CAST Project

Walk Through the Naïve Art in Hlebine!

A weekend celebrating art, tradition and the special spirit of Hlebine: Home of Croatian naïve art. 🌿 Over two days, visitors can enjoy:

* Opening exhibition of previous art colonies 🖼️
* Painting on glass workshops and traditional technique demonstrations ✨
* Live art colony gathering 🎨
* “Naiva Trail” race through the countryside 🏃

📅 May 22, 2026
🕖 7:00 PM >> Opening of the exhibition
📍 Community Hall Hlebine (Društveni dom Hlebine)

📅 May 23, 2026
🕤 9:30 AM >> Painting on Glass
🏃 10:00 AM >> “Naiva Trail” Race
📍 Stari Zanati Estate

Experience the blend of creativity, local heritage and nature that makes Hlebine so special.

Celebrate World Bee Day in Višnja Gora!

Our partner Nice & Homely will be at the Carniolan Bee House for a day dedicated to bees, creativity and community this Wednesday, 20th May.

There will be:

>> Beekeeping workshops ✨
>> Presentation of the new picture book and audio fairy tale “Jaka Dlaka and the Carniolan Bee” 📖
>> Story interpretation by a professional actor

>> Performance by the local primary school choir 🎶


Plus: refreshments for adults and children 🍯

📍Where: Carniolan Bee House, Višnja Gora
🕘 When: 9:00 AM

Come by and learn more about beekeeping!

The Capacity Building Academy sessions have come to an end. 💪

This series of knowledge sharing sessions brought together cultural and tourism professionals to expand their knowledge and explore new ways of working towards inclusive culture. Throughout the sessions, partners shared case studies from their own areas of expertise on engagement with local communities. These exchanges helped highlight how culture can become an active resource for social inclusion and economic growth. 👪

Four of these practical examples have already been shared here, showcasing how these ideas are applied in real contexts.

Two key lessons stood out:

Identifying stakeholders early is essential. Involving the relevant experts and communities from the beginning strengthens both the process and the outcomes.
Interactive feedback matters. Each session created space to openly discuss challenges, allowing partners to learn from one another and adapt their approaches.
As a next step, we are now developing a process-based protocol to build on these insights and guide future actions. 👣🙌

The Capacity Building Academy was led by ErzsebetHosszu from MOME Budapest

April recap: a meaningful start 🇭🇷✨

We kicked off this year’s Danube Festival Caravan in Koprivnica, Croatia, with Tradition of Our Ancestors.

Attended by our partner , the event brought together people of all ages to celebrate and keep long-standing traditions alive. From handmade products and naive art to gatherings of local makers, artists, and folklore groups, it was a beautiful reminder of the heritage that shapes this part of the Danube region.

It wasn’t a loud start, but it was a meaningful one that was based on everyday culture and community. 🌿

We’re excited for everything that’s ahead as the Caravan continues across the region! 🚐💨

What’s happening this May along the Danube? Let’s see…

There’s something special at this time of year across the region. The Danube Festival Caravan continues with three stops, each offering a different way to experience local culture. This month, we’re moving across Romania, Slovenia, and Croatia.

You can spend a day in the grounds of Bánffy Castle, learn about beekeeping and local life in Višnja Gora, or walk through Hlebine and explore its well-known naïve art scene. Each place has its own pace and atmosphere, but all are rooted in the communities that shape them.

📍 17 May — Open Day at Bánffy Castle, Romania
📍 20 May — World Bee Day, Slovenia
📍 22–24 May — Walk Through the Naïve, Croatia

May this month be a chance to slow down a bit, explore somewhere new, or simply spend time outdoors 🌸

Have you planned your May yet? 👀

If you’re nearby, passing through, or just curious, these are a few places to start. We’ll be sharing more about each festival soon.

Have you met the team behind the CAST Project?

Over the past months, we have been introducing the organisations behind this partnership and the different experiences they bring to the project.

Here is a look back at the full network from across the Danube Region:

•> ISKRIVA - Slovenian-based think and act tank working towards regional development.

•> Nice and Homely Municipality of Ivanna Gorica - developing tourist attractions that combine local history with sustainable practices.

• > MOME - a leading art and design university in Budapest.

• >URBASOFIA - a knowledge partner, providing expertise in urban development and policy design.

• > Transylvania Trust - a charity organisation dedicated to serving the cultural heritage in Romania.

• > Development Agency Zende (RAZ) - bringing together entrepreneurs, ideas and investments to ensure a thriving future in the Zepte municipality.

•>The Collective Foundation - focusing on re-imagining and reviving unused urban environments, turning them into lively public spaces that respond to community needs.

• > Kolárovo - a municipal cooperation, involving local institutions, businesses and residents, while introducing smart tourism solutions.

• > Koprivnica-Križeyci County - a local authority working on regional cultural development with activities related to education, health, social welfare, culture, economy, agriculture.

•> Tourism Organisation of Vojvodina - developing a tourism strategy with expertise on how to combine natural and cultural heritage to advance the development of local tourism.

• > Savaria Museum - improving accessibility in the city's museum district by developing auditory, visual and tactile solutions to make exhibitions more accessible for visitors with disabilities.

•> ANTRIM - collaborating with stakeholders to create and deliver high-quality services and authentic touristic experiences by supporting traditional Moldovan values.

• > NGO Urban Kult - experienced in contemporary culture, events, merging historical heritage (Old Towns) with modern cultural needs.

• > Institute for the Danube Region and Central Europe - a think tank Bonnecting experts from 19 countries and providing insights into regional current affairs.

Together, these partners are helping explore how culture can contribute to stronger communities and local economies.

Thank you for being part of the project so far!

Meet the Danube Festival Caravan✨

A network of festivals across the Danube Region celebrating the region’s diversity!

From spring to autumn, the Caravan brings together unique events in different countries, each rooted in local traditions and stories. From heritage celebrations and castle open days to opera under the stars, neighbourhood festivals, jazz evenings, and vineyard walks; every stop offers a new way to experience the Danube. 🌊

By connecting these festivals under one shared route, we make it easier to discover the region, support local communities, and promote more sustainable and accessible tourism.

Swipe through to explore this year’s journey and discover each festival along the way ⏭️

For more info visit https://interreg-danube.eu/projects/cast/danube-festival-caravan

On 11 April, Zrinski Square in Koprivnica hosted the event "Tradition of Our Ancestors," organized by our partner Koprivničko-križevačka županija as part of the celebration of the 33rd anniversary of the county.

The event brought together family farms, craftsmen, entrepreneurs and local associations, presenting traditional products, skills and everyday practices from the region. 🧺🍯

Visitors could also enjoy regional specialities as part of the Gastro Fest. 🍪

The event was attended by the President of the Republic of Croatia, Zoran Milanović, who visited the exhibitors together with County Prefect Tomislav Golubić and Mayor Mišel Jakšić.

In times of rapid change, tradition reminds us of the importance of our roots and togetherness, and of our responsibility to preserve it and pass it on to younger generations.

More events from the Danube Festival in the coming months. 🎉 Stay tuned!

Servus Institut für den Donauraum und Mitteleuropa (IDM)!

Founded in 1953, the IDM is one of the oldest think tanks in Austria 🇦🇹

The small international team works hard on a wide range of activities:

🖥️ Platform – connecting experts from 19 countries
🧮 Policy Analysis – providing insights into regional current affairs
📚 Publications – transferring knowledge via an academic journal, a magazine, policy papers and in-depth studies
💡 Projects – facilitating international initiatives
🎙️ Public Events – organising 50+ events every year

Over the next couple of years, the IDM team will ensure that the CAST Model has an impact across all dimensions of society.