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On September 21-23, in Essen, Germany, the 4th Forum d’Avignon Ruhr summit, an annual meeting of representatives of the Network for Innovation, Culture and Creativity in Europe — N.I.C.E., European Centre for Creative Economy – ECCE and European Commission delegates took place. At the Forum nearly 100 delegates participated from Great Britain, France, Netherlands, Austria, Finland, and Russia, who came to Essen for the Culture is Digital. Digital is Culture Conference. During intensive debates and panel discussions, the issues of design, digitalitzation, human rights, culture and creativity in Europe were raised. The Krakow Festival Office was represented by Robert Piaskowski and Justyna Jochym.
In connection to Krakow’s plans to join the N.I.C.E. network in 2015, KBF’s representatives took part in discussions with potential partners, actively participated in the board and member meeting and negotiated the conditions for membership, as well as contributed strategic ideas for the development of the network in coming years as well as plans related to organizing the N.I.C.E. Award Gala in Krakow.
The N.I.C.E. network was founded in 2013 by 15 European cities for the purpose of stimulating exchange concerning innovation in culture and the creative sector in Europe. The N.I.C.E. Award was created to help promote this idea and it honors innovation projects that tackle economic, political, cultural and social problems.
Besides the conference, member meeting and award ceremony, Robert and Justyna also met with Charles Landry, international expert in the area of strategic city development, creative industries and sustainability. Charles help Krakow and KBF to conduct research on the city’s creative sector and to prepare development strategies in the coming years.