The 10th KreNI conference was held on December 6th and 7th at Hotel Ambasador in Niš. This milestone event celebrated a decade of fostering creativity, innovation, and youth empowerment. With Sweden as the country in focus for this year, the conference welcomed esteemed international guests and participants from various sectors to explore the theme of proximity and its impact on urban living.
The official opening of the event featured reputable speakers, including Snežana Andrić, President of Young Ambassadors; Mr. Dragoslav Pavlović, Mayor of Niš; and ambassadors H.E. Charlotte Sammelin (Sweden), H.E. Pierre Cochard (France), along with representatives from cultural institutions, such as Ms. Clare Sears Wood (British Council), Ms. Madelyn Mahon (US Embassy), Mr. Roberto Cincotta (Italian Institute for Culture), and Ms. Maja Španjević Kešelj (Embassy of Portugal). The opening set the tone for a dynamic exchange of ideas on sustainable urban development and proximity.
Moreover, our conference has 3 parts- experts masterclasses, workshops and developing ideas process and panel discussion that provide a chance for participants to hear current and good practices and obstacles in our community related to proximity concept implementation.
The panel focused on the concept of ,,15-minutes cities,” aiming to ensure essential services, workspaces, and housing are within walking or biking distance. Key speakers included Johanna Alkan Olsson (Lund University, Sweden), Marko Todorović (Semrén & Månsson International), and Ivana Bogdanović Protić (University of Niš). The panel was moderated by Ivana Marjanović, Teaching Assistant at the Faculty of Economics, University of Niš, who skillfully guided the discussion. The panelists highlighted the potential and challenges in achieving this vision globally and locally, touching on themes such as urban sustainability, inclusive design, and practical implementation hurdles, especially how this model could be implemented here in Niš. Once again, professor Bogdanović Protić highlighted Niš as a walkable city and Boulevard Nemanjića as proximity zone in Niš.
,,KreNI talks” was composed of master classes on the topic of “Proximity” by experts: Lara Seixo Rodrigues, Founder and Director of Mistaker Maker Platform for Artistic Intervention, Portugal, Damien Plant, Chartered Environmentalist, IEMA Fellow and alumni of the Cambridge University Sustainable Business programme, Austria, Ilhami Alkan Olsson, PhD on the international climate change regime, international educator for human rights, Sweden, Giovanni Lanza, MSc and PhD in Urban Planning, professor at Politecnico di Milano, Italy, Mathieu Voisin, Transport and Mobility Specialist, France and Igor Madzov, Investor and entrepreneur, North Macedonia.
#KreNI10 participants worked with experts from Italy, Sweden, Austria, France, Portugal and North Macedonia, gained new knowledge and experience and developed their own ideas on creating 15 minutes city and fostering convenience, sustainability, and community cohesion. They have worked with experts on two stages: green skills and creative skills.
Another specialty for this year is that our conference became part of a bigger project and we had the privilege to host young creative people from North Macedonia and develop joint festivals in Nis and Ohrid with our partners from Startup Macedonia. This is possible thanks to the support of the British Council through EU funded project Culture and Creativity in the Western Balkans.
We are looking forward to present key outcomes, idea presentations and interesting segments of closing ceremony!
Stay tuned …… J