Social&Creative

The objective of the project was to establish and promote cross-border cooperation among social and creative entrepreneurs, thus propelling these business areas in Latvia and Estonia. The project strengthened the entrepreneurial abilities of social and creative entrepreneurs in an international setting and developed social and creative collaboration by organizing their joint training and mentoring. It contributed to the sense of initiative, leadership, and engagement in public, creative and economic processes in a cross-border sense in Latvia and Estonia, as well as entrepreneurial cooperation and the creation of new businesses in the region.

206 unique participants (entrepreneurs and new businesses) benefited from 9 joint events like matchmaking seminars, contact-making trips, the joint training, mentoring, and consulting program "To be the cross-border starter", as well as the trade fair.  

During the seminars, participants were able to share their best practices and test ideas. They established new communication channels and potential cross-border partnerships and created favorable conditions for future growth. The training program presumed a non-formal learning approach, focused on personal potential, capacity building, and especially on self-expression. It concentrated on social and creative industries in the field of manufacturing and public and private services supply. The wider public was reached during the public trade fair at the popular market place. In total 626 participants, which include also trade fair visitors, were reached during events, and 5000 persons were reached through Social and Creative Facebook page.    
 

6 new business ideas formed during the project lifetime - 1) service that helps social entrepreneurs prevent problems with the law, 2) mapping and enhancing co-operation between the cultural and musical undertakings & pop music clusters of Livonia, 3) workshops for NEET youngsters (aged 15-24 years), who need a new start, production of handbags from newspapers and magazines, 4) support to starving artists and artists from unprotected groups,  5) establishing a zero waste shop, and 6) creation of happy playbooks. 

During the project lifetime, project partners and participants of events created an informal network that includes entrepreneurs and municipalities on both sides of the border.

Project materials

Brochure “Social and Creative”

Author of the photo: Laura Kindzule