Center for Creativity / MAO launched the public call for the Made in Slovenia 2025 Mark of Excellence in May 2025. By the submission deadline of 3 September 2025, a total of 211 applications from 137 different applicants had been received.

 

 

The seven-member expert jury, consisting of Tanja Devetak (Faculty of Design), Peter Ličen (Lushna Glamping), Martina Malešič (MAO), Vasa J. Perović (Faculty of Architecture), Matevž Popič (designer), Nikola Radeljković (Numen / For use), and Ajda Schmidt (designer), reviewed the applications and unanimously selected 31 products scoring 60 points or more, which are awarded the Made in Slovenia 2025 Mark of Excellence, in accordance with the call’s criteria.

 

 

The jury awarded the Mark of Excellence to 31 selected products by Slovenian designers, organizations, and companies that met the criteria of the public call — products that are design-quality, conceptually coherent, and functionally innovative. Many of the selected products address specific local issues while remaining globally relevant. The jury highlights a group of products that explore process and systemic approaches, where experimentation and innovation in technological and design processes solve broader challenges.

 

The jury also commends the principle of small-batch production, adapted to user needs and demands, which is seen as a key factor in developing a sustainable economy in a world of overproduction. Many products also address the ongoing theme of connecting contemporary design with rich craft heritage, promoting sustainable and local production. The overall selection provides a cross-section of submitted design work, reflecting new roles of design in today’s challenging environmental, social, and economic conditions. The jury welcomes the large number of submissions demonstrating innovation and experimentation in process-oriented design. The continuation of this call is recognized as encouraging innovation and experimentation in the design field.


Due to the high level of interest, the selection for the mark of excellence will continue in future years.

 

The selected products will soon be published on the Made in Slovenia website.

 

 

On behalf of the expert jury and the Center for Creativity team, we sincerely congratulate the recipients of the 2025 Mark of Excellence!

Herbarij, kolekcija nakita

Martina Obid Mlakar

Potiskan baletni dres/bodi/kopalke

Uroš Belantič; 1975, umetniško ustvarjenje, d. o. o.

Vozlani obešalnik

Urška Sadar; urskas, Urška Sadar, s. p.

Vrtovi spregledane moči

Kolektiv Oloop; Zavod Oloop

Dodola

Društvo Pjorkkala; Kulturno oblikovalsko in umetniško društvo Pjorkkala

HEX cor - polifonični sintetizator

Zavod Hex Haus

Broken Bones

Boštjan Marušič; Broken Bones, d. o .o.

Wood‘n’Roll - kolebnica

Metod Burgar; Metod Burgar – samozaposlen v kulturi, oblikovalec

Odeja Peča

Ksenija Baraga; Baragaga, d. o .o.

Stol C2210

Boštjan Gabrijelčič; Arhitektura, d. o. o.

Alpinistični nahrbtnik izdelan po naročilu

Neža Peterca; Neža Peterca, s. p.

Vaze iz naravnih in recikliranih glin

Rok Oblak; Rok Oblak – oblikovanje

Naravna slamica

Barbara Leber Vračko

Hlače z velikima gubama

Petja Zorec, s. p.

Modularni sistem lesenih montažnih hiš Fresh

Marles hiše Maribor, d. o . o.

D’Qualia – Zgodbe, ki jih lahko okusiš

Eva Klinc Purič; Rms, d. o. o.

Mala kuhalnica

Maja Kotar

Hydra 530

Roto, d. o. o.

Svečniki

Nikolaj Salaj

Kolesarski sedež Lupina Monocoque Open

Ana Vehovar; Berk Vehovar kompoziti d. o. o.

Oblačilo z življenjem

Urška in Tomaž Draž; Draž, d. o. o.

Predmet - izdelki iz konopljinega betona

Lenart Piano; Pilot projekt, d. o .o.

Lesene posode Swing

Iztok Lemajič; Idfl, d. o. o.

Kvadroplašč

Nataša Hrupić; Modno oblikovanje, Nataša Hrupić, s. p.

Počivalnik M

Matena Bassin; Visart – društvo za organizacijo, izvedbo in promocijo kulturnih projektov

Kuhinjska krpa Čebela

Jelisaveta Marković, Minea Sončan Mihajlović; Sitar, d. o. o.

Rokovnik Twenty Twenty six - Coffee

Nika Ferš; Nika Ferš, s. p.

3D Bristle Dynamics™ zobna ščetka

Jan Habat; Fresh 32, d. o .o.

Midva vidva onadva

Gregor Žakelj; visualbraingravity, d. o. o.

NT Systems električni pogoni in kontrolerji

Andrej Kregar; Kreatif oblikovanje, d. o. o.

Obešalnik Loop

Iztok Lemajič; Idfl, d. o. o.

The book Reclaiming Hope: Navigate (un)certainty, imagine better futures, edited by Ivica Mitrović and Dora Vanette and published by the Centre for Creativity (Museum of Architecture and Design, Slovenia), brings together contributions from authors, researchers, and practitioners in the fields of design, architecture, art, and social sciences. It explores the role of imagination, solidarity, and collective action in shaping more just and sustainable futures.

 

Through essays and case studies, the book bridges theory and practice, offering reflections on speculative design, education, care infrastructures and participatory approaches. It highlights the power of collaboration, proximity, and care — values that were also central to the Reclaiming Hope symposium, from which the publication emerged.


Digital version of the book: PDF

 

Order your copy: MAO online store

(the book is free of charge; shipping costs apply only)

Report

The symposium RECLAIMING HOPE

18 – 19 Sep 2025 | Design + Science Summer School 20 – 22 Sep 2025

Nova Gorica

The symposium RECLAIMING HOPE: Navigating (Un)certainty, Imagining Better Futures, held on 18–19 September in Nova Gorica, was organized by the Centre for Creativity (MAO) in collaboration with international partners and the organizers of the fifth Design+Science Summer School. It brought together experts from various fields to explore how design and architecture can contribute to a more just, resilient, and imaginative future.

 

The two-day international symposium, part of the accompanying program of the European Capital of Culture GO!2025 Nova Gorica, opened discussions on the social, environmental, and political challenges of the polycrisis era, as well as the role of creative practices in shaping sustainable solutions.

 

The opening remarks were delivered by Anja Zorko, head of the Centre for Creativity, Ivica Mitrović, curator of the event, and Stojan Pelko. The two days were filled with inspiring lectures, discussions, and professional meetings, featuring Natalija Majsova, Ezio Manzini, and many other experts, including James Auger, Jimmy Loizeau, Silvio Lorusso, José Luis de Vicente, Lodovica Guarnieri, Guillem Camprodon, David Martens, Ida Križaj Leko, Seçil Uğur Yavuz, Ákos Schneider, Miriam Kathrein, Gerin Trautenberger, Alexander Diesenreiter, Maja Šuštaršič, Lourdes Rodriguez, and others.

 

The program included lectures, presentations, and panel discussions, complemented by morning coffee meetings and workshops, which allowed for in-depth reflection on the impact of design and architecture on social processes and relationships. The symposium was followed by the Design+Science Summer School, promoting experimentation at the intersection of design, science, and art, and bringing together participants from a wide range of disciplines.

 

The event provided insights into innovative, critical, and speculative practices, opening new possibilities for understanding the future and strengthening the role of the creative sector in shaping social change.

 

Event photos (flickr)

As of September 2024, the Centre for Creativity has joined the partnership of the BAUHALPS project (Interreg Alpine Space), co-funded by the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF). The BAUHALPS project focuses on promoting the green transformation of the construction sector in the Alps, treating the Alps as a living laboratory for testing new sustainable practices. The project integrates the principles of the New European Bauhaus, which emphasize beauty, sustainability, and community, as well as the DNSH principle to ensure that construction projects do not harm the environment. Bauhalps aims for a sustainable transformation that is not only technological but also aesthetic and cultural, using advanced technologies and involving local communities and their cultural heritage.

