IDM in Budva, Montenegro for CAST Project
On 3 and 4 September, IDM joined CAST partners in Budva, Montenegro, for a project meeting and study visit hosted by Urbani Kult. The meeting focused on the progress of the CAST pilot actions, the next stages of implementation and the further development of the CAST Model. Partners began with a check in on their pilot actions, sharing updates since the previous meeting in Chișinău, plans for the coming months and areas where further support could be useful.
As CAST communication lead, IDM led the SO3 storytelling workshop, focusing on how partners can communicate their pilot activities in ways that go beyond project terminology and connect with people. Using picture cards, partners worked in mixed groups to create short stories before turning the focus back to their own pilots. Each partner then had around three minutes to pitch their pilot, choosing their own format and approach. The aim was to identify the story behind each pilot, the cultural resource at its heart and its local impact. The exercise also gave partners practical ideas they can use when promoting their pilots in the future, including when creating videos and other communication materials. The meeting also included a reflection on the first jointly promoted season of the Danube Festival Caravan. Partners discussed their experiences from the first season and ideas for future editions, with the conversation continuing during the journey to Cetinje the following day.
The study visit took the group to Cetinje and Mount Lovćen, including visits to the Museum of King Nikola and Njegoš Mausoleum. The programme offered an opportunity to experience local cultural heritage and tourism from a visitor’s perspective, while reflecting on questions of authenticity and accessibility that are also relevant to the CAST pilot actions. The group also attended the official opening of the 20th Petrovac Jazz Festival, which is connected to Urbani Kult’s CAST pilot. The pilot focuses on the heritage of the festival and its potential to support wider work around local cultural resources and tourism.
Alongside the formal programme, the two days provided plenty of space for conversations between partners over coffee, meals and during journeys between locations, as well as some time to enjoy Budva and the seaside. The meeting brought together practical project work, communication and learning from the local context as CAST partners continue developing their pilot actions across the Danube Region.
