The main objective was to encourage the young artist entrepreneurs to form a cooperative of their own and on their own. We set out to support their endeavors to become entrepreneurs, for them to understand what is required to cultivate the entrepreneurial mindset, to master the technique of design sprint to innovate, prototype and test fresh ideas (products/services), to practice leadership skills, to be able to generate a business model canvas and added value proposition. Most importantly they were to learn and experience the principles of collaborative entrepreneurship, social economy and different examples of cooperatives while focusing on sustainable development goals and how they can be integrated in cooperatives and/or product and service design. The objective was also for the young people to further develop and explore citizenship competences, understand and develop entrepreneurship competences, to know the importance of taking responsibility and being able to keep their word, to develop cultural awareness and expression competences while expanding their digital competences (filling out applications electronically, organizing information and through dissemination activities).
We wanted to support young entrepreneurial artists in forming cooperatives across borders for several reasons: 1. so they could get a sense of being active European citizens with the diversity this potentially offers. 2. to bring the European dimension to the local level expressed through the shared products they could develop. 3. to support young artists in forming cooperatives that make sense to them, in order that they will be stronger and have a greater chance of surviving as a small business. 4. to help the young artists in forming networks across boarders, so they could draw on each other and gain expertise within the cooperative network. We wanted to support young people and their development by providing learning and prototyping opportunities for their creativity and innovation, widening their horizon and values in sustainability and impact, promoting collaborative forms of entrepreneurship in the creative economy, but also careers in the cultural and creative sector to ensure the continued development of the societies that is at the heart of the creative economy. Culture, exchange and the arts suffered greatly during the pandemic, therefore the focus was on supporting exactly this sector with this project.