Sustaining Culture & Creativity
in the Age of Intelligence
ATHENS, GREECE
Credits: Samira Mosca
BAUTOPIA 7… is a culture & creativity FESTIVAL!
CREATIVE AGENCY
Sustaining Culture & Creativity in the Age of Intelligence
The notion of AGENCY seems especially relevant today. Agency is the capacity of an actor to act in a given environment. Having agency refers to a person’s sense of control over one’s own life and decisions. In a reality which seems more unreal than ever before, we are left wondering…
Where are we at?
Do we still have any agency left in us?
Or are we paralyzed by it all?
As (creative) agents, can we still instil direct control and guidance over our own actions and their outcomes, or is this less and less true with each new week, day or hour, in which new information and events overflow and flood each other?
Having agency seems to be a feeling we increasingly struggle to get a hold of. And probably shared by anyone living through the galloping and elusive global shifts, rapidly changing events and realities. Especially us, those already treading across an inherently wobbly terrain of exploring what are utterly human needs – culture, creativity, expression and connection.
A hot buzzword in the critical theory circles over the past few years, agency carries even more weight and speculation today, tangled up within an intricate web of “artificial agents” and those “real” ones (us!). The artificial ones are the very agents many among us are consciously building and feeding in, using on a daily level, talking to or creating together with. As we thrive to get a grip on it, they’ve already moved on, two steps ahead. And it’s not some imaginary “them”, it’s actually some of us doing it. For now, at least.
Some years ago, many researchers and scientists claimed that in the face of emerging technologies, machine learning and artificial intelligence, it is the creative professionals who will be the most resilient ones, most sought after. That creative and strategic thinking will be as in demand as any tech skill out there, if not more.
What we seem to be facing now, or very very soon indeed, is questioning the very sustainability of many of our creative professions. For the sake of faster delivery, increased productivity and uncompromised shareholder payouts.
So.
Where are we at?
Do we still have any agency left in us?
Or are we paralyzed by it all?
This year’s BAUTOPIA actually focuses on the topic of sustainability. But this time, it will be treated with a slightly different edge. Yes, environmental challenges are still here, they are here to stay, and we don’t feel we’ve made much progress thus far. We are experiencing some “de-growth” though, but unfortunately it is happening in the realms of common sense, rational thinking and human compassion and empathy, which are all becoming scarce. Complexity is increasing, as we struggle to sustain even the basic levels of our existence, let alone our environment and the planet which we are consistently letting down.
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Under the title CREATIVE AGENCY: Sustaining Culture & Creativity in the Age of Intelligence, creative hub managers, CCSI stakeholders, artists, creative professionals, students and the general audience will explore sustainability only from the environmental standpoint, but also the sustainability of creative professions in the face of multiple crises, the technological challenges posed by the use of AI in creative processes, and the impermanence that many creative professions will be facing in the period ahead of us.
Through an informative and creative program, we urge you to explore the sense of control you feel in your life, your capacity to influence your own thoughts and behavior, and your faith in your ability to handle a wide range of tasks and situations. Definitely a feeling that seems increasingly elusive nowadays, especially for those working in the precarious, somewhat intangible fields such as culture and creativity.
Over three days, we will share insights into how to claim our own and our collective agency, coming from academics, designers, artists, technologists, thinkers, and doers, including more than 100 representatives of creative hubs from across Europe.
Between October 7th and 9th 2026, European Creative Hubs Network will be presenting its very first festival in Athens, Greece. BAUTOPIA is back!
Three days of inspiring lectures, talks,
discussions, activations, exchanges & performances
across diverse venues in Athens!
Each of ECHN’s annual events, whether a meetup, conference, or a festival, is co-hosted by one of the network’s member hubs. This year, BAUTOPIA is hosted by BIOS in Athens, Greece, which also serves as the base of ECHN. BIOS is a cultural organization that actively shapes the conditions for contemporary cultural production, creating spaces where new ideas, practices, and communities can emerge.
Operating across a network of interconnected venues, BIOS has developed a distinct urban ecosystem for culture and creativity. Its flagship space on Pireos Street laid the foundation, followed by Romantso as a hub for creative entrepreneurship, Latraac as an experimental hybrid of sport and culture, and more recently PLEX in Kerameikos, a space dedicated to artistic production and exchange.Together, these venues function not simply as locations, but as cultural support structures that enable experimentation, collaboration, and public engagement.
For BAUTOPIA 7, this distributed infrastructure, along with contributions from other Athens-based ECHN members and key cultural institutions, will become the living framework for three days of critical discourse, artistic programming, and peer-led exchange.
With the new festival format, ECHN will align with a wide range of partners in the hosting city, and produce a number of satellite programs and events, thus attracting both the professional and the general audiences. Expect inspirational keynote lectures from some of the leading creators, researchers and managers, as well as a multitude of panels, workshops, participatory sessions, performances, exhibitions and music programs. ECHN will, as usual, hold its annual General Assembly within the event, and a series of sessions aimed at its members and building the capacities from the within, as well as other invite-only events for stakeholder networking.
