INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE
A CULTURE THAT LASTS!
11–12 September 2025 / TECHTOWER / FREE ENTRY
FOR INVITED AND REGISTERED PERSONS
In 2015, we discovered the "Pilsen paradise", proclaimed "Pilsen: Open Up!" and believed that "culture is a woman". What does cultural Pilsen look like ten years later - and where do we want to take it in the coming years? What role does culture play in the development of the city today and can it keep up with a rapidly changing society?
The international conference "Culture that Lasts" invites cultural professionals, city representatives, and creatives to an open debate on how culture shapes cities, the role major cultural projects can play, and how to ensure that energy, collaboration, and vision endure once those projects conclude.
Over the course of two days, the conference will offer inspiring keynotes, case studies, panel discussions, and opportunities for networking and sharing experiences.
Venue
The conference will take place in the modern innovation center TechTower (Koterovská 2827/152, Pilsen). The space is fully barrier-free, including the entrance, toilets, elevators, and access to all conference rooms.
Transport
Nearest tram stop: Brojova (tram no. 2) – a 3-minute walk.
Parking is available in front of the building, including spaces designed for people with disabilities.
Interpretation
The program will be held in both Czech and English, with simultaneous interpretation available via headsets.
Headsets can be picked up at the registration desk on site.
The event is produced by the DEPO2015 creative zone.
PROGRAM
THURSDAY 11 September 2025
9:30–10:00 | Registration
10:00–10:15 | Welcome and Opening Remarks
Mgr. Eliška Bartáková / Councillor for Culture and Heritage Preservation, City of Pilsen
Mgr. Soňa Rychlíková / Director, Plzeň 2015, z. ú.
THEMATIC BLOCK: TRENDS IN CULTURE
10:15–10:45 | A Society in Motion: Changes in Public Life and the Role of Culture
Jaromír Mazák / Sociologist, Director of Research at STEM
In mid-2025, people in the Czech Republic are still searching for new sources of stability and values that give meaning to their lives. The economy is gradually recovering, and society is learning to respond to changes brought not only by technology, but also by new ways of spending leisure time and perceiving culture.
This talk draws on long-term data from the STEM research institute and explores how people’s views on public life and their expectations of culture are evolving. It also offers reflections on what can bring us together and the role culture can play
in creating a shared space for meeting, exchange, and understanding.
How do social trends influence the operations of cultural organizations?
Four cultural institutions from Pilsen have identified areas in which they seek to grow and innovate. They partnered with experts to explore these topics more deeply and will present not only the themes themselves, but also the practical outcomes of their several-month collaboration.
10:45–11:15 | Sustainability in Culture
Inspiral Garden & Marie Furseth / Head of Sustainability, Øyafestivalen, Norway
How can sustainability be approached in the context of urban festivals, and what are the current trends in this area?
What can be done to make the city-based festival Inspiral Garden “greener” and more sustainable?
11:15–11:45 | Internal Communication in Cultural Organizations
Divadlo J. K. Tyla & Zuzana Hübnerová / Internal Communication Expert
How can internal communication be improved within cultural institutions?
What are the current trends in this area — and what specific challenges is the J. K. Tyl Theatre addressing?
11:45–13:00 | Lunch
13:00–13:30 | Fundraising and New Financing Paths
International Road Movie Festival & Marco Zappalorto / Director of Innovation and International Strategy, OGR Torino, Italy
What are the funding options for cultural projects beyond traditional grant schemes?
What new fundraising trends has the International Road Movie Festival discovered?
13:30–14:00 | Communication with the Younger Generation
Gallery of the City of Pilsen & Karolína Pláničková / Marketing Director at Deník N, former Head of Marketing at the National Gallery Prague
How can cultural institutions speak the language of the youngest generations?
Can the Gallery of the City of Pilsen successfully engage this audience?
THEMATIC BLOCK: DEVELOPMENT OF CULTURAL AND CREATIVE INDUSTRIES IN THE CZECH REPUBLIC
14:45–15:15 | Strategies for Supporting Young Artists and Creatives from the Perspective of Ministries
Martina Pecková Černá / Ministry of Culture of the Czech Republic, representatives from the Ministry of Industry and Trade,
and the Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs
What are the current trends and approaches to supporting young creatives and artists at the ministerial level?
This block is prepared in cooperation with the Ministry of Culture and is part of the updated Strategy for the Support and Development of Cultural and Creative Industries (CCI).
