Cultural Pearls Network Conference: Engage and Activate – Strengthening Communities through Culture in Płock

The Cultural Pearls Network and RESCOM partners held their second joint meeting in Płock, Poland, from 17 to 19 September 2025, bringing together cultural actors, policymakers and community representatives to examine how culture can strengthen inclusion, participation and resilience.

Under the theme "Engage and Activate", the programme included case studies, panel discussions, keynote speeches and study visits across the city. Płock is one of the Cultural Pearls of 2025.

The event brought together former and current BSR Cultural Pearl cities, 2026 candidate cities, and stakeholders from the sister project  Resilient Communities Learning Platform (RESCOM), funded by the Swedish Institute. Ukrainian stakeholders joined from Khmelnytskyi, Okhtyrka, Nova Kakhovka, and Zhovkva, adding perspectives from communities facing war.

The second RESCOM Learning Lab provided a platform for discussions between Baltic Sea Region and Ukrainian actors on key topics such as activation and engagement, the role of libraries, and youth inclusion. Participants shared practical cases from their hometowns, many linked to the implementation of their Culture and Resilience Action Plans (CuReAPs) - the strategic plans that secured their Cultural Pearl title. 

Day two featured a keynote on urban resilience by Aldo Vargas Tetmajer (Polish National URBACT Point), who emphasised the importance of civic engagement for building inclusive and resilient cities.

The conference concluded with a RESCOM session featuring Ukrainian participants, entitled Culture under Attack - Reflections from Ukraine. They provided insights on the role of culture and community under the conditions of war, illustrating how cultural actors sustain communities, preserve identity, and even save lives amidst devastation. 

Delegates also explored Płock's Culture and Resilience Action Plan (CuReAP) in action through study visits across the city. Highlights included community theatre and heritage projects, demonstrating how cultural initiatives foster belonging and togetherness.

The next gathering of the Cultural Pearls Network and RESCOM stakeholders will take place at the annual Culture for Resilience Forum in Varde, Denmark, on 25-27 November 2025.  (Registration: https://culturalpearls.eu/forum/2025-2/)