Creative FLIP Final Conference

Creative FLIP will hold its Final Conference on 9 June 2026, presenting its key outcomes to stakeholders from across the Cultural and Creative Sectors and Industries.

Creative FLIP is delighted to announce its one‑day final conference at La Tricoterie in Brussels, bringing together policymakers and stakeholders from across the Cultural and Creative Sectors (CCS) to reflect, connect and look ahead.

WHEN

Tuesday, 9 June 2026, 09:30-19:30h

WHERE

La Tricoterie, Rue Théodore Verhaegen 158, 1060 Bruxelles (parts will be livestreamed)


Resilient Creative Futures are built together!

In Europe’s CCS, resilience is often seen as an individual responsibility: the ability of artists, workers and organisations to adapt, remain flexible and survive uncertainty. Creative FLIP takes a different view. Resilience does not exist in isolation. Resilience is systemic and collective: it is shaped by ecosystems, communities, support structures, policies and shared responsibility across the sector. Recognising that disruption is not exceptional but structural, Creative FLIP understands resilience not as “bouncing back” through short-term solutions, but as a forward-looking process of strengthening connections, capacities and conditions so the CCS can continually learn, adapt and evolve together.

Over the past 7,5 years, Creative FLIP has explored how resilience can be strengthened across levels: individual, organisational, sectoral and ecosystemic. Through research, pooling of information, policy work, peer learning, and experimentation, the project has helped imagine how the CCS can thrive in a rapidly changing world. 

This final conference in Brussels brings these insights together, highlighting the importance of shared knowledge, fairer approaches to finances and working conditions, continuous learning opportunities and policies grounded in the realities of creative work.

This conference is also a heartfelt thank you to the community that shaped Creative FLIP.

Join us in Brussels to celebrate what we’ve achieved and to help shape creative futures together!

Check out the program and further information below.

Agenda

9:00-9:30 Registration and Welcome coffee
09:30-09:50 ARTISTIC INTERVENTION M.oving O.thers
Livestreamed

Cross-Sectoral Pioneers: Giovanni Sabelli Fioretti, Perypezye Urbane, Italy x Martyna Chojnacka, Creative Coder, Germany
09:50-10:00 OPENING KEYNOTE by Commissioner Micallef
Livestreamed

Glenn Micallef, European Commissioner for Intergenerational Fairness, Youth, Culture and Sport

10:00-10:30 WELCOMING WORDS
Livestreamed

Johannes Ebert, General Secretary, Goethe-Institut e.V.
Georg Häusler, Director-General for Education, Youth, Sport and Culture, European Commission
Charlotte Jerie, Project Manager Creative FLIP, Goethe-Institut Brussels

10:30-11:00 Coffee Break
11:00-11:45 THE VALUE of HUMAN CREATIVITY in DISRUPTIVE TIMES
Panel discussion I Livestreamed

In a time shaped by continuous technological, social, ecological, and political change, the value of human creativity is both increasingly visible and increasingly contested. This panel explores why human creativity matters at a social, cultural, and democratic level, and how communities, policies and ecosystems can better support it.

Daryna Zhyvohliadova, Cultural Relations Researcher, Cultural Heritage Advisor, Project Coordinator at KU Leuven, Ukraine/Belgium
Justin O'Connor, Author of "Culture is not an Industry", Professor of Creative Economy at Adelaide University, Australia
Nina George, President of Honour & Political Commissioner for the European Writers' Council (EWC), Multi-awarded novelist, Journalist, Moderator

Moderation: Elena Polivtseva, Independent Researcher, Co-founder of Culture Policy Room

11:45-12:25 FLIP CREATED I Together towards Resilient Creative Futures
Livestreamed
12:25-12:30 GET to know LA TRICOTERIE
Livestreamed
12:30-13:30 Lunch Break
13:30-14:00 INSPIRATIONAL TALK I Culture Drives the Future of the Nordics
Livestreamed

Kristin Danielsen, CEO, Nordic Culture Fund

An inspirational talk on positioning culture as an imaginative and generative force in shaping tomorrow's societies.

