Significance of culture and creativity for sustainable social transformation

The seminar series “Interwoven Worlds – Culture, Creativity and Innovation” is in progress in autumn 2024. The seminar series is organised by Uppsala University Culture & Creativity together with Uppsala Municipality and Region Uppsala.

Targeting researchers, students and officials

The aim of the seminar series is to discuss the significance of culture and creativity for sustainable social transformation. The seminars will highlight research, experiences and concrete cases and explore conditions, obstacles and opportunities relating to the potential contribution of culture and creativity towards solving societal challenges.

The series is intended for administrators and officials in Uppsala Municipality and Region Uppsala together with researchers primarily in the humanities and social sciences but also in other fields. The seminars also aim to reach students and actors in the cultural sector.

The Ecosystem of Culture

The next seminar in the series is “The Ecosystem of Culture” on 24 October 2024. The seminar will present research on the role of culture for social cohesion and the transition to a more innovation-driven society. It will also present research on how the hidden geography and networks of culture can be mapped using AI and mathematical models.

“There is an increasing awareness of the significance of culture and creativity in our societies. This is evident at European level, nationally and here in Uppsala. With this in mind, we hope that the seminars will act as a catalyst to bring people together, promote the exchange of ideas and strengthen ties within the local and regional culture and creativity ecosystem, says Anna Wallsten, Collaboration Manager in the University Administration.

The seminar on 24 October 2024 follows on from the “Kultur- och fritidskonferensen 2024” (“Culture and leisure conference 2024”), organised by the Swedish Association of Local Authorities and Regions.

Circular Place Development

In the third seminar in the series, “Circular Place Development” on 26 November 2024, Region Västra Götaland will present its work on reuse of cultural settings. At the seminar, Umeå municipality and RISE (the Research Institutes of Sweden) will also share how their work on the 2014 Capital of Culture year has contributed to urban development.

“For the third seminar we are also planning a panel discussion with representatives of the three host organisations of the seminar series. The panel discussion will be about takeaways from the series and how they can be put into practice in a local and regional context,” Wallsten concludes.

Anders Berndt