15:15–16:30 | Who and How Should Support Young Artists and Creatives
Jakub Bakule / Cultural and Creative Federation, Sylvia Amann / KUMST Brno (TBC), Representative of Janáček Academy
of Performing Arts (TBC), Soňa Rychlíková / DEPO2015, Representative of Ladislav Sutnar Faculty of Art and Design (TBC), Representative of Pilsen Region (TBC), Representative of J. E. Purkyně University (TBC)
How can young creatives and artists be retained in the regions and prepared for entering the market to increase their competitiveness? What are their future career prospects, and what can enhance them? Will startup funding, mentoring,
or something else help? How can the region be made attractive for them?
FRIDAY 12 September 2025
9:30–10:00 | Registration
10:00–10:15 | Welcome and Opening Remarks
Mgr. Eliška Bartáková / Councillor for Culture and Heritage Preservation, City of Pilsen
Mgr. Soňa Rychlíková / Director, Plzeň 2015, z. ú.
THEMATIC BLOCK: CULTURE AS AN ENGINE OF URBAN DEVELOPMENT
10:15–11:00 | Culture as an Engine of the City – Tools for Development through Culture
Sylvia Amann / Expert in Cultural Policy and Creative Industries Development, Austria
Culture as a transformative force for cities — strengthening their identity, contributing to innovation, economic growth,
and social cohesion. Sylvia Amann will present tools and frameworks that help create vibrant cultural ecosystems.
From flagship projects like the European Capital of Culture, through professional networks, to other strategic instruments,
she will offer inspiration on how to sustain and further develop cultural energy in cities.
11:00–13:00 | One Title, Many Faces / The European Capital of Culture as a Mirror of the Times, Cities, and Society
Representatives of European Capitals of Culture from the Czech Republic (Pilsen 2015, České Budějovice 2028), Germany
(Ruhr 2010, Chemnitz 2025), Poland (Wroclaw 2016, Lublin 2029), and Slovakia (Košice 2013, Trenčín 2026)
The European Capital of Culture (ECoC) project celebrates its 40th anniversary this year.
During this time, various EU countries have had the opportunity to host the title multiple times—for the Czech Republic, it was Prague in 2000 and Pilsen in 2015, České Budějovice will become a European Capital of Culture in 2028.
What were the expectations for the project in different European cities and eras? How was the project understood, what ambitions were attributed to it, and what successes and challenges did it face?
13:00–14:00 | Lunch
THEMATIC BLOCK: THE EUROPEAN CAPITAL OF CULTURE, AND WHAT NEXT?
14:00–14:45 | How to Survive the ECoC (Even If You Didn’t Win the Title in the End)
Ștefan Teișanu / Secretary General of the Culture Next Candidate Cities Network, Executive Director of the Cluj Cultural Centre, Romania
Although Cluj did not receive the ECoC title, the initial disappointment led to the creation of the Cluj Cultural Centre and the development of the Culture Next network. Culture Next brings together current and former candidate cities—whether awarded the title or not—and creates support mechanisms that help cities move forward and improve, with or without the title.
What tools do they use? And which cities have managed the post-project phase best?
14:45–16:30 | Pilsen Cultural 2035
Šárka Havlíčková / Former Program Director of Pilsen 2015, Author of the City of Pilsen Cultural Development Program
2020–2030, Soňa Rychlíková / Director of DEPO2015, Adriana Světlíková (TBC) and young representatives of the Pilsen cultural scene (Ondřej Perner / Plzeňské náplavky, Lukáš Houška / Ze stínu, Klára Macourková / Artist, Curator)
How was the city’s cultural strategy developed, and how should it evolve? What should culture in Pilsen look like in 2035,
and what role should DEPO2015 play at that time? These questions will be addressed by those actively shaping these areas today, as well as those who will define them in 10 years. Do their perspectives differ? Adriana Světlíková will place Pilsen’s culture within the broader Czech context.
16:30–17:30 | Discussion, Summary, and Networking
SUPPORTIVE PROGRAM
THURSDAY
18:00 | Guided Tour of the Exhibition Light of Artificial Reason
A guided tour of the photographic exhibition Light of Artificial Reason at the Ladislav Sutnar Gallery, Riegrova 11.
FRIDAY
18:00–22:00 | Plzeň v záři
A spectacular acrobatic show marking the grand finale of the three-day program at Republic Square.