The Cultural Hub Österlen

Support for professional cultural practitioners in Österlen as a business and as an important development factor for the area.

In Österlen, there is an unusually high proportion of professional cultural actors. Applicants saw these actors' needs for collaboration, visibility, and potential services. They also saw an opportunity to develop the local cultural and business life. The Cultural Hub Österlen aimed to develop a model for strategic development of cultural life in Österlen. The goal was to form an organization that could transition into the ownership of the cultural sector after the project period.

The project leaders built an organization over two years in close collaboration with interested cultural actors. They built networks, created meeting places, initiated collaborations, offered individual coaching, conducted training, and raised the issue of cultural and creative industries.

The project began with three startup meetings and a mapping of cultural actors in the area. This was followed by surveys and in-depth interviews regarding conditions, needs, and wishes among Österlen's cultural actors. Municipal and regional officials were also interviewed. This current situation description was presented in the report ”Living for and by culture in Österlen”, which then became the starting point for the continued work.

The project leaders maintained a regular dialogue with key individuals in the public sector, at both municipal and regional levels, to inform about the cultural actors' needs and wishes and to highlight Österlen as an excellent area for investment in cultural and creative industries (CCI).

An interactive website for registered members was launched, also visible to potential clients. Membership also included newsletters and invitations as well as opportunities for further education and offers from local businesses.

The Cultural Hub Österlen built a large and appreciated network for actors within the creative industries in the municipalities of Simrishamn, Tomelilla, and Ystad. After the project's conclusion, the network formed a non-profit association, the Network Cultural Hub Österlen, which took over the work.

The project led to more collaborations between cultural actors, but also between the administrations in the participating municipalities. The project also contributed to inspiration and the sharing of experiences and networks in preparation for the creation of the Cultural Center in Tomelilla. Participants gained new knowledge, and the area's marketing regarding the cultural sector increased.

Read the report by clicking on the image below.

The Cultural Hub Österlen has recently received funding approved by Region Skåne to investigate how the operation can obtain permanent financing.

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That type of project is needed in Ystad and in Österlen, which is sometimes referred to as the cradle of culture. This is an interesting project, with a well-prepared application, that addresses the challenges faced by the cultural industry, with its cultural workers and sole proprietors. The project is also believed to contribute to the development of other industries.