The FSK took part in the 12th Training Academy for Cultural Routes, which took place in and around Torres Vedras, Portugal, from 11 to 13 June. The European Institute of Cultural Routes, Luxembourg, organised the event in cooperation with Destination Napoleon, Iter Vitis and the Portuguese representatives of the Historic Café Routes.

This year’s academy, attended by almost 100 representatives of cultural routes and experts from various fields, was entitled “Cooperation and cultural routes”, which highlights the importance of cooperation at a intercultural and transnational level. Over three days, participants took part in thematic workshops, panel discussions and networking meetings aimed at strengthening links between the different cultural routes of the Council of Europe and developing joint initiatives.

At the international meeting, the FSK, as the most active member and secretariat holder of the International Association of Women Writers Route, one of the 49 routes certified as Cultural Routes of the Council of Europe, presented the project Ljubka’s Trail, a cross-border literary trail of poetry and equality. Dr. Andreja Rihter, Director of the FSK and President of the Women Writers Route, took part in a session entitled ‘Synergies and strategic alliances between cultural routes’.

The discussion focused on cooperation between routes, good practices and overcoming challenges in establishing partnerships. Dr. Rihter presented the international conference ‘Cultural Routes of the Council of Europe: Recognition and Preservation of Cultural Heritage in Cross-Border Areas’ and other activities that have been dedicated to the networking and cooperation between the Cultural Routes of the Council of Europe in the framework of the Ljubka’s Trail project. She and the President of the St. Martin’s Route, Martine Campangne, also discussed good practices of cooperation between the two Cultural Routes in the framework of the EU programme for small projects GO! 2025 Interreg Italy-Slovenia. In this context, they highlighted in particular the opportunities and synergies offered by the integration of the European Capital of Culture and the Cultural Routes of the Council of Europe programmes.

For the Women Writers Route and the FSK, participation in this year’s academy was also important because of the preparation of the recertification dossier. The prestigious Council of Europe Cultural Route certificate is not permanent, but needs to be renewed every five years.

The Ljubka’s Trail project is part of the ECOC GO! 2025 Nova Gorica – Gorizia programme and is funded by the European Union through the GO! 2025 Small Project Fund of the Interreg VI-A Italy-Slovenia 2021-2027 programme, managed by the EGTC GO.
www.ita-slo.eu; www.euro-go.eu/spf