 

The project partnership is extensive and covers the entire Alpine region; project partners include: Ca’ Foscari University Foundation Venice (Italy), INTERNATIONAL CENTRE OF RESOURCES AND INNOVATION FOR THE SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT (France), Habitech – The Energy and Environment District (Italy), Innovation Salzburg (Austria), Digital Findet Stadt (Austria), Bayern Innovativ (Germany), Wood Forum Allgäu (Germany), Rosenheim Technical University of Applied Sciences (Germany), Cluster BUILD&CONNECT (France), Technology Park Ljubljana Ltd (Slovenia), Museum of Architecture and Design (Slovenia), Padova Chamber of Commerce Industry Crafts and Agriculture (Italy), Lucerne University (Switzerland)

 

Total project budget:

The BAUHALPS – Building Circular in the Alps project is co-funded under the Interreg Alpine Space programme. The total project value amounts to EUR 2,739,188.01, with the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) contributing EUR 1,919,390.40.

BAUHALPS

Recommended

New European Bauhaus: open calls

Application deadline: 12 Nov 2025

| 17:00

The European Commission has launched a new set of calls to promote integrated, sustainable and inclusive approaches to spatial development, as part of the New European Bauhaus initiative. The calls address key challenges in the areas of housing, neighbourhood renewal, the use of innovative and bio-fabricated building materials, and the design of community-based solutions to combat the negative effects of gentrification.

 

The focus is on introducing practices that simultaneously improve the quality of the living and built environment, reduce the environmental footprint and strengthen social cohesion and cultural identity.

 

Projects involving interdisciplinary cooperation between architects, urban planners, designers, researchers, public institutions, local communities and other relevant stakeholders will be supported. Particular importance is given to innovations based on the values of the New European Bauhaus initiative: sustainability, aesthetic quality and inclusiveness.

 

 

Calls are open until 12 November 2025.

 

More >>


The Centre for Creativity and the Museum of Architecture and Design (MAO), under the auspices of the Ministry of Culture of the Republic of Slovenia, are taking on the role of the national focal point of the New European Bauhaus (NEB) initiative. The aim is to link European objectives with the local environment and to support creators, communities, decision-makers and other stakeholders in developing projects based on a holistic approach to the green transition and the NEB’s values of beauty, sustainability and inclusiveness. The NEB National Focal Point has the task of informing, bringing together stakeholders from different fields, advising and promoting cooperation and exchange of good practices at national and European level.

Partners

In January 2025, the Centre for Creativity/MAO launched an open call for product proposals for the online catalogue of the selection of Slovenian gifts under the MADE IN SLOVENIA brand, selected by CzK. The call for proposals received 277 products from 117 different applicants working in different areas of the CCSI by the deadline of 19 March 2025. The Expert Committee welcomed the large number of applications and the diversity of the proposals received. In the first round of selection, which took place online between 24 March and 1 April 2025, the jury shortlisted 83 products that best met the objectives and criteria of the call for proposals.

 

The applicants of the products shortlisted for the second round were invited to physically submit their products to the jury for evaluation. The jury made the final selection on Wednesday 16 April 2025. The seven-member expert jury was composed of Maja Bahar, National Museum of Slovenia; Barbara Hiršman, Protocol of the Republic of Slovenia; Barbara Jaki, National Gallery; Primož Jeza, ALUO; Katjuša Kranjc, Raketa; Maja Vardjan, MAO; Mina Žabnikar, Grupa Ee.

 

On the basis of a review of the submitted products, the jury unanimously selected 50 products, in accordance with the criteria of the call for proposals, which scored 60 points or more in the final overall evaluation of the expert jury and which, in accordance with the call for proposals, are included in the online catalogue of the selection of Slovenian gifts under the auspices of the brand MADE IN SLOVENIA, as selected by the CzK.

 

The jury agreed that the selected products of Slovenian artists, designers, organisations and companies comply with the criteria of the public call for entries, being sophisticated, bold, innovative and distinctive. They are distinguished by the quality of the materials used and their excellent physical execution. The products are functional and suitable as a gift for a variety of business and protocol occasions. The selected products reflect the important values and characteristics of Slovenia as a green, creative, smart country through the rich cultural, economic, environmental, technological or social identity and heritage of the Republic of Slovenia and the national brand I Feel Slovenia and Made in Slovenia. The selection of Slovenian gifts will help to increase the diplomatic, cultural and business visibility of Slovenia.

 

The editing of the catalogue is scheduled for May and June 2025, and the publication of the catalogue in September 2025.


Such calls encourage the development of product designs suitable for corporate, occasional and protocol gifts, as well as smaller-scale product designs more broadly. Continuous public calls and selections of Slovenian Made in Slovenia gifts raise the quality of design production and, by publishing on the website, allow a direct link and comparison of this product segment. At the same time, they open up business opportunities for Slovenian creators both locally and internationally. Through their conceptual and design approach, they present a vision of modern Slovenia and contribute to its diplomatic, cultural and business visibility in the international arena.

 

Due to the overwhelming response from partners and applicants, the Centre for Creativity will continue to build on the CzK selection and continue the open call in the coming years.


Carniolan honey bee – gilt pin badge, Galerija Oskar Kogoj d.o.o.

Slovenian jug, Galerija Oskar Kogoj d.o.o.

Empress Barbara cup, Galerija Oskar Kogoj d.o.o.

Empress Barbara cup with gilded handle, Galerija Oskar Kogoj d.o.o.

Owl – gilt pin badge, Galerija Oskar Kogoj d.o.o.

Energy cup – large, Galerija Oskar Kogoj d.o.o.

Energy cup – small, Galerija Oskar Kogoj d.o.o.

Energy cup – large with gilded handle, Galerija Oskar Kogoj d.o.o.

Energy cup – small with gilded handle, Galerija Oskar Kogoj d.o.o.

Gratitude bird with gilded beak, Galerija Oskar Kogoj d.o.o.

Cahiers and Notepads SCH Stationery, Ajda Schmidt

SCH Stationery Yearbook, Ajda Schmidt

Serving Tray Mirin, Špela Šedivy

Stone Soap Holder Tolm, Špela Šedivy

CLOUDY, Tanja Pak

A Drop, Tanja Pak

Lake in the Rain / Glass, Tanja Pak

CRYSTAL PENDANT, Tanja Pak

LIGHT CLEAR, Tanja Pak

Silver brooch Smoketree, Katja in Nataša Skušek

Silver brooch Dandelion, Katja in Nataša Skušek

Piran Days of Architecture Scarf, Galerija Dessa

The Little Spoon, Maja Kotar

Silver Lapel Pin “Fabiani’s Roses”, Lucija Perko

Silver cuff-bracelet “Fabianis Roses”, Lucija Perko

Silver Necklace “Fabiani’s Roses”, Lucija Perko

Silver Hair cuff “Fabiani’s Roses”, Lucija Perko

Wooden creative kit Konstrukta, Festival lesa

Metamorphoses, Eva Rohrman

Iconotheca Valvasoriana Silk Square, Galleria l’arte di seta: Lidija Drobež, Sašo Urukalo,

Plant-Based book, Tilyen Mucik

Honey sticks in a exclusive packaging, Lucian Perger

slovETNO socks triglav flower, JKHidentity / Julia Kaja Hrovat
Trnič Doroteja Narat

Caroto gardeners’ gard,  Dušan Grobovšek

Stamp Box, Jelisaveta Marković

Chocolate pears on stalk, Tomaž Sotošek

Brooch Silk Linden Blossom, Rebeka Lucijana Berčič

Brooch Silk Chrysanthemum, Rebeka Lucijana Berčič

Brooch Silk Bouquet of Carnations, Rebeka Lucijana Berčič

ORNI wooden hangers, Eva Štrukelj

Vuvu, Olla Irrigator, Črt Štrubelj

Brin Gin, Erik Sarkic

WOOD‘N’ROLL – skipping rope, Metod Burgar

The purpose of the Capacity2Transform project is to establish opportunities for long-term collaboration between creatives, businesses, and other tourism service providers from Northern Primorska. The project aims to connect sectors in the search for ideas that address the challenges of developing a sustainable tourism offering in the region.

