Within the framework of the project “BACAR – Better Access to Growth: Clusters and Competitiveness – Networking in the Adriatic Region” a workshop on cluster operating was held in Kotor, at the Cultural Centre “Nikola Đurković”. The workshop was attended by potential members of Creative Industries Cluster of Kotor, representatives of the Municipality of Kotor – project team members and project external experts.

The aim of the workshop was to present and discuss the conclusions after attending the conference “Clustering as a Key to Competitiveness” that had been held in Mostar on 13-14 July 2018.

At the meeting, representatives of private sector, i.e. potential members of the Cluster, expressed their opinion on the visit, their expectations and examples of good practice that might to a certain extent be applied in the process of Creative Industries Cluster in Kotor becoming operative. Key conclusions of the discussion are related to the necessity of accelerating the activities of forming the cluster and that the support of the Municipality of Kotor is of utmost importance in the process, in order to ensure the functioning of the cluster after the implementation of activities of BACAR project.

During the workshop, representatives of private sector, i.e. potential members of the Cluster expressed their opinion on Mostar conference, their expectations from it and examples of good practice that could, to a certain degree, be applied in the process of operation of Creative Industries Cluster of Kotor. The key conclusions from the discussion refer to the necessity to accelerate the activities of cluster establishment, emphasizing the crucial importance of Kotor Municipality’s support in that process, in order to ensure the Cluster’s functioning of the even after the BACAR project activities have ended.

The meeting was attended by Ms. Marija Bernard, director of the Cultural Centre “Nikola Đurković” Kotor and her associate Ms. Aleksandra Tomović; Mr. Boris Marđonović – Company “Modni krojački atelje LidaMard.me / Fashion Tailoring Atelier LidaMard.me “ Kotor; Biljana Gligorić – NGO “Expeditio“ Kotor; Mr. Petar Pejaković – Foundation “Kotor Festival of Theatre for Children“; Ms. Olga Fedotova – Company “Abeceda“ Budva; Mr. Miloš Ojdanić and Mr. Vedran Kasalica – “See Side Montenegro“ Kotor; Ms. Jelena Stjepčević, project manager, coordinator of the Kotor Municipality’s Office for International Cooperation; Mr. Vladimir Bujišić, project coordinator, head of the Kotor Municipality’s  Secretariat for Entrepreneurship Department, Utilities and Transportation; Mr. Igor Brkanović, a BACAR project’s external expert for clustering in the field of creative industry and Ms. Ana Ercegović, a BACAR project advisor.

The entrepreneurs expressed their opinion that the cluster can conduct strategic activities related to increasing the capacity and knowledge of cluster’s members, through specific forms of education and town mapping. This will ensure better visibility and availability of specific business and artistic products of the cluster’s members and contribute to defining an attractive cultural offer focusing on the period after touristic season and enabling an active life for the citizens from October to April, to creating a distinctive brand promoting the town and the work of cluster’s members, and to launching a specific promotional campaign, including web platforms, that will be acceptable for the partners at the macroregion level, as well.

Based on the above considerations, a discussion was held about a vision for the development of Creative Industries Cluster of Kotor in the following 5 to 10 years, as well as about strategic goals that need to be established in order to achieve a long-term vision. At the end of August, a next meeting will be held in order to formulate the vision and strategic goals for the development of Creative Industries Cluster of Kotor, which will provide the basis for the establishment and operation of Creative Industries Cluster until the end of this and during the next year.

Furthermore, a study visit to Serbia was announced for the members of Creative Industries Cluster of Kotor and representatives of clusters from Bosnia and Herzegovina and Croatia, to be held at the beginning of November 2018. During the study visit, the participants will be acquainted with the practices of successful Serbia clusters, such as the Fashion Industry Cluster of Serbia, the Film Industry Cluster of Serbia, ICT Hub Belgrade and Vojvodina ICT Cluster.