Co-creating Future Heritage: From Industrial Past to Future Horizons

Ravne na Koroškem, 20–21 November 2025 – Ravne na Koroškem hosted a two-day international development conference, titled: Co-creating Future Heritage: From Industrial Past to Future Horizons, bringing together over 100 European and Slovenian experts, creatives, and representatives of cities, regions, and industrial centers to explore the future of industrial heritage and the transformation of industrial spaces from 10 different countries. It took place on November 20-21, 2025, at the renovated Old Ironworks.

The conference was organized by Iskriva Institute in cooperation with the Municipality of Ravne na Koroškem, the Carinthian Regional Museum, the Central European Iron Trail, ZKŠTM Ravne, and the Geodetic Institute of Slovenia.

The conference symbolises the kick-off of the international programme in the newly opened Old Ironworks. As part of the CAST project, Institute Iskriva is collaborating with the Carinthian Regional Museum, the Municipality of Ravne na Koroškem, and other local partners to transform the Old Ironworks, located on the site of a working steel factory, into a modern urban centre that will make the city even more attractive for residents and visitors alike.

Vision, Inspiration, and Collaboration

The first day focused on envisioning the future of the Old Ironworks as a center for knowledge, creativity, and community engagement. Mayor Tomaž Rožen emphasized that the renovation marks “a new and important chapter for the site’s cultural heritage, while opening opportunities for forward-looking initiatives in tourism, science, innovation, art, and culture.”

Speakers from Slovenia, France, Romania, and other countries that have successfully revitalized industrial spaces stressed that successful transformation requires a combination of passion, a clear vision, and a dedicated team. Participants highlighted that Ravne’s industrial heritage, enriched with innovative practices, can serve as a foundation for new development opportunities, collaboration, and an attractive environment for living and working.

At the roundtable Creative Cities of the Future: Culture as a Driver of Development, speakers including Renata Zamida (Center Rog), Marina Batog (Make Better / Reșița, Romania), and Anja Zorko (Centre for Creativity) underscored that culture is a key pillar of sustainable development. Engaging the local community and leveraging European programs such as the New European Bauhaus are essential to long-term success.

A particularly inspiring example came from Loos-en-Gohelle, France, a former coal-mining town that has transformed into a green, resilient, and socially inclusive community. Valentina Hernández highlighted that persistence, a clear vision, and strong connections were critical to the town’s successful transformation.

Slovenian experts and creatives also shared insights, including Tomaž Rodič (Space-SI Centre of Excellence), Maša Jazbec (Katapult Robotika), Igor Miljavec (Inter-Municipal Association of the Blind and Visually Impaired Nova Gorica), and Zdravko Pavlekovič (Ravne Secondary School). They discussed linking education, business, and local communities, emphasizing accessibility, inclusion, and youth empowerment.

Best Practices and Concrete Projects

The second day showcased best-practice examples of industrial revitalization and explored concrete project initiatives. The highlight was the panel Shared Vision, Shared Success: The Power of Cooperation between Municipality and Business, featuring Jure Knez (Founder and President, Dewesoft, Owner, Katapult) and Zoran Poznič (Mayor of Trbovlje). The discussion emphasized how synergy between local communities, businesses, and creative practices drives regional development.

Regional representatives from Zasavje and Koroška, including Anja Šerc (Zasavje Regional Development Agency), Nataša Grošelj (Preplet Project, Tone Okrogar Primary School), and Špela Pavli Perko (Trbovlje Workers’ Cultural Centre), shared perspectives on finding new regional identities and development paths through inclusion, community cohesion, and local stakeholder engagement.

European connections were also emphasized. Hanna Olsson (Trans Europe Halles) presented several successful transformation examples and emphasized how the Old Ironworks could become Slovenia’s first member of this prestigious network of over 170 independent cultural centers across 40+ countries.

From Ideas to Action

The conference sessions flowed into interactive workshops led by Primož Šporar, High Impact Designer and director of Fund 2740. Participants jointly developed concrete project proposals focusing on linking creative and innovation centres, sustainable development of industrial regions, education and skills development, and establishing socially impactful business models. They created a rich set of ideas that will significantly influence the future integration of the Old Ironworks at local, regional, and international levels.