14:00-15:30 PARALLEL SESSIONS (further details below)

The afternoon will be shaped by interactive workshops that dive into Creative FLIP's key areas: Finance, Learning, Working Conditions, Cross-Sectoral Collaborations, Transformation Policies and Intellectual Property Rights.

  1. Flipping Perspectives: Sharing Stories, Shaping Futures
  2. Platforming Culture: Reimagining the Role of Creative Hubs in Times of Uncertainty
  3. Shaping an EU Artists Charter: A Sector Consultation
  4. Exploring CCS policy options in view of AI
  5. Learning Labs on Sustainable Fashion:
    • Flipping fantastic patches -- Creative Spark
    • Upcycling & Natural Dyeing -- WOUW Studio
  6. Ekip Policy Lab on Finance
15:30-16:00 Coffee Break
16:00-17:10 IMAGINING THE FUTURE< of CULTURAL POLICY TOGETHER
Panel Discussion incl. Q&A I Livestreamed

How can cultural policy respond to today's complex challenges? This panel invites policymakers and stakeholders to reflect on what cultural policy needs to become. Through shared perspectives and open dialogue, the discussion explores why cross-policy collaboration matters and how cultural policy can even better support creativity, resilience, and innovation in Europe's cultural and creative sectors.

Catherine Magnant, Head of Unit, Cultural policies, DG EAC, European Commission
Jordi Baltà Portolés, Researcher, consultant & trainer in cultural policies, international relations and sustainability
Natalie Giorgadze, General Director, Culture Action Europe
Rebecca Minch, Principle Officer, Arts Policy, Ministry of Culture, Ireland

Moderation: Vassilis Charalampidis, President of the Board, ECHN

17:10-17:30 CONCLUSIONS
Livestreamed

Catherine Magnant, Head of Unit, Cultural policies, DG EAC, European Commission
Julia Sattler, Director and Delegate for European Affairs, Goethe-Institut Brussels

17:20-19:30 Let's FLIP a last time together! Celebration & Networking Apéro
With DJ SET by Coline Cornélis

Registration for the public will open soon

Register


Parallel sessions

The afternoon will be shaped by interactive workshops that dive into Creative FLIP’s key areas: Finance, Learning, Working Conditions, Cross-Sectoral Collaborations, Transformation Policies and Intellectual Property Rights. 

  1. Flipping Perspectives: Sharing Stories, Shaping Futures 

This session focuses on practical case studies as tools for learning, exchange and capacity building in further strengthen resilience in the cultural and creative sectors. Drawing on examples developed through FLIP/Creatives Unite, participants will engage with realworld practices and reflect on what enables cultural organisations to adapt, learn and persist across different contexts. The conversation will open into a broader exchange on how knowledge is produced, shared and absorbed in the sector, examining how case studies and peer learning can help bridge the gap between research, policy insights and daytoday reality in the sector.

Contributors: Jason Tammemagi (Cartoon Saloon, Irealnd ), Rosalie Gonzalez (IN SITU, France), Pierre Sauvageot (Lieux  Puiblics, France)

Facilitation:  Onur Emul, Deputy Manager for International Cooperation, Intellectual Property Institute of Luxembourg (IPIL) | Eglé Valintėlytė, Analyst, IDEA Consult

  1. Platforming Culture: Reimagining the Role of Creative Hubs in Times of Uncertainty

Creative hubs are more than spaces, they are platforms for exchange, resilience, and transformation for the creative and cultural sectors. This session brings together hub managers from diverse niches - including fashion, maker spaces and rural innovation - to reflect on how hubs operate in both stable and crisis contexts.    

The discussion will examine governance models, resource-sharing practices, and community engagement, highlighting how resilience is built and sustained across sectors. It aims to surface new perspectives on how cultural platforms can evolve to meet ongoing challenges.