 

As part of the project, 14 concepts for the development of sustainable products or services were presented on February 17, 2025, at Xcenter, Nova Gorica. These concepts, which contribute to the green digital transformation, respond to the challenges of the tourism sector in Northern Primorska—ranging from broad-based networking platforms to niche services.

 

During the presentation of ideas, project partners introduced a call for the next phase, where one of the presented concepts will be selected for further development. This concept will receive project support to advance it to the stage of a business idea for a product or service.

 

Since March 2023, the Center for Creativity has joined the Capacity2Transform project partnership (Interreg Central Europe), co-financed by the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF). Through this project, we seek to activate the transformative potential of cultural and creative industries and sustainable tourism in fostering the twin green and digital transition for the competitiveness of Central Europe.

 

 

The goal of the Capacity2Transform project is to enhance the capacities of entrepreneurship support organizations across Central Europe by improving the skills and competencies of the cultural and creative industries and the sustainable tourism sector. These efforts align with the green, digital, and creative transition.

Wine Sauna (Andrej Curk / Divinium + Posestvo Peterc)

A wine wellness experience featuring a wine sauna and a meditation podium.

Discover Local (Jasmina Putnik / JRP Studio + Apartmaji Pr’ Štromanu)

An interactive online platform connecting local accommodation, gastronomy, and experience providers, enabling tourists to easily explore the region.

E-Bike Rental App (Alja Berlot / Lettim Studio + San Marin Travel Agency)

By identifying key challenges in bike rentals, this app provides solutions to improve and simplify the rental process.

Apitherapy Experience (Ajda Miška + Kmetija Zuza)

Development of apitherapy tourism, offering a digital insight into the life of bees and their symbiotic relationship with trees, enhanced by a live experience.

Kulturist (Pjorkkala)

An innovative online platform connecting cultural tourism providers with travelers through personalized, accessible, and inspiring solutions.

Mystic Adventure in Idrija (Drejc Kokošar / ID 20)

A tourist experience that combines card games and treasure hunting to explore the cultural heritage of Idrija.

Vipavski Križ (Matjaž Kljajič + Mirjana Bužanin / Darovi Vipavske)

Developing Vipavski Križ as a destination for digital nomads, providing a unique space for remote work and community building.

Interactive Digital Guide (Jerneja Milost)

A digital guide promoting the Goriška region, featuring an interactive map of wineries, restaurants, tourist attractions, and other points of interest.

Treasure in Your Hands (Luka Purgar)

A digitalized tourist experience allowing visitors to explore Dornberk using their mobile phones.

New Cycling Route (Eva Tekavčič)

A digital platform offering verified circular cycling routes suitable for all types of cyclists.

ArcheoCarst (Saša Nemec)

An app for exploring Karst archaeological sites, enhanced with augmented reality.

DoGo – Discover & Go (Tadej Rogelja)

A simple and intuitive portal using artificial intelligence to provide easy access to local events and happenings in one place.

Opla, Oplet (Darja Malešič)

A creative and participatory tourism project focusing on basket weaving, supported by online applications and workshops.

Center for Creativity continues the selection of products for the Made in Slovenia gift catalog. We invite applicants to submit products that reflect Slovenia’s values and characteristics across various fields and emphasize Slovenian identity.

 

 

Through identification and expert selection of products by Slovenian creators, designers, authors, organizations, or companies, a collection of top-tier Slovenian products and official gifts of the Republic of Slovenia is curated under the Made in Slovenia brand. From the submitted proposals, a professional committee will select products to be included in the online catalog www.madeinslovenia.design. This catalog showcases outstanding Slovenian products, creators, organizations, and companies that contribute to Slovenia’s diplomatic, cultural, and business recognition. So far, 57 products have been included, selected by the expert committee based on the call’s criteria.

 

 

The catalog offers a high-quality selection of uniquely designed and conceptually original Slovenian gifts for various occasions and in different price ranges, enhancing Slovenia’s diplomatic, international, and business recognition. Preference is given to products valued up to €50.

 

 

A key goal of this public call is to actively promote high-quality selections and foster the development of such production.

 

 

Application Deadline: March 19, 2025

Selection Announcement: End of April 2025

 

We are pleased to announce the launch of three new EIT Culture & Creativity calls, offering opportunities for innovation and professional development in the field of culture and creativity. The calls include short-term innovation projects, major innovation projects and Continuing Professional Development (CPD) courses, which aim to support projects that foster innovation in key areas such as fashion, architecture, cultural heritage, gaming and audiovisual media.

 

Short-term innovation projects – open until 11th of March (individual applicants) and 11th of April (consortia)

 

This call is for fast-track, results-oriented innovation projects of up to six months duration, delivering concrete, market-ready solutions.

  • Areas: fashion, architecture, audiovisual media, gaming.
  • Key themes: globalisation, digital transformation, new technologies (AI), environmental sustainability.
  • Funding and support: up to EUR 120 000 for consortia and up to EUR 59 500 for individual applicants.
  • Tailored support: market access, investment presentations, networking.

 

Main innovation projects – open until 11th of April 

 

This call supports breakthrough innovations in our five focal areas, helping stakeholders to meet the challenges of globalisation, digital transformation, new technologies and sustainability.

  • Funding and support: up to €350,000 for consortia with at least two partners.
  • Tailored support: market access, investment presentations, networking.

 

Continuous Professional Development (CPD) Courses – Open until 11th of April

 

This call supports courses to upgrade the skills of professionals in the cultural and creative sectors and contribute to addressing key knowledge gaps and fostering innovation in support of Europe’s green, digital and societal transition.

  • Co-funding: ten CPD courses with EIT label – up to €150,000 per course, with themes such as entrepreneurship & creative thinking, new technologies, sustainable architecture, games and youth entrepreneurship and ten CPD courses without EIT label – up to €75,000 per course, focusing on our five key areas: fashion, architecture, cultural heritage, audiovisual media and games.

 

For more information visit EIT Culture & Creativity – Calls & Funding Opportunities.

Support

Visit the CzK Information Office

16 Jan 2025

| 12:00–16:00

MAO

In October we opened the Information Office of the Center for Creativity for creators from various fields of the cultural and creative sector from all over Slovenia, as well as companies and organizations from other sectors who want to establish cooperation with creators. The key goal is to support creators and companies for the successful development of creative ideas.

 

The services of the Information Office include consulting on the specifics of setting up a creative company that will meet your needs and requirements, meeting legal requirements, preparing business plans and financial strategies, and finding suitable tenders and financial incentives. We also offer assistance in intellectual property protection, project management, internationalization and entering foreign markets. We offer advice to companies and organizations from other sectors regarding opportunities for collaboration with creators, identification of suitable creators, methods of collaboration and possible national or EU incentives for the development of such collaborations.

 

Consultations take place once a month on Thursdays, between 12:00 and 16:00, in the premises of the Center for Creativity / MAO, Rusjanov trg, or on ZOOM online application. A preliminary online application is required.

 

Next meetings:

  • Thursday, November 7, 2024 | 12:00-16:00
  • Thursday, December 5, 2024 | 12:00-16:00
  • Thursday, January 16, 2025 | 12:00-16:00
  • Thursday, February 13, 2025 | 12:00-16:00
  • Thursday, March 13, 2025 | 12:00-16:00

 

Priority will be given to creators registered in the Center for Creativity creator database.

 

Join the community >>

The results of the public call for Creative Incubator Crouzator 2.0, designed by the Municipality of Slovenska Bistrica in cooperation with the Center for Creativity/MAO, are known.

 

We are pleased to announce that the following authors have been selected to participate in this year’s program:

 

  • Ana Krošlin
  • Daniel Ramalan
  • Ines Kresnik
  • Ivana Matuzović
  • Pija Godec
  • Stanislava Pernat

 

The selected creators will spend the next five months developing their innovative ideas under the guidance of expert mentors. The Creative Incubator will conclude with an event at which the creative solutions and concepts perfected in the program will be presented.

As one of the main partners of EIT Culture & Creativity community, the Center for Creativity invites you to subscribe to their newsletter! Could you be a Part of the Next Generation of Enterpreneurship? Or do you want to Skill Up! at the Creative Skills Week in Amsterdam? Join EIT on a journey to a creative future.

