NEBA kicks off discussions in Elverum

The event on September 5th at Terningen Arena brought together several municipalities and stakeholders from Sør-Østerdal to discuss NEBA. Among the participants were Elverum, Trysil, Engerdal, Våler, Stor-Elvdal, and Åmot, as well as organizations like the Nature Conservation Association in Sør-Østerdal, Nature and Youth Sør-Østerdal, Elverum Vekst, and Innlandet County Municipality.

The program began with a welcome and introduction, including an opening speech for the NEBA project and presentations on the project's background and goals. An overview of the Interreg Europe program was provided, explaining how it supports the initiative, along with an introduction to the New European Bauhaus (NEB) concept, which promotes sustainable development through art, culture, and creativity. 

Elverum's role in the NEBA project was highlighted, showcasing local initiatives within the NEB framework, followed by examples of successful NEB projects from other regions. Participants then engaged in group activities focused on applying NEB principles, identifying partnerships, and brainstorming ideas for project implementation. The program concluded with a summary of group discussions and the next steps for advancing the project ideas.

The main activity was a group work session where participants conducted a SWOT analysis of NEB initiatives in Elverum.

During discussions, the groups identified both strengths and challenges. Strengths included interdisciplinary collaboration, sustainability, and increased local engagement, while challenges such as time-consuming processes, financial constraints, and resistance to change were noted.

Participants showed great enthusiasm, discussing the initial ideas on integrating the NEBA concept into local projects. The next step focused on refining these ideas and encouraging further collaboration between stakeholders.