Julkaisu Olli Ruokolainen, Mervi Luonila

Impacts of the Creative Net Coordination Project

In its working paper, the Center for Cultural Policy Research Cupore assesses the extent to which the Creative Network coordination project, implemented by the Arts Promotion Centre Finland during 2022–2025, has succeeded in strengthening the operational capacities of small and medium-sized actors in the arts, culture, and creative sectors in relation to the ESF+ funding instrument.

The project has enhanced the visibility of the ESF+ funding instrument and contributed to diversifying the applicant base. However, the mentoring activities have not, thus far, resulted in a significant proportion of mentored actors securing ESF+ funding. The coordination project has nevertheless had a positive impact on the project management capacities of participating organisations. Furthermore, specialised expertise concerning the ESF+ funding instrument, as well as understanding of the underlying logic of EU funding, has increased. By contrast, the support provided for collaboration among ESF+-funded projects, and in particular for communicating the outcomes of such projects, has to date remained relatively limited. 

Looking ahead, coordination projects and their preparatory measures should take more systematically into account the conditions established by the structural funds instrument for activities and potential target groups. Once these conditions are met, however, the activities of coordination projects may be highly innovative and experimental.

Project researchers