 

EIT Culture & Creativity – we turn the innovation of Cultural and Creative Sectors and Industries into societal impact by facilitating long term partnerships with a purpose.

 

The EIT Culture & Creativity ecosystem offers novel connections and unique opportunities for innovators across all disciplines and sectors, creating added value that partners cannot achieve alone. By redefining entrepreneurship, they empower stakeholders to transform projects into long-term partnerships with a societal purpose which are financially sustainable.

 

Their annual programmes include open calls for co-financing, support for universities launching innovative higher education initiatives or organisations offering innovative professional training, as well as support for both private companies and public institutions bringing new products and services to market. EIT also facilitate the creation of businesses and scaling of SME. From 2024-2027, EIT CC focuses on Architecture, Audio-Visual Media, Cultural Heritage, Fashion, and Gaming.

 

Their six regional Co-Location Centres in Amsterdam, Barcelona, Bologna, Helsinki, Kosice, and Vienna unite stakeholders from culture, education, business, and research to drive tangible change locally. Together, we shorten the time from innovation to market uptake and strengthen competitiveness and growth of the European Cultural and Creative Sectors and Industries.

 

To subcribe to the EIT newsletter click here.

Vienna Design Week

Presentation of Slovenian artists at the International Design Festival

20–29 Sep 2024

Vienna, Austria

In the week from Friday 20 to Sunday 29 September, we kindly invite you to visit Austria’s leading design festival, Vienna Design Week. This year, the festival will take place in Village im Dritten, an urban development project in the heart of Vienna’s Landstraße district. The festival will also host the Crafting Futures exhibiton, presented by the Center for Creativity.

 

The exhibition at hand is the result of an open call for co-productions of limited-edition series organised by the Centre for Creativity as part of the Distributed Design platform in 2023. Under the call Connecting Contemporary Design, Craft and Trades, 10 works by Slovenian creators were selected to receive a financial incentive and mentoring to design a new product or visibly improve an existing one for the purpose of presentation at the interinstitutional exhibition Triennial of Handicrafts and the Crafting Futures exhibition.

 

The exhibition will be accompanied by an opening social event with the featured creatives on Saturday, 21  September, and a panel discussion with both the creatives and international experts in the field of design  and art. The panel will explore the integration of traditional crafts and trades techniques with contemporary  design approaches, raising and analysing issues such as the role of cultural institutions, sustainability, ecology,  heritage and the impact of globalisation.

 

Participating creators: Rok Oblak I Luka Pleskovič I Darja Malešič I Maruša Mazej I Pjorkkala I Andraž Rudi Vrhovšek I Lucija Perko I Lara Baler I Boris Ouček I Nina Vastl Štefe I Luka Bernik I Črt Štrubelj

 

Don’t miss the opportunity to view Centre for Creativity’s nominees, presented within the Distributed Design Platform Exhibition, the Pjorkkala group, Krater Collective and Darja Malešič, as well as another Slovenian presentation by Design Corner Ljubljana, VODA exhibition.

 

Partners

Center for Creativity (CzK) as the national platform for the development of the Cultural and Creative Sector (CCS), with the aim of establishing a closer collaboration with the economy and other sectors, in association with the Wood Industry Directorate (Ministry of the Economy, Tourism and Sport), is updating the community of designers and creators on the national platform www.czk.si while launching the Public Call for the Voucher for Research, Development and Design.

 

As part of the announcement of the Public Call “Voucher for Research, Development and Design” which will be published by the Wood Industry Directorate (Ministry of the Economy, Tourism and Sport), the notifiers will select design services from the list of the creators in the CzK community.

 

Why to join the CzK Creators’ Community

 

Visibility and recognition locally and internationally: The Creators, that are a part of the online community, will receive a wider recognition locally as well as internationally. This contributes to their success and better opportunities for collaboration, sells, or securing commissions. Center for Creativity promotes and shares the creators’ community with local and international stakeholders.

 

Platform and Connections: The creators’ community serves as an online showcase which connects the creators with the help of various stakeholders such as companies, institutions, and the public sector. This provides the option of idea exchange, project collaborations, and access to new opportunities.

 

Support and Resources: The community offers support as well as access to different resources, them including market collaborations and potential financial aid through public calls and tenders. This can help the creators with the development of their talents, skills and projects.

 

All interested creators are invited to register or update their application by filling out the form >>

 

For more information on the conditions for admission to the CzK Creators’ Community, read the public call >>

 

With the aim of preparing a national showcase of contemporary Slovenian design and related creative production, the Center of Creativity (CzK) is issuing a call for proposals for the selection of a curatorial, designer and execution proposal for the Milan Design Week 2025. The event is expected to take place between 8th and  13th of April 2025. The exhibition is a part CzK’s internationalization programs and will also take place at other design events in the foreseeable future.

 

We seek to include a wide range of authors in the selection and presentation of the contemporary Slovenian design and creative production, as well as younger generations of curators, designers, authors, collectives, and other experts who wish to collaborate with the Center for Creativity and help develop a curatorial concept and exhibition system along with presenting the contemporary Slovenian design at various international venues.

 

The goal of said call is to select a project and project team, which will be working closely with the organizers to develop the concept for the curated national presentation, to identify and select a professional selection of Slovenian creators and projects, products or services and to design and execute the exhibition system for presenting contemporary Slovenian design and creative production at Milan Design Week 2025, as well as at other selected international events and venues.

 

The call is open to individual authors or interdisciplinary teams of curators, designers (in industrial, product, service, graphic, fashion, and other fields), architects, artists, researchers, and creators from other fields active in creative areas.

 

BUDGET AND SUPPORT

 

Under the management of CzK/MAO, the authors of the winning project will have a budget of up to 70.000 EUR, managed by CzK, in addition to the prize money. The selected applicants will also receive additional financial support in the form of venue rental, exhibition security, event organization, international promotion, and other support as outlined in the public call. Beyond production funds, the Center for Creativity/MAO will also provide further support during the exhibition setup and its duration.

 

 

AWARDS

 

  • 1st PRIZE → 5.000 EUR

 

  • 2nd PRIZE → 1.500 EUR

 

  • 3rd PRIZE → 1.000 EUR

 

  • HONORABLE MENTION

 

 

Any questions regarding the call can be sent to the email address info@czk.si by August 13, 2024. Please make sure to include “CURATORIAL CALL” in the subject line.

 

The project submission deadline has been extended to September 15, 2024.

 

Read more about the invitation in the public call >>

PUBLIC CALL FOR EXPRESION OF INTEREST

Pilot Projects: Connecting Creators and Tourism Service Providers

Application deadline: 31 Aug 2024

We invite all creators interested in collaborating with tourism service providers from northern Primorska and in developing proposals for sustainable products or services as a part of the green digital transformation, to apply into the database of interested participants for the pilot initiative Transforming Capacities.

 

The application deadline is August 31, 2024.

 

As a part of the pilot initiative, a professional committee will choose at least 15 participants and 15 providers of tourism services, that together will shape 15 intersectoral partnerships. Between September and December 2024, we will organize networking events aimed at the formulation of groups and at understanding the challenges of the green digital transition, as well as the opportunities that collaborations between different partners can offer. Selected participants will receive training and mentoring from the Center of Creativity and the Primorska Technology Park, focused on developing ideas and enhancing their business and creative skills.

 

By the end of January 2025, the partnerships consisting of representatives from both creators and tourism service providers, will present their concept proposals for the development of sustainable products or services at a public showcase event. For their work and proposals of the ideas, the creators of each of the 15 groups will receive co-production funding of 1.800 EUR gross per project. All partners within the groups will also receive have access to additional training and consultations, as well as national and international promotion.

 

Among the submitted proposals, an international expert committee will select a national project in February 2025, which will receive 10.000 EUR gross co-production funding for the development and realization of a product or service prototype by the end of May 2025.

 

For more information about the open call and the project objectives, please refer to the attachment at the top of this post or visit the link. The expression of interest form can be found here. If you have any further questions regarding the call, you can contact info@czk.si with “Transforming Capacities” as the subject line.

