Culture, territories and cooperation: two masterclasses under the banner of CORÉOM

As part of the program COREOOM, two group workshops dedicated to the link between culture and development were organized in early December Guadeloupe - in person– and to Reunion Island - in hybrid format-, in partnership with the’association Culture & Development and the Karib Horizon and CIRRMA – Réunion branch networks. Designed as periods of in-depth study and networking, they are part of the continuity of the cycle «"Territories in practice"», offering cultural actors spaces for exchange and reflection for mutual skills development.

Culture as a cross-cutting lever for development

At the heart of the discussions was a widely shared conviction: culture is neither an accessory nor a mere tool for mediation. A true cross-cutting lever for sustainable development, At the crossroads of social cohesion, civic engagement, the transmission of memories, and regional cooperation, it thus occupies a central place in territorial dynamics. Drawing on their experiences and concrete examples from their territories, the participants explored how cultural initiatives can contribute to local development, create links between neighboring territories, and strengthen their capacity for action, within a framework of international solidarity.

These two working sessions, designed and facilitated by Valeria Marcolin, director of the NGO Culture & Development and UNESCO expert, have allowed us to ask some common reference points between associative actors, artists but also institutions, in contexts where cultural projects are often at the intersection of educational, social, environmental and identity issues.

In Guadeloupe, sharing experiences to refine projects

The masterclass organized on December 1st with Karib Horizon, Held at the ZEBOX Caraïbes premises, the event fostered in-depth exchanges between artists and project-leading associations, support networks, and industry partners. Participants worked on, among other things:

• The link between culture, local development and international solidarity; ;
• The role of cultural actors in regional cooperation dynamics; ;
• Conditions for success in integrating a cultural project into a sustainable cooperation approach.

Collective discussions around key concepts, cross-analyses of projects and feedback from experience made it possible to question existing frameworks and identify levers to strengthen the impact of cultural initiatives and move towards co-construction.

In Reunion Island, supporting the internationalization of cultural actors

Co-organized by the Reunion Region and the CIRRMA, the workshop which was held on December 11 at the PIROI Center gathered 13 participants from the cultural sector of Réunion around the challenges of regional cooperation and international solidarity in the Indian Ocean. On the program: discussions on the challenges of regional cooperation («Nou met ansamb»), presentation of support mechanisms available to associations in Reunion, testimonies and collective practical exercises.

By addressing topics such as the role of culture as a strategic lever for regional cooperation and international solidarity and its contribution to responding to local and global challenges, this collective session made it possible to create bridges between practices and sectors, while promoting mutual understanding and openness to the international community.

A concrete illustration of the stated commitment to supporting local actors engaged internationally, by strengthening their understanding of the culture & development approach and adapting mechanisms to initiatives, particularly small-scale ones. This work mirrors the CORÉOM program, carried out jointly by the Regional Cooperation Operational Directorate, the Directorate of Culture, and the program. INTERREG Indian Ocean, and accompanied by the CIRRMA in Réunion, which supports the development of multi-stakeholder cooperation in the territory.