Social Resilience: Six Municipalities Awarded the BSR Cultural Pearls 2025 Title

Six municipalities in the Baltic Sea Region have received the BSR Cultural Pearls title for 2025, in recognition of their innovative plans to enhance social resilience. The title is part of an EU-funded initiative that harnesses the transformative power of culture to strengthen communities and foster resilience.

Representing a diverse geographic spread, Helsingborg (Sweden), Peipsiääre (Estonia), Alytus district (Lithuania), Płock (Poland), Kaskinen-Kaskö (Finland), and Smiltene (Latvia) were selected from a competitive pool of 14 candidates across the Baltic Sea Region.

“This work by the municipalities is good for the people living there, good for the future of these cities, and good for the resilience of our region,” said Felix Schartner Giertta, coordinator of the BSR Cultural Pearls project at the Council of the Baltic Sea States Secretariat, which oversees the award title. “This year’s high number of applications for the title and increasingly bold action plans underline the growing importance of community resilience.” 

The winning municipalities will now embark on a year-long journey to strengthen their community resilience through culture. Each candidate presented an ambitious Culture and Resilience Action Plan aimed at fostering cohesion and sustainability through cultural initiatives:

• Helsingborg, Sweden will leverage co-created art and culture to foster community engagement, reduce loneliness, and build social cohesion, specifically addressing children, youth and the elderly.
• Peipsiääre, Estonia aims to engage youth and residents through cultural events, heritage education, and innovative initiatives to strengthen community ties, preserve traditions, and attract visitors while addressing demographic challenges.
• Alytus District, Lithuania will promote Dzūkija traditions through community festivals and a dedicated choir, celebrating local heritage during 2025, designated as the Year of Dzūkija Songs.
• Płock, Poland plans to bring mobile cultural activities to peripheral neighbourhoods, empowering residents to co-create initiatives and fostering connections in areas with limited cultural access.
• Kaskinen-Kaskö, Finland seeks to revitalise its community by celebrating cultural heritage, promoting bilingualism, and fostering cooperation to attract residents and ensure a sustainable future as the city nears its 240th anniversary.
• Smiltene, Latvia aims to strengthen bonds, preserve heritage, and foster engagement to tackle demographic and economic challenges, creating a resilient and cohesive community.

Over the next year, the selected municipalities will take part in a structured programme featuring expert mentorship, networking opportunities, and funding for innovative cultural collaborations. This process, centred on implementing their Culture and Resilience Action Plans, aims to strengthen community connections by involving residents in decision-making and cultural activities, fostering a sense of belonging, trust, and shared purpose.

These municipalities join the growing BSR Cultural Pearls network alongside the 2024 recipients: Svendborg (Denmark), Kiel (Germany), Jakobstad-Pietarsaari (Finland), and Rūjiena (Latvia). The municipalities not selected for 2025 will also remain part of this collaborative network.

The 2025 municipalities were selected by an international jury composed of experts in social resilience, urban planning, arts, and culture, alongside representatives from pan-Baltic and European networks of cities.

The BSR Cultural Pearls programme and project, co-financed by the Interreg Baltic Sea Region programme, continues to champion culture as a pillar of social resilience. Applications for the 2026 title will open in February 2025, inviting municipalities to highlight their cultural innovation and community-building efforts.

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About BSR Cultural Pearls

BSR Cultural Pearls is a one-of-a-kind project in the Baltic Sea Region, financially supported by the EU’s Interreg Baltic Sea Region programme. With a total budget of 3.5 million euros and twelve partners led by the Council of the Baltic Sea States (CBSS), it represents a significant, large-scale initiative aimed at strengthening social resilience in Baltic Sea Region municipalities by harnessing the potential of culture and creativity. The BSR Cultural Pearls is specifically geared towards smaller and non-central municipalities in the Baltic Sea Region.