 

The project is being carried out by Center for Creativity/MAO and Primorska Technology Park in collaboration with other European partners, and is funded under the Interreg Central Europe program. For more information about Interreg Capacity2Transform please follow the link.

In April 2024, the Center for Creativity/MAO published a public invitation to submit proposals for the online catalog of the line of occasional gifts of the Republic of Slovenia under the MADE IN SLOVENIA brand in the selection of the Center for Creativity (hereafter also the public call for Made in Slovenia). According to the public call, 298 applications were received by the application deadline of May 9, 2024. The expert commission, appointed to evaluate applications and select products for the online catalog, evaluated the products in two rounds. In the first round, which took place between May 10 and 15, 2024, the members of the expert commission individually scored the completed applications and selected a set of products included in the second narrower round of live group evaluation. The second round of scoring took place on May 29, 2024 at MAO.

 

Expert commission composed of Maja Bahar, National Museum of Slovenia; Barbara Hiršman, Protocol of the Republic of Slovenia; Barbara Jaki, National Gallery; Emil Kozole, Studio People; Barbara Predan, Academy of Fine Arts and Design; Maja Vardjan, Museum of Architecture and Design and Yasmin Martin Vodopivec, International Graphic Arts Center unanimously selected 57 products in accordance with the criteria of the call. They scored 60 points or more in the final joint evaluation of the expert committee and, in accordance with the public call, will be included in the online catalog of the line of occasional gifts of the Republic of Slovenia under the umbrella of the MADE IN SLOVENIA brand in the selection of the Center for Creativity. In its decisions, the expert commission followed the goals and criteria of the public call and was unanimous.

 

The quality of the applications received was very high, and the competition really strong. The commission was unanimous that the selected products of Slovenian creators, designers, organizations and companies comply with the criteria of the public call and reflect visual and design excellence, the rich cultural, economic, environmental, technological or social identity and heritage of the Republic of Slovenia and the national brand I Feel Slovenia and Made in Slovenia. The products stand out for the quality of their design and manufacturing excellence, the use of sustainable materials, innovation, and to a large extent they were manufactured in Slovenia. They present the country as an example of good design and reflect the vision of modern Slovenia. The functionality of the selected products goes beyond mere decoration and represent clearly tangible stories.

 

The Commission estimates that the organizers can raise the quality of production and integrated design of products, which represent the vision of modern Slovenia and contribute to its diplomatic, cultural and business visibility in the international arena, with continuous public appeals and selections for occasional Made in Slovenia gifts. Creators are therefore encouraged to continue their work and to monitor invitations to CzK tenders in the future as well.

 

Due to the exceptional response of partners and applicants, we at the Center for Creativity will upgrade the CzK selection and continue the public call in the coming years. An important goal of the CzK public appeal is the planned promotion of quality selection and the development of this type of production. The next public call is expected to be published in 2024.

 

The catalog of selected works from this call will be presented in the fall of 2024.

The Ministry of Economy, Tourism and Sport has listened to the initiative of the Center for Creativity and will award 4 additional points to applicants who are also recipients of one of the “Promotion of Creative Cultural Industries – Center for Creativity” tenders or bearers of the CzK Made in Slovenia mark of excellence upon application, which strengthens the link between the creative and economic sectors.

 

The purpose of the tender in question is to directly strengthen the micro-enterprise with the aim of enabling a development breakthrough, and indirectly to strengthen the entire wood processing industry and use the most important Slovenian natural resource – wood, which is also one of the foundations of the European transition to a low-carbon society.

 

Micro-enterprises represent the vast majority of all enterprises in the wood processing industry. These companies form the basis of the industry and an indispensable link in the wood processing chain. So they are the most dynamic part of the industry, but at the same time they are also very vulnerable to external factors (e.g. financial crises, economic crisis). The tender in question thus highlights the specific needs of micro-enterprises within the narrower wood processing industry (C16 and C31).

 

The tender funds amount to a total of 1.5 million euros, and the individual financings range from 15,000 to 70,000 euros of subsidies and cover 60% of the eligible costs of the project. Read more at the link.

We invite you to the ECIS23 Bilbao Conference for the creative and cultural sectors to reflect on innovation, green transition and society. This 3-day event will include the opening of the EIT Culture & Creativity Co-Location Centre South West in Barcelona, connecting vibrant cities Bilbao and Barcelona. Creative professionals, sectorial organizations, policymakers, and experts will explore alternative sources of knowledge and promote inclusive approaches to innovation and technology development.

 

The European Creative Industry Summit in Bilbao will raise questions about how we acknowledge and utilize innovation, particularly in the urgent context of transforming our planet towards environmentally-friendly, digital, and societal changes. It emphasizes the importance of recognizing the value of traditional and local knowledge systems, heritage, and crafts in the fight for a green transition. The Summit also highlights the need for decolonising innovation, which can promote more inclusive and equitable approaches to technology development. By fostering diverse and inclusive approaches to creativity and innovation, we can develop new ideas and technologies that better address the needs of society and the environment.

 

Anja Zorko, head of CzK will also take part in the panel Cases and prototypes of new CCI driven policies – Unlearning the old ways of policy development, together with Charles Landry, Creative Bureaucracym, Josean Urdangarin, Head of Cultural and Creative Unit – Basque Government, Arthur Le Gall, Director of KEA and Jenny Kornmacher, Developer of cultural and creative industries and international relations at Region Skåne.

As partners of EIT Culture & Creativity and Kreativwirtschaft Austria, Centre for Creativity participated at the European Days of Culture and Creativity conference, which took place on 10 and 11 October at the University of Applied Arts in Vienna.

 

The event, which was attended by more than 450 visitors from 33 countries, also brought together representatives of support organisations and policy makers from the south-eastern Europe and the Alpine region. Their participation underlined the importance of the cultural and creative sector for the future development of innovation in the EU context and for the realisation of the CzK vision of cross-sectoral integration.

 

EIT Culture & Creativity is the youngest EIT Knowledge and Innovation Community, which will connect cultural and creative sectors and industries in the largest innovation network in Europe. Their aim is to split approximately 300 million EUR of EIT funding under Horizon Europe during the 2021-2027 EU funding period for innovation in connecting the cultural and creative sectors with education programmes, services, products, business and society.

 

We invite you to follow the EIT Culture & Creativity, Co-location centre in Vienna and Centre for Creativity channels where we will keep you informed about the opportunities of the EIT community!

In March 2023, the Center for Creativity joined the partnership of the Capacity2Transform project (Interreg Central Europe), which is co-financed by the European Regional Development Fund – ERDF. Capacity2Transform is a capacity-building project that addresses the lack of skills in the Creative and Cultural Industries and sustainable tourism Small and Medium Enterprises in Central Europe. Its aim is to address the lack of skills in these sectors to participate in and contribute to digital and green transition initiatives.

 

The digital transition of the mentioned sectors requires a renewed structure of entrepreneurial competences. The Capacity2Transform project therefore aims to strengthen the capacities of entrepreneurship support organizations across Central Europe in raising the skills of the cultural and creative industries sector and sustainable tourism, consistent with the green, digital and creative transition. The project also aims to facilitate companies and institutions to embrace the cultural and creative sectors as partners in designing and delivering complex digital, green and creative solutions and products to the market.

 

The project partnership is diversified and covers the entire area of Central Europe (11 project partners and 17 associate partners); the leading partner is Primorska Tehnolgy Park (Slovenia), and the other partners are Friuli Innovazione (FVG – Italy), Central Transdanubian Regional Innovation Agency (Hungary), BRNO – BizGarden (Czech Republic), Build! (Austria), Università IUAV di Venezia (Italy), STEINBEIS Europa Zentrum (Germany), University of Split, Faculty of Economics (Croatia), IRI Centar Business Incubator (Croatia), Centre of Creativity – Ljubljana (Slovenia) and Technical University of Kosice, Faculty of Economics (Slovakia). The project started on March 1, 2023 and will be implemented for 36 months.

