CulturePolis has completed for another year the Roundtable Meeting entitled ‘’Mapping the gaps in creative skills in Greece and Cyprus’’ held in collaboration with liminal and supported by the EU Creative Skills Week.

To view the event’s video click HERE. 

The meeting took place online on September 22, 2025, 16:00-18:30 CET || 17:00-19.30 EET – Greek/Cyprus time, in English with simultaneous interpretation in Greek and Cypriot sign language.

In a rapidly changing world, cultural and creative industries serve as powerful catalysts for social transformation, economic growth and cultural innovation. However, barriers to inclusion and diversity persist, limiting access to creative opportunities and professional development for many. In order to open the dialogue on these concerns, CulturePolis and liminal have co-hosted this roundtable focused on addressing these challenges through skills development, inclusive practices and cross-sector collaboration.

This event builds on the outcomes of the CulturePolis Roundtable at Creative Skills Week 2024.

To view the event’s video click HERE. 

Greece and Cyprus are renowned for their rich cultural and artistic heritage and creative talent. However, within this cultural wealth, there is a critical need to bridge the gap between the skills required by the industry and those available in the workforce. This event explored the imperative to close the skills gap, while fostering a more inclusive and accessible creative ecosystem in Greece and Cyprus. Bringing together key stakeholders from academia, industry, government and civil society, it highlighted best practices for promoting diversity and inclusion in the creative industries.

During this discussion, participants have heard about:

● Identifying critical skills gaps and mismatches in the cultural and creative sector with a focus on accessibility and underrepresented communities.

● Exploring educational pathways, training programmes and mentoring opportunities that foster an inclusive workforce.

● Leveraging digital tools and assistive technologies to improve access for diverse communities.

● The role of public-private partnerships, policy interventions and grassroots initiatives in strengthening an inclusive creative ecosystem.
● Best practices and important case studies from projects that promote diversity, accessibility and creative empowerment.

AGENDA

• Greetings and Introduction

• Identifying critical skills shortages and mismatches in the cultural and creative industries, with a focus on accessibility and underrepresented communities

• Explore educational pathways, training programs, and mentorship opportunities that foster a more inclusive workforce

– Demy Papathanasiou, Crip choreographer/dancer, Artogether, Greece

– Elena Sokratous, Director & Theater Educator & Andreas Solomou, Researcher, KOULLOU|MAKKA, Cyprus

• Share best practices and impactful case studies from projects that promote diversity, accessibility, and creative empowerment

– Eleftheria Sokratous, Curator of Beyond DisDance, Ipogia Skini/ Synergeio Performing Arts Centre, Cyprus

• Leverage digital tools and access tools to improve access for diverse communities

• Discussion & Conclusions

To view the event’s video click HERE.