Contributors:  Tessa Moroder (Lottozero, Italy), Agustin Jamardo (Anceu, Spain), Esra Gonen (Originn, Turkey), Thomas Macpherson-Pope (The Making Rooms, UK), Relja Bobić (Nova Iskra, Serbia) 

Facilitation: Vassilis Charalampidis, President of the Board, ECHN

  1. Shaping an EU Artists Charter: A Sector Consultation

This consultation workshop invites participants to help shape what a future EU Artists Charter could look like, within the framework of the European Commission’s Culture Compass. Building on selected examples of fair practice and working conditions initiatives from across Europe as starting point, the session will explore what lessons can be drawn and adapted at EU level. Through an open and participatory exchange, participants will be invited to share their perspectives on which topics the Charter could address, how it could be effectively implemented, and how it can be meaningfully owned by artists and the wider cultural and creative sectors.

Contributors: Astrid Weij (Kunsten'92, Netherlands), Keith Thompson (Arts Council, Ireland), Luiza Moroz (Culture Action Europe, Belgium), Sine Tofte Hannibal (Danish Composers Society, Denmark)

Facilitation: Joost Heinsius, Senior Expert on Finance & Working Conditions in the CCS , Elena Polivtseva, Independent Researcher, Co-founder of Culture Policy Room

  1. Exploring CCS policy options in view of AI 

AI is already transforming how cultural and creative sectors operate, bringing both new opportunities and challenges. This workshop explores how CCS ecosystems, governance frameworks and policies can adapt to different AI contexts in order to safeguard creators while enabling responsible innovation. Drawing on policy papers and research from the European Commission, Member States, UNESCO and Creative FLIP, participants will discuss concrete policy options and reflect on how forwardlooking regulation can strengthen the CCS in an AIdriven future.

Contributors: María Iglesias (European Commission, DG EAC), Heritiana Ranaivoson (Research Professor in the Media Economic & Policy Unit, VUB), Jordi Baltà Portolés (Researcher, consultant & trainer in cultural policies, international relations and sustainability), Mathieu Szeradzki (French Ministry of Culture), Steven MacKay (Arroze Studios & Coordinator of Reset! Working Group on Digital Ethics)

Facilitation: Sylvia Amann, Culture & Creative Economy Policy Expert, Strategic Consultant, inforelais | Isabelle De Voldere, Senior Expert Innovation & Competitiveness, IDEA Consult

  1. Learning Lab on Sustainable Fashion

Flipping fantastic patched by Creative Spark  (max. 10 participants) 

This hands‑on workshop invites participants to creatively explore repair and personalisation through fabric. Using screen printing, embroidery and fabric markers, participants will create a personalised fabric patch featuring the FLIP logo, which can later be used to mend clothes or customise an accessory.

Facilitation: Gráinne Murphy and Oscar Díaz from Creative Spark in Dundalk, Ireland

Upcycling & Natural Dyeing by WOUW Studio  (max. 10 participants)

In this hands‑on workshop, participants explore circular textile practices through natural dyeing and upcycling. Using steam and dye plants, textile waste furoshiki cloths are transformed into unique patterns, while a second cloth is screen‑printed with natural dyes during the steaming process. Blending traditional techniques with contemporary experimentation, the workshop offers practical skills and insights into sustainable, circular textile chains.

Facilitation: Kasper Kerkhoffs and Jolinde Deprez from Studio WOUW in Ghent, Belgium

Learn more about Creative FLIP’s Learning Labs


  1. Ekip Policy Lab on Finance 

The ekip Community Review session focuses on innovative financing and funding mechanisms for the Cultural and Creative Industries, addressing the persistent gap between their societal value and access to finance. Bringing together policymakers, practitioners, researchers, and financial actors, the session aims to validate and further develop ideas generated in previous stages, while exploring key challenges such as fragmented funding systems and reliance on short-term support. Through interactive exchange, participants will co-create actionable policy insights to support more inclusive, sustainable, and innovation-driven funding ecosystems for CCIs. 