February 2023 – October 2025

Made in Platform for Contemporary Crafts & Design is a research, design, and heritage initiative encouraging collaboration and knowledge exchange between traditional craftspeople and contemporary designers, as well as other experts in the fields of culture and science. The platform addresses issues central to preservation and explores new articulations of embodied knowledge found in the rich legacy of European craftsmanship. Similarly, it examines possible avenues of diversification and repurposing by way of mutual learning and by imagining new approaches to thinking through contemporary art and design practices.

 

The aim is to highlight new material research approaches and other design processes related to topics like the degradation of natural resources, extraction, and models of sustainable production.

 

The Made in Platform is structured as a series of activities designed to complement and build on one another in order to show the relevance of crafts, as a connector between ecology and culture, in contemporary society. The activities will promote the importance of contemporary design and art practices, innovative technologies, and transdisciplinary thinking in overcoming the perception of crafts as non-inventive and obsolete, instead integrating them into the core of the ecological debate.

 

The activities consist of:

  • creating a publicly available database of crafts and craftspeople, transdisciplinary expertise, and natural resources related to crafts and design;
  • knowledge transfer and collaborations in the form of residencies, workshops, training courses, and a summer school;
  • educational and discourse programmes in the form of conferences, seminars, and stakeholders’ events;
  • dissemination of the project outcomes through a publication, aseries of exhibitions, and a website – www.madein-platform.com

Made in Platform for Contemporary Crafts & Design builds on the outcomes of the original project to extend its reach, both geographically and in terms of its goals and mission. The project now involves 10 partners from 6 countries to form a consortium with a broad range of expertise: Museum of Architecture and Design (MAO), Ljubljana, Slovenia (coordinator); Center Rog Ljubljana, Slovenia; Zenica City Museum (MGZ), Zenica, Bosnia and Herzegovina; Drugo More, Rijeka, Croatia; State Art Collections Dresden, Museum of Decorative Arts (SKD), Dresden, Germany; Museum of Arts and Crafts (MUO), Zagreb, Croatia; Oaza, Zagreb, Croatia; Nova Iskra Creative Hub (Nova Iskra), Belgrade, Serbia; Passa Ao Futuro (PAF), Lisbon, Portugal; and the University of Applied Sciences Zwickau (WHZ), Schneeberg, Germany. Partners are of various sizes and include museums, production centres, educational institutions, and non-governmental organisations.

 

The platform will include more than 1000 craftspeople, designers, researchers, cultural and scientific professionals, and members of wider audiences, all of whom will participate in various project activities.

 

Press materials >>

Made in Platform is co-funded by the Creative Europe Programme of the European Union.

As part of the inter-institutional exhibition of the Triennial of Handicrafts and Crafts, which will take place from September 26 to November 19, 2023 in the Koroška galerija likovnih umetnosti, the Center for Creativity/MAO, under the auspices of the European platform Distributed Design, announced the second open call for co-productions of series in a limited edition CzK #2, within which we selected 10 works by Slovenian creators who, with the help of financial incentives, will design a new product or visibly update an existing one for the purpose of presentation at the central exhibition of the Triennial of Handicrafts and Crafts 2023 and later also at the Museum of Architecture and Design (MAO).

 

We received 59 proposals, the expert committee: Maja Vardjan (MAO curator), dr. Tanja Roženbergar (SEM curator), Anja Radović (head of Biennial of Design), Ivana Borovnjak (OAZA design collective) and Rok Kuhar (ALUO) reviewed the applications and selected 10 proposals that received financial support in the amount of EUR 1,000, mentoring and support from international experts for project development.

 

The expert committee assessed the overall high quality of the applications and highlighted, among other things, the innovativeness of the applicants, the observance of the principles of the circular economy, the continuation of long-standing handicraft traditions, the effective use of the properties of materials, the opportunity to preserve specific technological skills, the effective integration of modern issues with old customs, addressing current environmental issues and supporting biodiversity.

 

You can follow the progress of the project on our website and on the website of the Distributed Design platform.

URŠULA OITZL MAGISTER, LUCIJA PERKO: Brass Teaspoon

The brass teaspoon is a stylized interpretation of Plečnik's elements and his idea of using a simple material to create a useful product with added value.

FESTIVAL OF WOOD, ANDRAŽ RUDI VRHOVŠEK: Kočevje Canopy

The Kočevje canopy is conceived as a space organizer, and can be implemented not only as a cutlery stand, but by extension also as a family of products such as a basket or a tray for keys, combs, or an eyeglass holder. The product is made from natural materials, specifically the remains of fruit trees or shrubs.

ČRT ŠTRUBELJ, LUKA BERNIK: VuVu

VuVu is a ceramic container buried in soil that optimally moistens the soil through capillary water transfer and encourages reflection on the rational use of water in plant cultivation.

MARUŠA MAZEJ: Disfunction

The Disfunction project explores transformation from the useful to the useless. By upgrading the project, the artist wants to preserve the usefulness of the product and explore contemporary styles of decor.

PJORKKALA: Kaduja

A kaduja is a utensil for rising, baking and storing bread. Inspired by traditional utensils and making use of design and 3D clay printing, it transforms into a contemporary product adapted to the habits of today's households.

ROK OBLAK, LUKA PLESKOVIČ Čebelino

Čebelino is a bee feeder made using 3D printing and a mixture of natural clay and sawdust. The biocomposite material allows sufficient water to seep in so that bees can absorb it from the surface and survive the driest period of summer.

ROK OBLAK: Glaze made of construction waste

The project comprises the development of a glaze from construction waste and is a continuation of the Forbidden Vernaculars project. The KRATER cup will be joined by a teapot and a serving plate. The glaze will be registered for general use in table ceramics.

DARJA MALEŠIČ: Corn Dolly

Corn Dolly is an assemblable shoe for supporters of biodiversity, handicrafts and the right to repair. The visual interpretation of the shoe is based on an ancient, almost forgotten harvest custom in traditional pagan European culture, namely, the making of a plaited ornament or corn doll from the last sheaf of harvest, which is supposed to be kept until the following spring to ensure a good harvest.

LARA BALER, BORIS OUČEK: Oreika

Oreika is a baby rattle made of Nuxit® and filled with seeds of native tree species. When the baby outgrows it, the rattle is simply discarded - planted in the ground, allowing new life to sprout from the waste product.

NINA VASTL ŠTEFE: Quilt for Life

The artist wishes to design and handcraft a textile piece that will have great symbolic value and be useful in various ways throughout life. The multi-purpose textile piece can be used as a blanket, cover, tablecloth, curtain, rug, drape or decoration.

Forum

Prague Cultural Forum

19 and 20 April 2022

Prague

The Prague Cultural Forum wants to establish long-term cooperation between experts in the field of art, culture and cultural and creative industries, and to introduce current foreign trends into the Prague environment. The Centre for Creativity was recognized as an example of good practice in the national field, but also increasingly visible and relevant in the international creative and cultural environment, so we were invited to present their experience of operating and establishing a platform for a national promoter for creative people.

 

For the first year, the forum is a participatory event to launch a new cultural policy for the capital city of Prague (2022-2030), hosting contributions from international experts such as Pier Luigi Sacco (IULM University of Milan), Jordi Pardo (Nartex Barcelona) and Michal Hladky (Creative Industry Košice).

 

This year’s forum is based on an already established cultural policy and will address the topic of excellence. It seeks to examine excellence from a variety of perspectives inspired by cultural policy criteria. The Prague Cultural Forum is being re-established in cooperation with the Prague City Hall and the Prague Department of Culture and Tourism.

HeritageHack, which will be held for the third time this year, is approaching again. This time, we are going to Carinthia, where we focus on iron and mining heritage. So how do you present heritage in a sustainable and active way that will be interesting to young people as well? The Hackathon HeritageHack will once again take place VIRTUALLY – from 3 to 5 June 2022, in collaboration with the Centre for Creativity, at the Museum of Architecture and Design.

