Capacity Building Academy sessions completed

The CAST Project team have completed the Capacity Building Academy sessions as part of SO1. Developed as a series of training sessions for cultural and tourism professionals, the Academy focused on sharing knowledge, exploring different working methods and creating space for exchange between partners and local communities.

During the sessions, participants presented case studies from their own areas of expertise and reflected on the challenges they face in practice. The discussions showed how culture can play an active role in supporting social inclusion and local economic development when communities are involved in the process from the beginning.

One of the key lessons from the process was the importance of identifying stakeholders early on. Involving the right actors from the start helped strengthen cooperation and supported more effective project development. Another important aspect was the interactive format of the sessions, which encouraged open feedback and continuous discussion around common challenges and possible solutions, giving partners the opportunity to learn from each other’s experiences and reflect on how these approaches can be adapted to different local contexts.

All case studies are available on the project website, allowing wider access to the knowledge and experiences developed throughout the Academy.

Building on these outcomes, the partnership has now started working on a process-based protocol that will help transfer the knowledge and experience developed during the Academy into future project activities.