Greetings to all! I am thrilled to share with you my experience as IVY in a culture- related Interreg project.
My name is Antonios Trachanis, and I am from Greece. Volunteering with the Interreg Volunteer Youth (IVY) program has been a revelation, and volunteering with the CHERRY project has been particularly rewarding. CHERRY—making Culture tHe N°1 ally of European RecoveRY—is an Interreg Europe project whose mission is to increase the resilience of cultural and creative industries (CCIs) following the COVID-19 pandemic impact. By improving policies and local plans, CHERRY aims to transform pandemic challenges into growth opportunities through new narratives and digital services’ development for the cultural and creative industries.
With my participation within the CHERRY project, I have the opportunity to contribute in several meaningful ways of which the most valuable one is to support stakeholders’ meetings. Pilot initiatives organized by the project provide true networking opportunities for all of us. Within this framework I have been involved in systematizing documentation dealing with pilot project progress and expected outcomes. This is a key pillar of my work as it will be used to further develop the CHERRY project argument for better CCIs policy support.
Another aspect of my contribution is helping to reach out with target groups and organize stakeholders’ exchanges. These are important in ensuring that the various partners are coordinated so that everyone works toward a shared vision and goal.
The CHERRY project unites public institutions from several European regions, such as Italy, Greece, Hungary, Romania, Belgium, France, Latvia, and Finland. Focusing on 3 specific themes, namely urban transformation, local development and valorization of natural and cultural heritage assets, CHERRY aims to provide the much-needed support and exchanges’ opportunities for the CCI sector to react to the pandemic restrictions, reach out to new audiences and further explore resilience plans.
Coordination among all these different patterns’ meetings is a true learning experience in the field.
The element that I enjoy most, is being part of the CHERRY project is collective commitment on turning challenges into opportunities. The emphasis on innovation and co-creation pursued by the project is all the most stimulating to me since it showcases, when hidden potential is turned into opportunities for positive and creative change.
Supporting an organization dedicated to revitalizing creative and cultural industries has been a source of inspiration and stimulation.
– Antonios , IVY Project Partner at the REGION OF WESTERN GREECE, for the Interreg Europe project CHERRY.
