BSR Cultural Pearls is an initiative designed to enhance social resilience in smaller towns, cities, and municipalities within the Baltic Sea Region through cultural engagement. This project supports awarded communities in utilising culture to foster stronger, more resilient societies by involving citizens, improving quality of life, and nurturing a sense of belonging and trust.

Countries in the Baltic Sea Region vary in size, historical background, and cultural heritage, but they all face common challenges such as climate change, urbanisation, economic downturns, segregation, ageing populations, and political tensions. These issues impact our daily lives and require immediate collective action. Addressing these challenges together is crucial, and social resilience—the ability of communities to adapt and thrive amidst adversity—is key. Therefore, developing a shared understanding of the importance of social resilience and working collaboratively to strengthen it across the region is essential.

To adapt to the challenges and demands of a rapidly changing world and make our neighbourhoods more livable, decision-makers must not only make good decisions but also involve and engage their citizens. We need to solve today's problems, reverse negative trends, and prepare for the unexpected in the future — all together.

This can be achieved through a variety of strategies, such as building strong social networks and relationships, investing in education and training, promoting economic diversity, and fostering a sense of community ownership and participation. Cultural activities such as music, dance, theatre, and visual arts play a vital role in this process by bringing people together, fostering a sense of belonging, and creating social connections that help individuals and communities weather difficult times.

The BSR Cultural Pearls project leverages culture and creativity to enhance social resilience, particularly in smaller municipalities that often feel overlooked. It promotes community cohesion and collaboration, empowering communities to better handle adversity. To demonstrate that all municipalities can strengthen social resilience through culture, we annually invite local authorities from the region — especially those from less central areas — to join this transformative journey. Through a meticulous selection process, we award four municipalities with outstanding and impactful culture-driven social resilience plans the BSR Cultural Pearls title, bringing visibility and momentum to their efforts.

The journey to becoming a BSR Cultural Pearl unfolds in stages. Initially, a selection based on motivation and concept identifies eligible candidates. These candidates then enter a phase of action plan development, creating Culture and Resilience Action Plans with access to specialised tools, webinars, and individual mentorship. An international jury then selects the best plans to award the BSR Cultural Pearl title. This two-stage process ensures that motivated towns and cities receive the necessary support and knowledge, even before being awarded the title.

In December 2023, we awarded the first BSR Cultural Pearls titles for 2024 to four municipalities: Svendborg in Denmark, Kiel in Germany, Jakobstad in Finland, and Rūjiena in Latvia. Each of these municipalities presented unique visions for their Culture and Resilience Plans. Jakobstad aimed to transform a historic fire station into a community hub. Kiel focused on empowering youth through cultural learning. Svendborg addressed challenges posed by an ageing population and youth discontent by fostering youth participation in social communities. Rūjiena sought to build an open, civically active society, leveraging its status as a "seniors' town" to facilitate intergenerational dialogue and cross-border cooperation with Estonia. Additionally, we have seen a surge in interest, with eighteen applications for the second call, demonstrating growing recognition of this approach.

Currently, the four award recipients embark on a one-year programme of action plan implementation, supported by local mentors and experts, as well as through webinars, conferences, and study visits. This includes seed money for external support and collaboration with local cultural and creative sectors.

Showcased across the region, the BSR Cultural Pearls recipients highlight the power of community and culture. Both awardees and the other participating municipalities join the BSR Cultural Pearls network, gaining international exposure and continuing to enhance their community’s resilience.

Interreg has been pivotal in contributing to the project's vision and success. Their financial support and guidance have been crucial in implementing the BSR Cultural Pearls project, enabling us to form a diverse consortium from across the Baltic Sea Region. This collaboration has been essential for the project's success and acceptance. Without Interreg, this cross-border initiative might not have been feasible.