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The European Creative Hubs Network members will be involved in the co-design and realization of the program. In May, an internal open call is shared among the ECHN members, to nominate their own contributions to the program – be it talks, panels, artistic or networking formats. The program curation will reflect the true peer-led spirit that is at the foundation of European Creative Hubs Network as a community, and as an organization.
The first exciting keynote speakers are already being confirmed, but we will not reveal them just yet. Follow ECHN’s social media channels to find out the latest BAUTOPIA news, and expect the initial program to be announced, and pre-registrations to open before the end of June.
In the meantime, feel free to explore the documentation from previous editions of BAUTOPIA, held in Silandro, Bologna, Prato, Timisoara, Porto and Brussels.
MARK YOUR CALENDARS & JOIN US IN ATHENS THIS OCTOBER!
* If you would like to know more or reach out about a partnership around the event, do get in touch via info@creativehubs.net
MORNING
AFTERNOON
Location: BASIS Vinschgau Venosta Kortscher Straße 97 – ex. Drusus-Kaserne, Via Corzes, 97, 39028 Silandro BZ, Italy | |
| 17:00 | Registration |
| 18:00-18:30 | Welcome WordsHannes Götsch | BASIS Founder & CVO |
| 18:30-19:00 | Kick-off SpeechPlacing Culture at the Heart of Rural DevelopmentHow local authorities can act as facilitators of cultural innovation and resilience. By giving space and voice to artists and cultural professionals, the municipality has turned culture into a driver of revitalization and sustainable rural futures. Miguel Ángel Herrera Gutiérrez | Mayor of Genalguacil and Head of the project Genalguacil Pueblo Museo |
| 19:00-19:30 | Inspirational SpeechA sustainable future for the community – A community for a sustainable future The motivation behind da – cooperative lies in the common endeavour to shape a sustainable future for the Upper Vinschgau region. Peripheral rural areas are at a disadvantage compared to the centres in today’s social development. For this reason, this is why da is taking a different direction. Not to continue developing efficiency, competition and consumption strategies, but to build on resilience, cooperation and diversity. Michael Hofer | CEO da – Citizens’ cooperative of the Upper Vinschgau |
| 19:30-21:00 | Welcome Aperitivo & Speed Networking*Cin-Cin* & Catch Up Ignácio Marquez | Rural Hackers |
Thursday, 16 October 2025
MORNING
Location: BASIS Vinschgau Venosta
Kortscher Straße 97 – ex. Drusus-Kaserne, Via Corzes, 97, 39028 Silandro BZ, Italy
| 09:00-9:30 | Welcome coffee & Registration |
| 9:30-10:30 | Walking TourPermanent Temporary – Touring BASIS10 years ago, the vision of BASIS was born – a former fascist barracks transformed into a hub for creativity, urban development, circularity, and social growth. |
| 10:30-10:45 | Inspirational KeynoteDealing with controversies. A simple model to navigate polarisation.As civic space shrinks and polarisation deepens, creative directors, programme managers, and curators find themselves navigating controversies and public outcry in an increasingly turbulent world. The challenge becomes even sharper when balancing the expectations of private sponsors and public funders. In The Hague, Gerrit Jan, director of a public-private cultural partnership offers a fresh model that strengthens the resilience of cultural institutions. Instead of shying away from controversy, his approach embraces it as an opportunity to build trust, foster dialogue, and sustain partnerships in uncertain times. Gerrit Jan van ‘t Veen | Managing Director Popdistrict Den Haag |
| 10:45-11:15 | Moved by Culture – Presentation of Mobility SchemesLaunch of the Culture Moves Europe ProgramEkaterina Pelevina | Project Assistant at Culture Moves Europe, Goethe-Institut Brussels Ambassadors of Good Practice in Non-Urban AreasA peer-learning programme that brings together host organisations and visiting stakeholders to share exemplary practices in revitalising non-urban and peripheral regions. Together, they explore, co-create, and exchange ideas to harness culture for regeneration, inclusion and sustainable development. Charlotte Jerie | Project Manager of Creative FLIP |
| 11:30-12:15 | Reactivating SpacesFutureDiverCities: 4 years of creative experimentation in urban regenerationFuture DiverCities explores how culture can drive the ecological regeneration of unused urban spaces. Over four years and eight city pilots, the project has tested new forms of cultural and civic engagement. This session shares key methods, challenges, and learnings from this collective experiment in sustainable urban transformation. Elisabeth Bechara | Friche la Belle de Mai The Vienna Club CommissionThe Vienna Club Commission (VCC) and the City of Vienna are launching an innovative project with Free Spaces 2025 on the Danube Island, promoting consumption-free club culture in public space. These spaces are also explicitly of a club-cultural nature, creating room for cultural expression beyond commercial constraints. David Prieth | Project Manager for Free Spaces Vienna Project Stilfs – A Narrative about ResilienceThe project “Stelvio – A Narrative about Resilience” is a development initiative by the Municipality of Stelvio within Italy’s National Recovery and Resilience Plan.It aims to strengthen the mountain village- affected by structural change and depopulation – on social, cultural, ecological, and economic levels. It includes around 25 measures across the fields of culture and community, agriculture and landscape, housing, crafts, tourism, mobility, and infrastructure. These combine material investments like building renovations and new mobility with immaterial initiatives such as a dispersed museum, artist residencies, festivals, and craft promotion. Guided by a participatory approach, the project envisions Stelvio as a resilient, creative community rooted in its history and landscape. Daria Habicher | Socio Economist & Co-Founder of LIA Collective |
