Culture trAnSforming communiTies and economies
CAST is a transnational project addressing the underutilisation of cultural heritage as a driver for social inclusion and economic growth in the Danube region.
CAST – Culture trAnSforming communiTies and economies is a transnational Interreg Danube Region project addressing the underuse of cultural heritage as a driver for social inclusion and economic development. The project promotes a shift from viewing culture as a static legacy to recognising it as a dynamic resource for building resilient, inclusive and thriving communities. CAST explores how cultural heritage, local cultural practices and community knowledge can contribute to the European green and just transition while generating new social, cultural and economic opportunities. At the heart of the project is the CAST Model, a process-based approach that combines participatory design, community engagement, cultural accessibility and place-based development. The model is being tested through pilot actions in diverse contexts across the Danube Region, including rural, suburban, multicultural and multilingual communities. CAST places particular emphasis on understanding accessibility as more than a technical or regulatory issue. Cultural accessibility is approached as a social, cultural and relational process, developed together with local communities and stakeholders. The approach brings together public authorities, cultural institutions, tourism organisations, civil society, SMEs, accessibility experts and local communities to co-create solutions responding to local needs. The project connects cultural development with inclusive tourism, local economic opportunities, community well-being and long-term territorial resilience. Its transnational dimension enables the CAST approach to be tested in different cultural, institutional and socio-economic contexts and creates opportunities for knowledge exchange, transfer and replication.
