Thessaloniki: creative hotspot on the Aegean Sea

Thessaloniki is buzzing. This Greek city is not only a UNESCO Creative City of Gastronomy, but also a vibrant melting pot of film, design and culture. During our study tour within the Interreg Europe project CCSI4CCSI - together with cities like Kortrijk, Kolding, Koprivnica and Krakow - we discovered a city that breathes creativity. An ideal place to work together on strategies to strengthen and future-proof the cultural and creative sector in our regions.

From the internationally acclaimed Thessaloniki Film Festival to the rich mix of Greek, Ottoman and Jewish influences in local cuisine, Thessaloniki seamlessly blends tradition and innovation.

One of the highlights was our visit to Beetroot, a design studio that cleverly combines branding and social impact. Their building houses not only offices, but also a coffee bar, library, gift shop with its own products and an event space for young creators. A powerful example of how design in Thessaloniki is more than aesthetics: it is identity, strategy and engine for change.

Other inspiring practices were also featured:

• FUNK (Koprivnica) – a collective dedicated to independent culture
• Krakow Glassworks – where craft and contemporary design meet
• Design for Social Welfare (Kolding) – design as a lever for social inclusion
• Hangar K (Kortrijk) – where technology and design together support young talent

Thessaloniki once again confirmed how powerful the creative and cultural sector can be as a driving force for urban development. With such partners, we are building tomorrow's inclusive, resilient cities together.

The project “Cultural and Creative Sectors and Industries for Collaboration, Competitiveness, Sustainability, and Innovation - CCSI4CCSI” brings together 8 partners from 5 different European regions. The project leader is Region Central Macedonia (EL) and the project partners are KEPA - Business and Cultural Development Centre (EL), Enter Koprivnica (HR), Stad Koprivnica (HR), Malopolska Regional Development Agency (PL), Business Kolding (DK), Designregio Kortrijk (BE) en Stad Kortrijk (BE).