The program “Applause Doesn’t Pay the Rent” is intended for the education of young artists and cultural workers, and offers knowledge about the relationship between art and work, the history of workers’ struggles, and organisations, unions and initiatives fighting for better working conditions. The program is organised through lectures, talks, presentations, and workshops and has been implemented on a biennial basis since 2021.

More information about the program is available on the BLOK website.

Photos: Luka Pešun for BLOK.

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CLIMB #1 was developed in response to the increasingly complex conditions in which organisations in the contemporary circus and outdoor arts sectors operate. In the context of growing economic pressures, rising expectations related to equity and sustainability, and the increasing complexity of team management, the programme focused on rethinking and developing new approaches to cultural leadership, with an emphasis on governance, wellbeing, and shared responsibility.

The programme was jointly designed and facilitated by Dr Giuliana Ciancio, Dr Dea Vidović, and Dr Luisella Carnelli, combining research-based and practice-oriented approaches to working with cultural professionals. Over the course of the three-day programme, participants engaged in structured discussion sessions and peer exchange to strengthen their capacities to lead organisations in dynamic and demanding contexts.

As part of the programme, Dr Dea Vidović facilitated a discussion session on soft skills and wellbeing in culture and delivered a lecture titled Rethinking Power and Leadership in International Cultural Relations, addressing questions of power relations, the transformation of leadership, and the role of cultural actors in contemporary social and political contexts.

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Dr. Aleksandra Uzelac and Dr. Barbara Lovrinić Higgins took part in the conference, with Dr. Lovrinić Higgins delivering a presentation titled: “Between Code and Narrative: The Digital Transformation of Archives and Memory.” The presentation addressed the impact of digital technologies on knowledge structures and archival practice. It emphasised the relationship between algorithmic data processing and the human need for narrative, concluding that digital transformation fundamentally reshapes how archives are created, used, and understood in contemporary society.

More information about the conference programme and activities is available on the official website of ICARUS Croatia.

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The book contributes to current debates on work, cultural policy, and social inequalities in the European context, and it brings together contributions by international authors from the fields of cultural sociology, cultural studies, media studies, and the sociology of work. It presents the results of recent research on creative labour and offers empirical analyses from various European countries and across different sectors of the cultural and creative industries. Particular emphasis is placed on working conditions and professional trajectories of cultural and creative workers, the relationship between cultural, tax, and economic policies and creative work, tensions between the discourse of the creative economy and lived working experiences, as well as possibilities for more just and sustainable models of work in the cultural sector.

More information about the book, including the list of chapters and biographies of the contributing authors, is available on the Routledge publisher’s website, where pre-orders for the book can also be placed via the following link.

Featured image: Routledge.

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The lecture introduced the concept of invisible cultural policy, highlighting that cultural policy is shaped not only by formal legislation and strategies, but also by broader public values, administrative practices and organisational processes. Special attention was given to cultural federalism in the United States, characterised by strong decentralisation and the key role of state, local and non-profit actors.

Drawing on examples from programmes implemented by the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA), the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) and the Advisory Council on Historic Preservation (ACHP), Dr Redaelli demonstrated how values such as diversity, accessibility and inclusion are translated into concrete policy measures. Emphasis was placed on the role of pluralistic public culture in fostering dialogue and participation.

The lecture concluded with an interactive discussion, focusing on differences between American and European, particularly Croatian, cultural policy models, the role of public funding, the complexity of institutional frameworks and challenges related to insufficient funding.

Dr Redaelli’s book “Invisible Cultural Policy: A Public Policy Perspective on Culture in the United States” is available in open access here:
https://www.elgaronline.com/monobook-oa/book/9781035330232/9781035330232.xml

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The aim of the conference is to provide a forum for reflecting on the relationship between contemporary cultural and creative industries and the diverse aspects of cultural heritage. Discussions focused on the application of creative approaches, new models of collaboration, and innovative solutions emerging at the intersection of culture, art, and heritage on the one hand, and gastronomy, agriculture, ecology, biology, tourism, and local development on the other.

Through ongoing dialogue at annual conferences, the event creates a space for exchange among experts and scholars from different disciplines, while also encouraging international interdisciplinary cooperation and the development of new connections that contribute to the sustainable and healthy development of communities within an environmentally conscious and responsible context.

