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Carolina Creative Quarter
Published on 30 July 2018
Romania
Centru
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About this good practice
Carolina Creative Quarter was established as an NGO, in order to bring together all the creative and innovative resources of the city of Alba Iulia and create a permanent culture and art infrastructure, within the premises of the historic Carolina Citadel. The initiative has received the full support of the administration of the city of Alba Iulia, which has planned to set up a series of spaces dedicated to the cultural and creative industries in the city: workshops, galleries, incubators, training facilities – all within the historic citadel.
Carolina Creative Quarter is the first initiative of its kind in Romania, and has already managed to overcome one of the most common barriers that appear in front of such projects – the reluctance of the public administration to such initiatives and projects. Both public administration and community work towards a common goal and each entity has its plan of action and role well established.
The objectives of the Carolina Creative Quarter initiative are: to refocus the economic development of Alba Iulia city towards cultural and creative industries, to bring talented people from the Cultural and Creative Industries (back) to Alba Iulia and to bring the historic Carolina Citadel back to life, by repopulating it with creative businesses and people.
Carolina Creative Quarter is the first initiative of its kind in Romania, and has already managed to overcome one of the most common barriers that appear in front of such projects – the reluctance of the public administration to such initiatives and projects. Both public administration and community work towards a common goal and each entity has its plan of action and role well established.
The objectives of the Carolina Creative Quarter initiative are: to refocus the economic development of Alba Iulia city towards cultural and creative industries, to bring talented people from the Cultural and Creative Industries (back) to Alba Iulia and to bring the historic Carolina Citadel back to life, by repopulating it with creative businesses and people.
Expert opinion
This good practice from Romania demonstrates a great way to bring together the administration and the community to promote a specific sector that is relevant to the local economy. Namely, an NGO was created with the aim of gathering all the creative and innovative resources of the city of Alba Iulia and create permanent culture and art infrastructure in the city. The initiative is expected to give a new boost to the local cultural and creative industries, attracting talented people to the area and increasing the competitiveness of the local companies. As the practice itself stresses, the replication potential of this solution is high, especially in cities with historical or industrial derelict buildings in public property and in cities where cultural creative industries have a considerable presence.
Works at
Interreg Europe Policy Learning Platform
Resources needed
The association has a team of 8 active staff members that implement specific cultural projects and initiatives. The financial resources needed for the implementation of different cultural projects come from different sources: Alba Iulia Municipality, European or national funds, CCI community.
Evidence of success
The first creative space opened up in Alba Iulia in 2016 and operates as gallery and events space. The most important cultural projects implemented by the association are: 1 - Urbingo Centenar, a cultural project consisting of cultural manifestations dedicated to the celebration of the 100 years since the great union of the Romanian provinces, and 2 - The Great Union of the Creatives@Alba Iulia, a cultural project that aimed to design a model of community development based on culture.
Potential for learning or transfer
This initiative can be transferred to other similar cities within the European Union, where gentrification of derelict quarters or diversification of monolithic economic structures is required. Cities with population of up to 50.000-250.000 people, with historical or industrial derelict buildings in (potential) public property and a minimal local community of 100 - 200 people working in the Cultural Creative Industries would be ideal to transfer such practices.
Further information
Website
Good practice owner
You can contact the good practice owner below for more detailed information.
Organisation
Carolina Creative Quarter Association
Romania
Centru
Contact
Programs Expert