 

The cultural heritage of Koroška (Carinthia) will be at the forefront of the event – we will delve into finding solutions for the former heritage of the lead and zinc mine in Mežica and the ironworks in Ravne. At this year’s HeritageHack, we are looking for solutions that will present the cultural heritage in an attractive way and place it alongside the best existing solutions in the field of sustainable and active tourism. An attractive role will also be played by the presentation of complex steel processes and new products that draw inspiration from this rich heritage.

 

Although the HeritageHack itself will take place from 3 to 5 June 2022, preparations for the event will take place earlier. The selected participants will be given the topics of the challenges on Monday, May 30, and they will have a few days to prepare for them. The participants will have a varied and active weekend, which they will spend with other creatives!

 

The winning team will win a prize of € 1,000. The second- and third-placed teams will also receive practical prizes with a local touch of Carinthia.

 

Apply alone or with an already selected team by May 25, 2022.

The project is part of the partner network of the Centre for Creativity. The project is co-financed by the European Union from the European Fund for Regional Development and the Republic of Slovenia.

 

Cover photo: Tomo Jeseničnik

PARTNER NETWORK PROGRAMME

Vili Van Style, the first mobile boutique store in Slovenia, starts season # 2! This time, Slovenian fashion will take part in 5 pop-up rides around Slovenia.

 

  • TRIP # 9 | LJFW 11.4. – 15.4.
  • TRIP # 10 | Maribor, Friday 6.5. (Maribor, Pokrajinski muzej)
  • TRIP # 11 | Novo Mesto, Saturday 14.5. (Goga Bookstore)
  • TRIP # 12 | Izola, 3.6. – 4.6. (Kino Otok – Isola Cinema)
  • TRIP # 13 | Bled, 25.6. – 26.6. (Tishler Eyewear)

 

See you!

Partner Network Programme

Incubator

PAKT incubator 2022

Deadline for applications: March 27, 2022

Do you have good content that you would like to design into an attractive tourism product?

Want new visitors for your content?

Are you a craftsman with a workshop that you would like to open to domestic and foreign guests?

Do you have a product in tourism and would like to make it more attractive for next season?

Would you like to upgrade your tourism content with elements of creative tourism?

 

You can join the P.A.K.T. incubator where renowned mentors will help you reach your desired goal. Free!

 

P.A.K.T. offers a limited number of providers the opportunity to join the intensive incubator program between April and June 2022:

 

  • April 8 or 9: Applicants’ presentation and KickOff (full-day workshop)
  • April – May: 1on1 counselling
  • May 21 or 22: verification (full-day workshop)
  • June 23: public presentation

 

You will be mentored by:

  • mag. Ana Osredkar, Servis 8
  • Katja Beck Kos, co-designer of Rajzefiber products
  • Assoc. prof. dr. Dejan Križaj, lecturer at UP FTŠ Turistica, idea leader of the R&R program of UP FTŠ sTOUdio Turistica and co-founder of the international initiatives AIRTH.global and TourismFromZero.org
  • mag. Miha Bratec **, lecturer at UP FTŠ Turistica
  • Tadej Rogelja ** mag., Assistant at UP FTŠ Turistica, Rogelja Herbal Farm, co-founder of LocalsFromZero
  • Rudi Medved **, M.Sc. student at UP FTŠ Turistica, co-founder of LocalsFromZero, Marketing Content Manager at Fairbnb.coop
  • Jaka Godejša **, a graduate of UP FTŠ Turistica, co-founder of LocalsFromZero, currently building online communities at Fairbnb.coop
  •  

     

    and others.

    ** all: members of AIRTH and UP FTŠ sTOUdio Turistica

 

Applications are collected here until and including March 27, 2022.

 

The P.A.K.T. takes place as a co-production of Hiša!! with the Centre for Creativity as part of the Partner Network of the Centre for Creativity. The project is co-financed by the European Union from the European Fund for Regional Development and the Republic of Slovenia.

Partner Network Programme

Part of the following programme:

Partner Network

Creative and cultural organisations co-creating the support environment for sector development

RELATED EVENTS / NEWS

Poligon’s research has become a key tool for planning the post-covid regeneration of the cultural-creative sector. In the spring of 2022, for the fourth time in two years, you are being asked how you live, work and what your prospects are for the future.

 

So far, 3,454 cultural and creative workers have participated in the research: from the self-employed in culture, employees in public institutions, students to employees in companies. We want to respond as much as possible this time as well.

 

Data collection is anonymous, so be completely honest.

 

Survey takes 15 minutes. In the case of extensive answers to optional open-ended questions, it may take longer.

 

If at all possible, persevere to the end.

 

Again, we need at least 1000 solved surveys, so please pass the survey on to your co-workers and colleagues. The survey can be found here.

 

The previous three reports of the research ‘Slovenian cultural and creative worker’ during the Covid-19 epidemic and infographics can be found at the following addresses:

 

Part I – Spring 2020,

Part II – autumn 2020,

Part III – spring 2021,

 

Infographics – autumn 2021

 

Thank you for your trust,

 

the Polygon team and the Centre for Creativity.

The research is being carried out in co-production with the Centre for Creativity at MAO Slovenia. The CzK project is co-financed by the EU from the European fund for Regional Development and the Republic of Slovenia.

Partner Network Programme

Studio Ljudje, in cooperation with the Center for Creativity at the Museum of Architecture and Design, invites you to a series of four workshops Everything they do not teach during studies.

 

The program is designed for all creators who want to face the obstacles, challenges and opportunities that you often encounter while building your career. The workshops will be led by experienced creatives in cooperation with representatives of Slovenian companies, who will teach through practical examples and guide you to adjust solutions to specific obstacles in your career.


The series will include workshops:

 

  • How should I promote myself? February 16th and 23rd
  • How much should I charge? March 16th and 23rd
  • How should I tackle this project? April 20 and 27
  • Where should I get inspiration? May 18 and 25

All workshops will take place live at the offices of studio Ljudje – Ilirska ulica 15 in Ljubljana and are free of charge. The number of places in live workshops is limited, so hurry and register now!

 

If you missed the registration or cannot attend the workshops live, you will be able to follow the introductory lectures of each workshop via the web download here.

 

More information about the event and registrations can be found here.

 

 

The project is part of the platform of Centre for Creativity Partner Network. The project is co-financed by the European Union from the European Fund for Regional Development and the Republic of Slovenia.

Program Partnerske mreže

In 2022, the Asocijacija, as part of the PartnerNnetwork of CZK and with co-production of the Centre for Creativity, designed an educational project aimed at strengthening the cultural and creative sector.

 

It is envisioned as a continuation of last year’s project, with a series of two additional online workshops and video interviews with lecturers. The program will reprise most material from the workshop of the previous year. They want to continue the educational and support counselling program within the project and emphasise it with additional dates for online counselling and enable dynamic individual consultations with mentors.

 

The aim of the project is to empower artists with knowledge in the administrative field. In addition, Asocijacija designed some of the content with special emphasis on the potential for expanding and the range of opportunities or strengthening knowledge for market penetration and new adaptations and directions to new challenges in the time of the pandemic. Taking into account the current situation, the project was regulated in such a way that the workshops were moved online, thus enabling the participation of all interested parties, regardless of where they live and work.

 

Due to the constant need for such knowledges, they also wanted to create materials through the project that would remain available to CCS actors in the public domain whenever they need them. They agreed with the mentors to create video conversations with selected highlights in accordance with their expertise. In addition to this recognized general need for service assistance for administrative issues, the project also provided for twenty-five telephone counselling appointments. As part of the project, they will also conduct one-hour individual consultations with experts for KKS actors (taxes and accounting, PR, strategic and business communication, copyright, etc.), and these will be carried out between the expert and individual participants in the consultation.

 

The workshops are open and will in principle be limited to up to 50 applicants.

 

Between March and June, 3 workshops will be held and 2 additional video interviews will be published:

 

1.) Accounting and taxes for cultural creators

2.) Comprehensive branding

3.) Strategic and business communication

 

Project duration: February 1, 2022– June 31, 2022

 

Contact persons: Polona Torkar (polona.torkar@asociacija.si) and Miha Satler (miha.satler@asociacija.si)

CCS project: Development support is never enough! is part of the Partner Network of the Platform Centre for Creativity. The project is co-financed by the European Union from the European Fund for Regional Development and the Republic of Slovenia.