| 12:15-13:30 | Breakout SessionsAuf gute Nachbarschaft! Is a local expression to signal mutual help to the neighbourhood, to help and support each other. In the scope of this Hubs Meetup topic, we want to highlight the case studies of the ECHN members, using the individual stories to inspire each other and reminding ourselves of the importance of our neighbours and communities. |
| 13:30-14:30 | Lunch |
AFTERNOON
| 14:30-17:30 | Hands on Workshopping – RecoveryActivity #1 Printing Activism Analogue Printing Workshop for Activists How can analogue printing become a tool for political expression? In this workshop, we’ll experiment with hands-on techniques and collaboratively create materials for creative activism. We’ll explore a variety of printing and design methods to make political messages visible. Using manual printing and the RISO MZ770, participants will produce both individual and collective works designed to impact public spaces. Activity #2 Fermenting Recovery Working in creative initiatives can be rewarding yet demanding. Without recovery practices, we risk burnout and disconnection. What supports wellbeing in creative hubs? What can sourdough teach us about sustainable engagement? Together, we’ll explore recovery through the metaphor and practice of sourdough baking. Activity #3 Waterflow- energizing panoramic nature path We flow and recover in nature, along the historic Waalwege. Discover the ancient cultivation terraces of Schlanders Sonnenberg on a guided Waalweg Panorama Tour. Waalwege are historic, traditional irrigation channels that originated in the Vinschgau Valley and are part of the UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage. Tour guided by Hannes Götsch. |
| 18:00-19:30 | MarendChest-Nuts frying and Snacks at the Garden |
| 22:00-3:00 | ECHN Cosmic Clubbing – at KASINOOpen Deckz 22:00–00:00 |
Friday, 17 October 2025
MORNING
Location: BASIS Vinschgau Venosta Drusus-Kaserne/Caserma Druso | |
| Side Event | |
| 10:00-10:30 | Morning Coffee & Registration |
| 10:30-12:30 | ECHN General Assembly(ECHN members only) & Open Space Networking |
| 12:30 – 14:30 | Lunch |
AFTERNOON
| 20:00 | ConcertGaza Live | Ësenaim // Fundraising Doctors Without BordersËsenaim. is a South Tyrolean–French duo that grew out of many years of humanitarian work with Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF). During missions across the world – from Haiti to South Sudan – Sarah Guefif and Michael Casera began recording sounds, voices, and texts to preserve experiences that words alone could hardly carry.
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photo credit: Lottozero
Timișoara, as the European capital of culture for the year 2023, places the focus on strengthening the sense of community in the city. Boosting the confidence of its citizens to actively participate in the cultural production of their local communities is among the main objectives of the ECC institution this year. In this regard, Timisoara’s vibrant community of creative hubs leads the way into a common creative future.
BASIS Vinschgau Venosta, located in the repurposed Drusus barracks in Silandro, South Tyrol, is a dynamic hub for social innovation and creativity. Founded to transform a historically significant site into a community-centered space, BASIS combines business, education, culture, and social engagement. Its mission is to foster sustainable regional development by empowering individuals and groups to actively shape their local environment. A key feature of BASIS is its focus on inclusivity and collaboration. By fostering cross-generational and cross-sectoral exchanges, the hub builds bridges between diverse perspectives, creating fertile ground for innovation. BASIS revitalizes the region by blending tradition with modernity, offering a platform for education, experimentation, and sustainable development. A constructive climate provides the courage to experiment, strengthens individual responsibility and allows dynamic and resilient growth.
The European Creative Hubs Network is a peer-led network with a mission to enhance the creative, economic and social impact of hubs around Europe and neighbouring countries. As focal points for creative professionals and businesses, hubs offer the most effective way to support the growth and development of cultural and creative industries. The European Creative Hubs Network Project activated a program coordinated by ECHN for the members of its network. This project has been funded since 2021 by Creative Europe, as one of the European networks supporting the cultural and creative sector.
ECHNThe program aims at empowering creative hubs as main focal points for creative professionals and businesses. The central fronts of action include mobility opportunities for hub managers and community members, learning exchanges and workshops, advocacy at local and European level and academic research to highlight the role of creative hubs within the cultural and creative industries.
With the support of
