“Creatives in Circularity B2B Exchange” strengthens cross-border collaboration between creatives in the Baltic Sea Region

On 18-19 February 2026, creatives from across the Baltic Sea Region gathered in Tallinn, Estonia, for the “Creatives in Circularity” B2B Exchange. The event provided a space for creative professionals to connect, exchange ideas, and explore how the cultural and creative sectors can contribute to circular economy solutions. The event was organised by the Northern Dimension Partnership on Culture in collaboration with the Danish Cultural Institute in Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania and “Creative Circular Cities” (CCC) project partners.

The networking event brought together practitioners, organisations and stakeholders working with circular and sustainable practices in the cultural and creative sectors and industries (CCSI). Designed as a platform for knowledge exchange, funding awareness and networking, the B2B exchange strengthened professional networks and advanced collaboration across CCC partner cities and beyond.

The main event day opened with an introduction to the Creative Circular Cities project from its Project Manager, Indra Levite from the Danish Cultural Institute. The keynote address by Rasmus Wiinstedt Tscherning, Founder and Managing Director of the Creative Business Network, highlighted the cultural and creative industries as key drivers of growth and employment in Europe, as well as ambassadors of European values globally. Drawing on concrete examples of circular businesses from countries in the Baltic Sea Region, the keynote underlined how sustainability and competitiveness increasingly go hand in hand.

Access to finance, mobility and professional support mechanisms formed a central focus of the programme, aiming to equip creatives with new tools to develop their ideas further through international cooperation opportunities. Jaan Ulst from the Goethe Institut in Tallinn presented opportunities within Culture Moves Europe and the CCI Helpdesk, while Marie Le Sourd, Secretary General of On the Move, joined online to introduce mobility schemes and resources available to creative professionals across Europe.

The keynote “Making Kin with Materials” by Oona Tikkaoja of Humak University of Applied Sciences offered a philosophical perspective on circularity. It invited the audience to rethink their relationship with materials – shifting the focus toward production methods, value creation and responsibility towards both the planet and the materials used within creative practice.

A panel discussion led by CCC Project Manager Indra Levite featured creatives from Finland, Germany, Poland, Estonia and Latvia and provided practical insights into implementing circular economy principles, from best practice to challenges.

Throughout the event, quickfire introduction rounds gave participants the chance to present their work, the circularity challenges they are tackling, and the questions they want to explore further. This format ensured visibility for participants and sparked follow-up conversations during networking sessions. Participants demonstrated that circular practices are used in many different sectors, spanning fields such as architecture and spatial design, industrial and product design, fashion and textiles, public art, photography, theatre production, digital mapping and circular product businesses.

By combining inspiration with practical tools and knowledge exchange opportunities, the event created space for new professional connections and laid the groundwork for future collaborations among creatives in the Baltic Sea Region.

The project “Creative Circular Cities” is co-funded by the EU’s Interreg Baltic Sea Region program.

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