Program Partnerske mreže CzK

After the initial edition of the Photonic School, we invite the second generation of participants to apply, who will be selected on the basis of the submitted application and portfolio. They will be able to gain important additional knowledge and experience in the field of professional activity in active communication with important representatives of the international photography scene. Participants will be acquainted with current information on relevant European tenders and competitions, various creative practices in the field of photography and the basic rules of the art market, learn about modern approaches to promote projects and have their own work analysed and evaluated by international experts.

 

The school program includes:

  • 3 masterclasses with foreign mentors online or live;
  • Workshop for applications for international photo competitions;
  • Sales exhibition of works by participants of the Photonic Edition;
  • Portfolio review with renowned foreign and domestic experts;
  • Visiting an international photographic event and visiting some photographic institutions.

 

The Photonic School program is co-financed by the European Fund for Regional Development and the Republic of Slovenia by the Centre for Creativity. Registration for the Photonic School is free, and a symbolic fee of 100€ is expected from the ten selected candidates.

 

Applicants should submit their applications no later than Monday, February 7, 2022. Candidates will be notified of the results of the competition no later than Friday, February 11, 2022.

 

More information about the school program and application instructions can be found HERE.

The project is part of the Partner Network of the Platform Centre for Creativity. The project is co-financed by the European Union from the European Fund for Regional Development and the Republic of Slovenia.

Program Partnerske mreže

Announcement

MADE IN SLOVENIA 4.0

12 Jan 2022

For the next few weeks, we will reveal to you which products have received the Made in Slovenia mark of excellence. The expert jury reviewed as many as 76 entries and awarded a badge of excellence to 23 products that were included in the collection, which will be presented in April at Design Week in Milan.

 

The “Made in Slovenia” mark of excellence is awarded to products that represent good practices of Slovenian artists and companies. In this way, we create a collection that is recognized as good Slovenian design, promotes sustainable principles and contributes to cooperation between the creative and economic sectors.

 

In this call, we particularly addressed products and services that foresee systemic change, offer a critique of existing market and economic systems, break established, often harmful social habits, bring new uses and have the potential to become a serial product or service that abandons established ways of working. We were looking for small series products (and services) that are designed and manufactured in Slovenia and are thoughtful, functional and sustainable.

 

The jury met twice. At the first meeting, they discussed 59 products that applied to the open call and selected 16 products from among them. At the second meeting, the jury discussed another 17 products proposed for inclusion by the jury members themselves. Out of these seven other products, were awarded the mark of excellence.

 

All products that have received the Made in Slovenia mark of excellence can be found here.

 

OPEN CALL

Creative Incubator is back!

Feb - May 2022

9 Jan 2022: deadline for application submission

Feb - May 2022: implementation of the program

In February 2022, the Center for Creativity is continuing to implement a three-month structured mentoring program that enables creative companies, individuals and organizations to upgrade key entrepreneurial competencies needed to adapt to rapid and strong structural changes in the cultural and creative sector.

 

For all those entering the market with their idea for product development, as well as those who are already present on the market and would like to upgrade their product, inclusion in the Creative Incubator can provide you:

 

  • upgrading entrepreneurial skills (complete program of weekly educational workshops, where we will discuss everything from customer segmentation, building a business model and running a company to digital marketing and development of sales competencies),
  • assigning a mentor to monitor and guide you through the growth and progress of your business idea over the life of the program,
  • the possibility of choosing a professional mentor with specialized knowledge that meets the specifics of your product,
  • connecting and networking with other incubated companies or individuals, lecturers, invited guests and mentors,
  • presentation of your product to domestic and foreign investors at the end of the program.

 

How to apply? Present your idea / product / service in the form of 3-minute video presentations, where you describe your idea, the problem you are solving with it, the size of the market, the level of development and the existing competitive solutions and present your team.

 

The creative incubator will run from February to May 2022 and is intended for creative companies and individuals who have a clear idea how to develop or upgrade a product with business potential, specific goals and vision but also want to rethink their view of existing business or just lay the foundations for their entrepreneurial path.

 

The application deadline is 9 January 2022!

More information on the application criteria and procedure can be found here.

The Creative Incubator Program

For its Center for Creativity program, the Museum of Architecture and Design received the National Award for 2021 in the category of Promotion of Entrepreneurial Spirit, awarded by the European Commission within the European Enterprise Promotion Awards. With this, we are also vying for pan-European recognition in this category.

 

The results of the pan-European selection will be announced on 15 November 2021 at #SMEAssembly2021 in Portorož, Slovenia. Congratulations!

The European Institute of Innovation and Technology (EIT) is an EU body created by the European Union in 2008 to strengthen Europe’s ability to innovate. The EIT is an integral part of Horizon Europe, the EU’s Framework Programme for Research and Innovation. The EIT´s new strategy for 2021-2027 presents the creation of a new EIT Knowledge and Innovation Community (KIC) in the Cultural & Creative Sectors and Industries.

 

By uniting cultural and creative organisations from business, higher education and research in a pan-European innovation ecosystem, this new EIT KIC will deliver innovative solutions to help these sectors and industries become stronger and more resilient. EIT Culture and Creativity will create new opportunities for entrepreneurial education, innovation, business creation and acceleration to power Europe’s next generation of innovators and creatives.

 

Publication of Call on 26 October 2021.
Application deadline on 24 March 2022.

 

WHO TO CONTACT?

Questions relating to the EIT Call for Proposals must be submitted via the Contact Us Page on the EIT website.

 

WHO CAN PARTICIPATE?

The minimum condition to form a KIC is the participation of at least three independent partner organisations, that are comprised of at least one Higher Education Institution (HEI), one research organisation and one private company and that are established in at least three different Horizon Europe Member States. A ‘partner organisation’ means a legal entity which is a member of a KIC and may include, in particular, higher education institutions, vocational education and training providers, research organisations, public institutions, public or private companies, financial institutions, regional and local authorities, foundations and not-for-profit organisations.

 

Connect with possible partners on the EIT Culture & Creativity platform (open until 21 April 2022).

FOR FURTHER CALL DETAILS, EVALUATION CRITERIA AND INDICATIVE TIMELINE SEE:

Source: Motovila

Not all innovations are disruptive, even if they are revolutionary. For example, the first cars in the late 19th century were not a disruptive novelty, as early cars were expensive luxury items that did not disturb the existing horse-drawn carriage market. It remained unimpaired until the dawn of first cheap Ford T model in 1908. Only mass production of cars could become disruptive. Often, disruptive innovations arise from “critiques” of existing systems, like economic and business methods, and from the reflection on existing systems, where they identify “possible points of intervention” on established practices to establish systemic change.

 

For this call, we are looking for creative innovations, products and services that foretell systemic change, offer critique of existing market and economic systems, break established, often harmful social habits, envision new uses and have the potential to become a serial product or service that abandons established practices. These can be products for the home and everyday life as well as digital applications that improve the lives of users, or the design of services that have in mind the well-being of society, especially in terms of planning user, infrastructure, communication and material components social change.

 

The need for systemic change was further fuelled by the pandemic, which brought to light that in the future the production of goods would have to be redirected back to local communities, and that it is important to preserve local tangible and intangible resources (preserving and integrating traditional crafts into new practices, saving energy and other resources, etc.).

 

With this call, we are looking for concepts, products and services that answer new social questions, interrupt established practices and seek new, socially conscious ways of working that are developed locally and aimed at rationalising resources (closed material circle, reuse, etc.) and new methods of production or use. Above all, we are looking for products with high design and functional value. Based on the proposals, we will select products for group presentation at international design weeks, fairs and exhibitions (in 2022), such as Design Week in Milan.

 

Each of the shortlisted applicants will be entitled to a gross grant of EUR 2000 to cover the costs of making or improving a prototype or the cost of presentation at an exhibition in Milan.

 

Submit your proposals to us by 1 October 2021. An individual applicant can submit a maximum of three proposals. Apply using a form that includes a brief description and features of the product and three photos.

 

Detailed information on the call can be found here.