sector. One important goal is also to engage Ukrainian participants from a broad range of sectors. We look forward to seeing you in Visby!Until then, we’re wishing you all a wonderful summer!Find out more about our work in the Baltic Sea region and with the EU Eastern Partnership countries on our web page dedicated to this region.> CULTURAL EXCHANGE > SI supports cultural initiatives within the Baltic Sea regionCultural exchange is a cornerstone of the Swedish Institute’s mission. We work to build relationships that strengthen a sustainable, free and democratic society, a particularly urgent task in times of challenges and instability. In this newsletter we bring up projects focusing in culture that’s newly been granted funding within the frame of SI Baltic Sea Neighbourhood Programme (BSNP) and SI Creative Partnership Programmes (CPP).  The importance of cultural exchangeThe starting point for our work is collaboration. Collaborations based on mutual interest and clear local ownership create long-term sustainable relationships. The goal for the activity is that SI’s target groups – individuals and institutions – have strengthened their work for democratisation and sustainability and their ability to act and change in their specific contexts.”In our work, people from different parts of the world come together. Despite differences in language and culture, there is often a mutual and curious interest in each other. Through the exchange of ideas, knowledge, and traditions, relationships are built and new perspectives gained.”Madeleine Sjöstedt,Director-general of the Swedish Institute  Newly granted cultural projectsRESCOM – Resilient Communities Learning Platform (Council of the Baltic Sea States Secretariat)This project within the frame of BSNP aims to establish a platform for exchange of experience and good practice between cities and regions on fostering community resilience with local assets, particularly focusing on culture as a driver of community engagement. The project connects participants in an ungoing project and network with Swedish, Ukrainian and Moldovan stakeholders, including city and regional officials and members of the culture and creative sector. Creative Arts for Shifting Power for Equality in Marginalized Communities of Georgia (Save the children) This project within the frame of CPP aims at supporting women and girls in an ethno-religious minority group in Georgia (Kists), historically subjected to stigmatization and marginalization. The project will use visual arts as a medium to empower women and girls, combat patriarchal stereotypes, and increase the target group’s engagement in social issues.> ONGOING CALLS SI Baltic Sea Neighbourhood Programme A call regarding the grant type seed funding is now open and closes 17 September 2024. Through the programme SI provides funding to projects in which Swedish organisations work on cross-border challenges and opportunities together with organisations from the EU countries around the Baltic Sea and countries in the EU’s Eastern Partnership. Seed funding can be used to lay the foundation for future cooperation. For example, projects can use seed funding to carry out pre-studies, feasibility studies, develop concepts, identify partners for future cooperation and even prepare applications for new funding. You and your partners can apply for up to SEK 400,000 for a project which you must complete within 15 months from the starting date.Deadline for applications: 17 September 2024 Information seminars: Join our online information seminars held in English to learn more about the call: 14 August 2024 at 10:00- 11:30 (CET). Register using this link. We will also arrange Q&A sessions for Swedish main applicants towards the end of the call. Registration links will soon be found on the Swedish part of the programme website and our Swedish events section:27 August at 10:00-11:30 (CET) 5 September at 13:00-14.30 (CET) 9 september at 9:30-11:00 (CET)The instructions and the application material can be found on our website. Find more information about the programme here in English and in Swedish. > UPCOMING CALLSSI Creative Partnerships Programme The programme grants funding to Swedish organisations and their international partners in civil society, culture, and the media. The programme supports projects which aim to promote democracy, human rights and freedom of expression and includes the six Eastern Partnership countries. A call will be launched towards the end of the year. Find more information on our website shortly. SI Baltic Sea Neighbourhood Programme SI has the ambition to open a call for the grant type cooperation projects towards the end of the autumn. Dates will be communicated early autumn.> EVENTSAnnual Forum of the EU Strategy for the Baltic Sea Region (EUSBSR), 29-31 October The EUSBSR Annual Forum will be held in Visby, Sweden, on October 30-31, with an optional side event on October 29. During these three days, participants will discuss how the Baltic Sea countries can address regional challenges and also support Ukraine. On October 29, the Swedish Institute, Norden Association Sweden, and Region Gotland will host a side event for local groups, civil society, youth organizations, and businesses. Join us in Visby to share your ideas on implementing the EUSBSR and tackling regional challenges! Find more information about the EUSBSR Annual Forum here. > EVENTS AIMED AT SWEDISH TARGET GROUPSTogether with a group of Swedish public authorities and associations, SI arranges seminars, workshops and meetings aimed at Swedish actors interested in the EUSBSR. These events are arranged in Swedish only. EUSBSR workshop on the role of culture in sustainable development, 12 September 2024, Emmaboda, Sweden. Join us to discuss the role of culture for sustainable development. The starting point for this workshop is the need for cooperation with other countries to solve societal challenges. Read more here (in Swedish). |
| > CONTACT |
| Contact at SI about: SI Baltic Sea Neighbourhood Programme: balticseaneighbourhood@si.seSI Ukraine Cooperation Programme: ukrainecooperation@si.seSI Creative Partnerships Programme: creativepartnerships@si.se |