Culture as a Foundation for Authentic and Inclusive Community Development – Moldova Tourism Forum and CAST Project Meeting in Chișinău
Chișinău, 18 June 2026 – From 17 to 19 June 2026, project partners are gathering in Chișinău, the capital of Moldova, for a meeting of the international CAST project (Culture trAnSforming communiTies and economies). The project brings together 14 organisations from across the Danube Region and is led by Iskriva Institute as the Lead Partner. Following the first year of project implementation, partners have come together to review achievements to date, exchange knowledge and experiences, and plan future activities aimed at fostering inclusive and sustainable community development.
The CAST project is founded on the belief that culture is not only an essential part of a place’s identity, but also a powerful driver of development, capable of creating more accessible, connected, and resilient communities. Over the coming months, project partners will implement new approaches and solutions across eleven pilot sites throughout the Danube Region, enabling both residents and visitors to engage more meaningfully with cultural heritage and participate more actively in local community life.
Planned activities include the development of inclusive tourism products, improvements to the accessibility of cultural heritage sites, and strengthened collaboration among local stakeholders. In Slovenia, the project is being implemented at two pilot locations: the Old Ironworks complex in Ravne na Koroškem and the Carniolan Honey Bee House in Višnja Gora. Through the project, both sites will develop new models for engaging diverse groups of residents and visitors while enhancing accessibility and heritage interpretation.
The meeting in Chișinău will conclude with the Moldova Tourism Forum, bringing together representatives of the tourism sector, development organisations, local communities, and international partners. At the forum, Urška Dolinar, Director of Iskriva Institute, will present the Institute’s experience in designing development initiatives that build on local assets and community needs while responding to contemporary global challenges such as climate change, demographic shifts, and social inclusion.
The CAST project creates space for new perspectives on the role of culture in regional development. Rather than focusing solely on tourism offerings, it places people, their heritage, knowledge, and creativity at the centre of development processes, encouraging solutions that are authentic, accessible, and sustainable in the long term. In doing so, it contributes to the creation of communities where different social groups have the opportunity to participate, co-create, and jointly shape the development of their local environment.
