INSPIRE Belgium Study Visit: An Inspiring Journey into Europe’s Creative Ecosystem

Organized under the INSPIRE Project to observe Europe’s cultural and creative industries ecosystem on-site, the INSPIRE Belgium Study Visit took place between 5–7 November 2025 in Brussels and Antwerp. The three-day program hosted inspiring meetings on European cultural policies, creative economy models, and innovative collaboration frameworks.
On the first day, participants met with representatives of IETM – International Network for Contemporary Performing Arts and EFA – European Festivals Association, engaging in in-depth discussions on the current framework of European cultural policies, bottom-up sectoral needs, and advocacy mechanisms. The program continued with a visit to ERRIN – European Regions Research and Innovation Network, where participants exchanged ideas on innovative projects developed at the intersection of culture, creativity, and technology. The day concluded with Culture Action Europe, one of the key actors in European cultural policy, focusing on the transformative power of the arts in policymaking.
On the second day, the team explored Antwerp’s creative economy ecosystem. Meetings with Antwerp. Powered by Creatives highlighted the city’s cross-sector collaboration models supporting creative industries. At the Antwerp Department of Culture, participants were introduced to the city’s cultural policies and examples of creative entrepreneurship. The day wrapped up at Blikfabriek, where participants met with local creative communities and observed how industrial heritage can inspire social transformation.
On the final day, participants met with ENCATC and representatives of the European Commission’s Directorate-General for Education, Youth, Sport and Culture (DG EAC), engaging in productive discussions on cultural policy, digital transformation, and the Creative Europe programme.
Providing a valuable opportunity to observe Europe’s vision in the fields of culture and creative industries firsthand, the INSPIRE Belgium Study Visit created an enriching learning environment for networking, knowledge exchange, and experience sharing. The program concluded with a collective evaluation and reflection session.
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