Why did we engage with Creative Collaboration?

• We wanted to enhance the creative economy of Europe and build intercultural understanding between artists and audiences across the region.
• We wanted to bring together an exceptional group of creative professionals from the arts communities of South East Europe and the UK to develop the networks and skills they need for effective cross-border collaboration.
• We wanted to realise our vision of “Working together to build next generation Europe”.

What did we achieve with this new initiative?

• Improved levels of trust and understanding between artists and arts communities in South East Europe and the UK.
• Enhanced skills for individual artists and arts institutions, especially in candidate countries for EU accession and countries in the surrounding European neighbourhood.
• New collaborative productions that involve multiple countries and multiple art forms and that will reach more people.

How did we meet our objectives?

Creative Collaboration was run as a programme in partnership with artists, cultural producers and creative entrepreneurs:

• Project Launch – “The Space”, Istanbul, 24-27 November 2007
  “The Space” was a unique British Council event to build a dynamic network of arts and creative industry professionals. Over 100 delegates from 18 countries were exposed to Open Space Technology to explore the issues that are most important to them as creative professionals. The event was facilitated by the internationally-renowned and award-winning UK theatre company, Improbable.

Countries participating in Creative Collaboration included: Albania, Armenia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Bosnia & Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Georgia, Greece, Israel, Kosovo, Republic of Macedonia, Montenegro, Romania, Serbia, Turkey and the UK.