Reconnecting society through culture: Uniting people, places and communities in a polarised world

The Summer Academy targets policy makers and practitioners active in the field of cultural and creative sectors. Participants may be currently working in public institutions (national, regional, provincial or local governments, development agencies, research centres, international organisations) or private companies and organisations (foundations, co-operatives, NGOs, grassroots community organisations, non-profit entities, etc.) or freelancers active in the field of CCS development.

The application process began with a call for submissions in the spring and closed before the summer break.
To apply, applicants should provide:

• Personal and professional information.
• Motivations for participating in the Summer Academy.
• A case study (project, programme or initiative, which is currently being implemented or has concluded within the last 5 years and is directly related to the candidate’s professional experience).

The number of participants for the Summer Academy is limited to 24. The selection process was finalised by mid-May.

The Summer Academy is held at the OECD Trento Centre for Local Development, Italy.

A small financial contribution of 100 EUR is required for participation in the Summer Academy. The organisers cover transport and lunches during the Summer Academy onsite, whereas travel to Trento and accommodation costs are borne by selected participants.

Working language: English.

Morning

Welcome and informal participants' introduction
Presentation of the SACCI 2024 Programme
Overview and discussion with participants of the three main themes of SACCI 2024

Afternoon

Open event to public

The first afternoon of SACCI 2024 on July 1, 2024, from 14:00 to 16:30 is open to the public and everyone interested in the topic, upon free registration.

Following the welcome by political and institutional representatives, a panel of experts will discuss the overall theme of the 2024 Summer Academy: the role of culture and creativity in helping communities and individuals to bridge divisions and move towards a more equal society based on human potential.

International migration is at an all-time high in many OECD countries, and it is estimated that more than 20 million people a year are already internally displaced by climate-related events (OECD, International Migration 2023). Even without moving countries, people across the world are more exposed than ever before to different cultures through digital technologies.  In this globalised world, characterised by vast movements of people, developing a capacity and the skills to listen, learn, and communicate with other cultures is key to the success of a cohesive society. Culture can help to transcend our differences, bring us closer and make us appreciate the contribution outsiders make to places they call home. This session will focus on intercultural dialogue and how cultural and creative activities can bring people together.

Morning

Discussion with Dani De Torres and participants' case studies

Afternoon

Local study visit to HarpoLab, an experimental lab for film culture and practice, and a space for training and education.

The visit includes discussions with representatives from the Trentino Film Commission, which supports film, television, and documentary productions that enhance Trentino's cultural, environmental, and historical heritage, and the Trento Film Festival, the oldest international festival dedicated to mountains, adventure, and exploration, now a dynamic forum addressing environmental, cultural, and current issues.

Approximately 10% of the global population is aged 65 or over and this proportion is predicted to increase to nearly 12% in 2030 and 16% 2050 (UN, World Population Prospects 2022). At the same time, the 46 least developed countries are among the world’s fastest-growing and many are projected to double in population by 2050. These demographic changes have important implications for who produces and consumes culture, and pose challenges which culture and creative activities can look to address. Sessions during this day will showcase examples of initiatives which demonstrate how culture can help to combat loneliness and isolation, build bridges between generations and tackle some of the challenges associated with growing, declining or aging populations.

Morning

Discussion with Gabriella Gomez-Mont and participants' case studies

Afternoon

Peer-review excercise.

In early 2024, the City of Trento embarked on a journey to shape its cultural future with the launch of the new Trento Cultural Plan 2024-2034. This ambitious initiative involved citizens, local stakeholders and a wide range of experts through a series of collaborative meetings. During the Summer Academy, the City Council will present the preliminary results of the public consultation and the key ideas contained in the Trento Cultural Plan 2024-2034. This will be followed by an afternoon of peer review work in groups. Here participants will review and discuss the themes identified by the Municipality and make suggestions and recommendations.