What is Train2Sustain? The Erasmus+ project Train2Sustain is a Strategic Partnership in the field of Youth whose main goal is to respond to the effects of Covid-19. The main target group are young people active in the field of cultural and creative industries and artists. On a secondary level, as they are connected with the main target groups, there are youth workers and trainers, as well as CCI and culture and creative professionals. Five partner organisations from Austria, Slovenia, Serbia and Greece collaborate for 24 months in order to develop the skills and include their target groups through creativity and the arts. They do so by evaluating and disseminating innovative digital approaches and supporting participants to develop their skills and key competences in culture, arts, digitalization, networking and innovation. Why do we need it? Covid-19 affects all stakeholders in culture and creativity, both on the production and the distribution side. According to the UNESCO (2020), 60% of activities during regular work days in arts and culture organizations have changed because of Covid-19. Both organisations and creatives are struggling to make ends meet and continue their work under the new regulations. About 95% of the estimated 60,000 museums worldwide were closed due to the pandemic. Artists find it hard to find locations and settings where they can network, exhibit and train. People interested in art and culture find their opportunities limited, as few events are taking place. At the same time, online visits have become more attractive as an answer to lockdowns and social distancing. However, in order to take part in this new world of culture and art, culture and art creators, promoters and consumers need better skills, knowledge and resources. What does it offer? Train2Sustain offers its participants opportunities for upskilling in terms of digital readiness and empowerment for a better handling of digital tools and innovative practices in the cultural sector, as well as opportunities for personal and professional development. Additionally, it creates further opportunities for an active collaboration and digital alternatives to analogue cultural life. For the participating organisations, Train2Sustain improves the competences in distance learning and exchange of know-how, while increasing the digital competences in digitizing arts and creativity. All staff and stakeholders become more responsive and sensitive to the social, emotional, and intellectual needs of the target groups, while youth workers/ cultural managers from CCI sector become more confident in their networking, promotion and e-mentoring skills. How does Train2Sustain achieve its goals? Firstly, for Train2Sustain to meet the needs of its target group more precisely, it creates a survey among 200 young creative and artists, CCI and cultural organisations. Secondly, the project partners analyse current digital practices on digitizing art and creativity, apply them and evaluate their efficiency and dissemination potential. Based on these findings, a manual is created. Thirdly, findings from both these outputs are used to create a webspace which brings together all this information and bundles it into one responsive webspace adapted to the target group. Train2Sustain manages to include marginalized CCI, creative professionals, young artists and youth workers who can participate online irrespective of their location or financial background. In addition, Train2Sustain provides 3 learning mobilities dedicated to 3 different target groups, which support and develop their skills in creativity, digitization and culture creation. In order for these processes to be widely visible and efficient, the project partners have devised management, dissemination, reporting and sustainability tools and measures. Which impact will the results of Train2Sustain have? Train2Sustain helps to create added value and improve the resilience of our target groups, but it also raises awareness of the challenges of preserving diverse cultural offers in times of COVID-19. Train2Sustain illustrates the opportunities that lie in the digital era: increased European awareness, accessibility to cultural offers for a broader audience, common values, diversity and participation. The participants benefit from our learning and exchange offers, while the organisations involved benefit from improved skills, processes and results, which will help them optimise their available resources to create new opportunities/events. We connect relevant stakeholders and create synergies for Digital Skills enhancement, thus building resilience for the cultural/ creative sector. Moreover, the visibility of EU-funding programmes is improved, while on a international level, it improves the understanding of cultural diversity and cultural awareness of the social necessity for necessity for culture and art. Individual learning and further educational/ professional opportunities are promoted.
The Train2Sustain project aimed to achieve several objectives in response to the challenges posed by the Covid-19 pandemic and the digital wave triggered by it. The goals included developing digital skills for young artists and creative professionals, assessing and applying effective digitization practices in art and culture, creating a multilingual manual for digitizing art, enhancing networking skills, up-skilling teaching and mentoring staff in digital learning settings, raising awareness of new mentoring and teaching methods, and enabling the delivery of cultural and artistic activities online. The project sought to address the needs of individuals and organizations in the cultural and creative sectors, equipping them with the necessary digital competences and entrepreneurial backgrounds to thrive in a digitalized cultural world. By fostering collaboration, diversity, and European values, Train2Sustain aimed to tackle these challenges at a European level, recognizing the common needs shared across partner countries.
Train2Sustain aimed to address the needs of young artists, youth workers, and professionals in the cultural and creative industries (CCI) impacted by the Covid-19 pandemic. It recognized the challenges faced by these individuals and institutions, such as financial struggles, limited opportunities, and a lack of support and networking opportunities. Train2Sustain focused on meeting these needs by providing tools, trainings, and digital approaches to develop skills and competences in culture, arts, digitalization, networking, and innovation. The project emphasized the importance of digital skills and resources for culture and art creators, promoters, professionals, and consumers. It also recognized the need for digitally-competent educators capable of designing effective learning settings supported by digital technologies. The project aligned with the European Commission's goals for digital literacy and skills development. By conducting surveys, analyzing digital practices, creating manuals and online platforms, it aimed to address the specific needs of its target groups and provide training opportunities and materials.The project aimed to empower participants, foster collaboration, and support personal and professional development.