Read more about the ekip innovation policy platform: https://ekipengine.eu/ 

Contributors:  Lennart Stoy (Technopolis Brussels, Belgium), Kelly Hazejager (Beeld en Geluid, Netherlands), Kristiina Urb (Creativity Lab, Estonia), Agnieszka Drzewoska (DG EAC)

Facilitation: Jorma Sarv, Partner and Board Member, Creativity Lab, Estonia


Speakers

Glenn Micallef
Glenn Micallef
European Commissioner for Intergenerational Fairness, Youth, Culture and Sport
Kristin Danielsen
Kristin Danielsen
Director, Nordic Culture Fund
Georg Häusler
Georg Häusler
Director-General for Education, Youth, Sport and Culture, European Commission
Johannes Ebert
Johannes Ebert
General Secretary, Goethe-Institut e.V.
Julia Sattler
Julia Sattler
Director, Goethe-Institut Brussels
Nina George
Nina George
Commissioner of Political Affairs and President of Honour, European Writers’ Council
Justin O’Connor
Justin O’Connor
Professor of Creative Economy, Adelaide University, Australia
Daryna Zhyvohliadova
Daryna Zhyvohliadova
Academic Project Coordinator, KU Leuven
Elena Polivtseva
Elena Polivtseva
Independent Researcher, Co-founder of Culture Policy Room
Catherine Magnant
Catherine Magnant
Head of Unit, Cultural policies, DG EAC, European Commission
Jordi Baltà Portolés
Jordi Baltà Portolés
Consultant, researcher and trainer in cultural policy and international cultural relations
Natalie Giorgadze
Natalie Giorgadze
General Director, Culture Action Europe
Rebecca Minch
Rebecca Minch
Principal Officer, Arts Policy Unit, Department of Culture, Communications & Sport, Ireland
Vassilis Charalmbidis
Vassilis Charalmpidis
President of the Board, ECHN
Jason Tammemagi
Jason Tammemagi
Chief Creative Officer, Cartoon Saloon
Rosalie Gonzalez
Rosalie Gonzalez
Coordinator, IN SITU
Onur Emul
Onur Emul
Deputy Manager for International Cooperation, Intellectual Property Institute of Luxembourg (IPIL)
Eglė Valintėlytė
Eglė Valintėlytė
Analyst, IDEA Consult
Tessa Moroder
Tessa Moroder
Founder, Lottozero
Agustin Jamardo
Agustin Jamardo
Founder, Anceu Coliving
Esra Gönen
Esra Gönen
Co-founder and Managing Partner, Originn
Thomas Macpherson-Pope
Thomas Macpherson-Pope
Director, The Making Rooms
Relja Bobić
Relja Bobić
Co-founder, Nova Iskra
Luiza Moroz
Luiza Moroz
Head of Policy, Culture Action Europe
Astrid Weij
Astrid Weij
Director, Kunsten '92
Keith Thompson
Keith Thompson
Policy Officer, Arts Council, Ireland
Sine Tofte Hannibal
Sine Tofte Hannibal
General Manager, Danish Composers’ Society
Joost Heinsius
Joost Heinsius
Senior Expert on Finance & Working Conditions in the CCS
María Iglesias
María Iglesias
Policy Officer, DG EAC, European Commission
Heritiana Ranaivoson
Heritiana Ranaivoson
Research Professor, Media Economics & Policy Unit, VUB
Steven MacKay
Steven MacKay
Founder and President, Arroz Estudios Association
Sylvia Amann
Sylvia Amann
Culture & Creative Economy Policy Expert, Strategic Consultant, inforelais
Isabelle De Voldere
Isabelle De Voldere
Senior Expert Innovation & Competitiveness, IDEA Consult
Oscar Diaz
Oscar Diaz
Education and Operations Manager, Creative Spark
Gráinne Murphy
Gráinne Murphy
Print Studio Coordinator, Creative Spark
Kasper Kerkhoffs and Jolinde Deprez
Kasper Kerkhoffs and Jolinde Deprez
Co-founders, Studio WOUW
Jorma Sarv
Jorma Sarv
Member of Board and Partner, Creativity Lab
Natassa Lykourgioti
Natassa Likourgioti
Project Coordinator, ECHN
Charlotte Jerie
Charlotte Jerie
Project Manager, Creative FLIP
Christina Kamperi
Christina Kamperi
Project Officer, Creative FLIP

