CreaSus Final Conference | The next act for CCSIs: Driving sustainable practices for a competitive and resilient sector
The CreaSus Final Conference will take place in Brussels on 28-29 September 2026, bringing together cultural professionals, researchers, policymakers, educators, and sector representatives to discuss how sustainability can be embedded more effectively across the Cultural and Creative Sectors and Industries.
After three years of work, the conference will mark a key moment to share and reflect on the main outcomes of CreaSus, including the tools, business models, and approaches developed to help cultural and creative organisations integrate sustainability into their everyday practice.
Rather than serving only as a project closing event, the conference will open a wider conversation on the practical conditions needed to support a more resilient, competitive, and sustainable cultural ecosystem. The programme will connect project results with sector needs, skills development, academic perspectives, and policy dialogue, creating space for exchange between different actors working towards sustainability in culture.
Join us in Brussels for a focused discussion on how sustainability ambitions can be translated into concrete tools, strategies, and practices for the cultural and creative sectors.
Programme
Monday, 28 September 2026
Venue: TownHall Europe (Square de Meeûs 5, 1000, Brussels, Belgium).
14:30-14:50 | Registration
14:50-15:00 | Welcome Speech
Delivered by Borja Baselga, Director, Fundación Banco Santander (Spain)
15:00-16:15 | From vision to practice: CreaSus tools in action
CreaSus pilot organisations bring first-hand evidence of what happened when the project’s tools were put to work, from self-assessment to business models and funding. Their experiences reveal what worked, what proved difficult, and what changed once sustainability became an operational priority. Learn more about the session here
Led and moderated by: Alison McGonagle, Marketing & Project Executive at WestBic (Ireland). Panelists:
- Niamh Ní Fhlatharta, Line Producer & Company Administrator, Branar (Ireland)
- Ashkhen Fixova, Project manager and Coordinator of the AEC Network of Green Officers, Association Européenne des Conservatoires, Académies de Musique et Musikhochschulen (AEC)
- Christina Ntaltagianni, Head of Human Development, Clio Muse Tours (Greece)
- Nuria Gallego, Head of Sustainability, Accessibility and Infrastructures, Teatro Real (Spain)
16:15-17:30 | Building tomorrow’s skills: Academia, training and sector needs
Universities, researchers, training providers, and sector professionals examine the green, digital, soft, and managerial skills CCSIs will need over the next five years. The exchange connects research, education, and professional practice to strengthen upskilling and capacity building across the sector. Learn more about the session here.
Led and moderated by: Teodoro Gallucci, Associate Professor, Department of Economics, Management and Business Law (DEMDI) – University of Bari Aldo Moro (Italy). Panelists:
- Annick Schramme, Professor at University of Antwerp, UNESCO Chair in Cultural Entrepreneurship and Policy & former ENCATC President (Belgium)
- Jerry Liu, Professor and Dean, Graduate School of Arts Management and Cultural Policy, College of Humanities, National Taiwan University of Arts
- Giulia Fornari, Project Manager & GreenCCIrcle coordinator, Materahub (Italy)
- Daryna Zhyvohliadova, Academic Project Coordinator & Research Collaborator, KU Leuven & ENCATC (Belgium & Ukraine)
17:30-18:00 | Beyond CreaSus: Making sustainability work in practice.
Drawing on the experiences of organisations involved in the CreaSus pilots, this session explores what it takes to move from sustainability assessment to action. It highlights common implementation challenges and practical approaches for embedding sustainability in everyday operations and long-term planning. Learn more about the session here.
By Roberto Bernad, Head of EU Funds, Fundación Banco Santander (Spain).
18:00-18:45 | Networking cocktail
Tuesday, 29 September 2026
Venue: European Parliament (Rue Wiertz 60, 1047 Brussels, Belgium). The session will be broadcast live; with the viewing link shared closer to the date.
Important: Given the limited capacity of the room at the European Parliament and the high-level nature of the session, a selection process will be carried out, prioritising the participation of policymakers and representative organisations from the sector. Please indicate in the form if you are interested in attending the session, and we will confirm your participation the week before the meeting.
08:30-09:00 | Registration and access to European Parliament
09:00-09:15 | Welcome address
By Marcos Ros Sempere, MEP, S&D Coordinator, Committee on Regional Development (REGI), European Parliament.
09:15-09:30 | Keynote: What CreaSus has taught us
Drawing together three years of CreaSus, the keynote presents the project’s key evidence, pilot achievements, and sustainability roadmap. It also considers certification opportunities and how the results can continue supporting CCSIs beyond the project.
By Roberto Bernad, Head of EU Funds, Fundación Banco Santander (Spain).
09:30-10:30 | Shaping the next European framework for sustainable cultural and creative sectors
The programme culminates in a flagship policy dialogue that translates CreaSus evidence into concrete recommendations for European decision-makers. Building on the preceding sessions, it will examine how cultural policy, Creative Europe, funding, and proportionate regulation can embed sustainability across Europe’s CCSIs.
Led and moderated by: Susana Garayoa, Head of European Institutional Relations, Zabala Innovation. Panelists:
- Gilles Pelayo, Head of Unit, Culture, European Education and Culture Executive Agency (EACEA)
- Sir Paul Dujardin, Commissioner-General for Heritage, Brussels-Capital Region (Belgium)
- Marianne Cosserat, Officer for Cooperation and External Cultural Action, Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs (France)
