THRIVE: Young Talents Training Programme comes to an end

17.07.2026Sparks

The Talents Empowerment programme of the European project THRIVE, promoted by the Province of Bergamo under the Creative Europe Programme, has successfully come to an end. From September to May, a group of young talents under the age of 35 took part in a training, exchange and hands-on learning programme aimed at enhancing intangible cultural heritage as a strategic resource for the sustainable development of the Bergamo area.

During the programme, participants explored the province's intangible cultural heritage through field visits, meeting local heritage bearers and collecting stories, practices and knowledge that represent a valuable asset for local communities.

The outcomes of this work have been compiled in a report and will feed into an interactive and participatory map. The platform will enable citizens, associations and local communities to contribute to the enrichment of this shared heritage, fostering the recognition of intangible cultural heritage as a driver of social and economic development.

Alongside the mapping activities, the programme offered a series of online and in-person sessions with stakeholders, professionals and experts, who shared knowledge and practical tools in the fields of communication, cultural heritage valorisation, digitalisation and project management. Participants also had the opportunity to engage with THRIVE's European partners, gaining valuable learning and collaboration experience in an international environment.

In parallel with the heritage mapping, young talents, working together under the guidance of project partners, also identified and analysed national and international good practices in the safeguarding and promotion of intangible cultural heritage. The findings of this research have been summarised in the attached report, providing an overview of inspiring initiatives that may serve as references for future actions.

The highlight of the programme was the Intensive Training Week, held in Bergamo from 11 to 14 May together with project partners ARCTUR and ENTER.

The first part of the week, the Academy led by ARCTUR, enabled participants to experiment with innovative digital documentation techniques, contributing to the digitalisation of selected local heritage elements and the knowledge associated with them. Eight representatives of Bergamo's intangible cultural heritage took part in the activities, sharing traditions, skills and live demonstrations related to the Burattini (traditional puppetry), Teadei di Vertova, Sifoi di Bottanucco, Pirlì, Baghèt, Mais Spinato di Gandino, Mais Rostrato di Rovetta, and Strachítunt.

The second part of the week was dedicated to the Bootcamp, organised by ENTER, during which participants transformed the ideas developed throughout the programme into entrepreneurial concepts. Through mentoring sessions, workshops and pitching activities, they worked on sustainable business models, communication strategies and project presentation techniques, with the aim of combining cultural heritage preservation with innovation.

The programme concluded with the presentation of the participants' project ideas before a panel of experts, including project partner Fundão, recognised as the project's reference good practice.

The ideas developed during the programme will form the starting point of THRIVE's next phase. In the coming months, the young talents will have the opportunity to further develop and refine their proposals through a dedicated Training Day and direct mentoring with sector professionals, with the goal of turning their concepts into concrete and viable projects.