Cultural BEES Project to Showcase Youth-Led Innovation at Creative Skills Week 2025 in Prague

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Prague, 25 September 2025 – The Cultural BEES project, co-funded by the European Union under the Creative Europe programme, was featured at Creative Skills Week 2025, the EU’s flagship initiative on skills and innovation in the Cultural and Creative Industries (CCIs).

Cultural BEES contributed to the session on Transformational Entrepreneurial Skills, which explored how entrepreneurial training can better respond to the evolving demands of the CCI sector. Represented by Antigoni Komodiki, JA Cyprus, Christina Achilleos, InnoEUsphere, and Effie Papazisi, JA Europe the consortium showcased its pioneering approach to equipping young people with the skills and mindset to turn creativity and cultural heritage into entrepreneurial opportunities. 

The session, led by Ruba Saleh, Lecturer at the ICHEC Brussels Management School, consisted of four different discussion topics with multiple stakeholders present. The  “Youth entrepreneurship” topic was where Cultural Beed was able to contribute most effectively, presenting the results achieved and the methodology behind the creation of two training courses. These courses will be tested by a wider audience of young students next month.

The key outcomes from the discussion are as follows:

– Creative entrepreneurial skills are life-changing for young people. Beyond academic knowledge, these skills help students build confidence, resilience, and problem-solving capacity, qualities that empower them to create opportunities for themselves and others.

– Recognition and validation of these skills are essential. Participants stressed the importance of formal mechanisms that allow young people to prove their expertise. Validated skills enhance employability, strengthen career pathways, and give students tangible proof of their capabilities.

– Soft skills and self-efficacy are foundational. Skills such as communication, teamwork, and adaptability, along with the belief in one’s own ability to succeed, were identified as the cornerstones of both education and vocational training. Promoting these qualities ensures that young people are better equipped to thrive in diverse professional and social contexts.

 

– Progress has been made, but more is needed. While initiatives like Cultural Bees have already demonstrated positive results, participants agreed that greater effort is required to scale these approaches. The vision is to build societies that are not only more entrepreneurial but also more inclusive, ensuring that opportunities are accessible to all young people regardless of background.

The Cultural Bees piloting phase will be implemented in Cyprus, Italy, and Bulgaria, aiming to engage over 1,000 secondary school students and young professionals in developing new business ideas in the cultural and creative sectors. The project is piloting an innovative digital learning platform offering:

  • Interactive training modules on creativity, entrepreneurship, and culture
  • Engaging quizzes and certification pathways for learners and teachers
  • Mentoring, hackathons, and local cultural events that connect youth with professionals in the sector

Anchored in JA Europe’s pillars of Inspire – Prepare – Succeed, Cultural BEES helps position CCIs as a viable and sustainable career path for young people. The project also promotes fair working conditions and sustainable business models in the cultural sector, reinforcing the role of culture as both heritage and an engine for Europe’s economic and social future.

Why it matters
By integrating entrepreneurship education with culture, Cultural BEES helps position CCIs as a viable career path for young people. The project strengthens fair working conditions and sustainable business models in the cultural sector, while showcasing culture’s role as both heritage and an engine for Europe’s economic and social future. You can find out more at www.culturalbees.eu