Venue: La Tricoterie

La Tricoterie is a 1,600-square-meter cultural and event venue founded in 2010 by local residents who wanted to change the world by bringing a dream to life: to create a unique space focused on culture, community engagement, and sustainability. Today, the venue hosts numerous cultural activities at the heart of Saint Gilles, such as concerts, film screenings, artistic performances etc. Its spaces are also available for rent. Its professional services include artisanal and locally sourced cuisine. La Tricoterie is commited to a sustainable approach environmentally (solar panels, local and organic products, zero waste workshops, etc.), socially (integration into the neighbourhood, promotion of local artists, internal democracy, etc.), and economically (cooperative model, integration into the local economy, etc.). You can find out more about them here.

How to get to La Tricoterie?

La Tricoterie is easily accessible by public transport:
TRAIN: Brussels-Midi station (10 minutes walk or Tram 81) METRO: 3-4-2-6 - Stop "Porte de Hal" (5 minutes walk) TRAM: 81 - Stop "Bethlehem", in front of the Tricoterie BUS: 49-50-32 - Stop "Avenue du Roi" La Tricoterie also has a bicycle parking area located in front. Another bicycle parking area, as well as a VILLO station, are located in Bethlehem Square (1 minute walk).

Please note that photos and videos will be taken throughout the conference, and parts of the event will be livestreamed. The visual material may be used by the Creative FLIP consortium and its partners for communication and documentation purposes, including on websites, social media, printed materials, and reports related to the project

By attending the event, participants acknowledge that they may appear in these recordings or images. If you prefer not to be photographed or filmed, please inform Creative FLIP via e-mail (creativeflip@goethe.de) so we can accommodate your request whenever possible.

Parts of the conference will be livestreamed on the Goethe-Institut Brussels YouTube channel. Those parts are indicated on the conference agenda. No registration is needed for the livestream! More information, including the link to the live streaming, will be shared before the conference.

The FAQ section will continuously be updated during the registration period.

Will the conference be livestreamed?
Partly. We will livestream certain parts of the conference. Please have a look at the programme to find out which sessions will be livestreamed.

What is the language of the conference?
English.

Will there be catering? What food options are provided?
We offer a full-vegetarian catering (incl. vegan options) during the duration of the conference. As part of the registration process, we will ask for food allergies or intolerances.

Creative FLIP is a European policy project dedicated to further strengthening the long‑term resilience and innovative capacity of the CCSI. Over the past seven years, the project has supported CCSI professionals in navigating green, digital, and democratic transformations. Bringing together research, policy recommendations, resource pooling, peer learning, and hands‑on experimentation, Creative FLIP focuses on five key areas: Finance, Learning, Working Conditions, Innovation, and Intellectual Property Rights. Furthermore, Creative FLIP’s flagship platform Creatives Unite and its three interactive tools on Finance, IPR, and Working Conditions serves as a growing one‑stop resource for the sector.

The project is led by the Goethe‑Institut Brussels in partnership with the European Creative Hubs Network, IDEA Consult, and the Intellectual Property Institute Luxembourg, and supported by associate partners Culture Action Europe and the European Network of Cultural Centres.


Should you have any additional questions concerning this event, please contact us by email: CreativeFLIP@goethe.de