More information about the conference’s rich and diverse five-day program is available on the event website: https://kkib.me/

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During their stay, they conducted a study visit to Forum Groningen as part of their research into European examples of hybrid cultural institutions that integrate diverse cultural, social, and educational functions into their operations. In addition, Dr Vidović and Dr Žuvela delivered a guest lecture and led a discussion at the University of Groningen, as part of the Master’s programme in Cultural Leadership at the Department of Arts, Culture and Media Studies. Their session focused on participatory governance in culture, collaborative governance practices, and the development of innovative organisational and institutional models.

This research visit contributes to IRMO’s broader inquiry into the intersections of cultural policy, institutional change, and participatory paradigms in contemporary cultural ecosystems.

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The paper critically analyses the impact of the Culturelink network over three decades, emphasising its ongoing relevance as a key reference and inspiration for developing transformative cultural policies. Established in 1989 through a joint initiative of UNESCO and the Council of Europe within the scope of the World Decade for Cultural Development, the Culturelink network was created as a “network of networks.” Its goal was to break research isolation and foster cooperation in cultural development, especially in international cultural collaboration. With its central coordination hub at IRMO in Croatia, Culturelink has developed a unique research profile, grounded in a commitment to global cultural development and a decentralised epistemological perspective. It offers a platform for the fair participation of diverse voices from all continents in debates about the main challenges facing contemporary cultural policy. By systematically analysing the network’s growth, research activities, publications, cooperations and events, the paper highlights Culturelink’s role in shaping international cultural policy discourse. The article identifies structural imbalances influencing contemporary international cultural relations and policy processes, emphasising the need to incorporate social justice and decolonisation principles as foundational elements of cultural policy. In this context, the paper raises broader questions about the role of such research networks in promoting future research and transforming cultural policies.

The paper is available via this link, and the first 50 readers may access a free e-print.

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The program took place over two days, 13 and 14 February 2026, in Potsdam and Berlin. It included a research conference at the Film University Babelsberg KONRAD WOLF in Potsdam, the official launch of the publication State of European Cinema 3 at the European Film Market within the Berlinale, and the consortium’s final general assembly.

Research Conference: Final Results of the CresCine Project

The first day of events, held on 13 February at the Film University Babelsberg KONRAD WOLF in Potsdam, presented the final results of the CresCine project through a series of thematic presentations dedicated to innovation, production and financial ecosystems, distribution, and the competitiveness of small European film markets. The conference was opened by Susanne Stürmer (President of the Film University Babelsberg KONRAD WOLF) and Manuel José Damásio (CresCine Project Coordinator).

As part of the session “From Domestic to International Audiences: Competitiveness in Small Markets,” one of the speakers was Dr Jaka Primorac, head of the IRMO CresCine team and researcher on the CULTMED project, who presented on domestic film audiences in small European markets.

Official Launch of the Publication State of European Cinema 3

On the second day of the CresCine events, 14 February, the official presentation of the third edition of the publication State of European Cinema 3 was held in the morning as part of the European Film Market (EFM) at the Berlinale. The publication offers the latest analyses of European film markets, with a particular focus on small markets and their development potential.

The event included panel discussions and roundtables on the future of the film industry in small European countries, with participation from project researchers and industry partners, including representatives of film agencies from the countries studied and stakeholders from European professional film associations. The event was opened by Manuel José Damásio (CresCine Project Coordinator) and Matthijs Wouter Knol, Director of the European Film Academy (EFA), a partner organisation in the project.

Final Consortium Assembly and the Future Development of the CresCine Initiative

In the afternoon of 14 February, the CresCine consortium’s general assembly was held at the European Film Academy (EFA) headquarters. The assembly addressed final reporting, plans for disseminating results, the Memorandum of Understanding, and the establishment of the CresCine Alliance as a platform for continued cooperation and promotion of the project’s outcomes. Representing IRMO as a project partner were Dr Jaka Primorac, head of the IRMO CresCine team, and Dr Aleksandra Uzelac, head of the CULTMED project and of the Department for Culture and Communication at IRMO.

The events concluded with an informal gathering marking the completion of the project.

The presentation of the publication State of European Cinema 3 is available at the following link, and a recording of the research conference can be found here. The full program of the Berlinale events is available here.

More information about the CresCine project can be found on the official website.

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