The Winter School, titled “Digital media for tourism in Creative Cities: experiences from the center of Portugal,” was a collaborative effort between USI, Università della Svizzera italiana, the University of Coimbra, and the Universidade Europeia of Lisbon. This edition of the Winter School focused on the theme of Creative Cities, a UNESCO program launched in 2004 to foster sustainable urban development through creativity and cultural industries.
The program highlighted cities that have embraced creativity as a strategic element in their development plans.
The Winter School celebrated the 20th anniversary of the Creative Cities program, offering participants a journey through three Creative Cities in central Portugal: Leiria, Caldas da Rainha, and Óbidos. These cities are actively developing their cultural and creative sectors, contributing to the overall objectives of the Creative Cities network.
In addition to presentations and discussions, participants had the opportunity to engage with local intangible heritage and collaborate on real tourism challenges faced by each city.
Dr. Kalbaska’s contribution to the Winter School reflects his ongoing commitment to academic discourse and interdisciplinary collaboration. His insights into the mythologization of museum objects added depth to the exploration of creative and cultural industries in the context of tourism.
The Winter School was organized by esteemed academics and researchers, including Cláudia Seabra, Sofia Almeida, Lorenzo Cantoni, and Silvia De Ascaniis, among others. With the active participation of scholars like Dr. Kalbaska, the event served as a platform for knowledge exchange and innovative thinking in the field of cultural tourism and creative city development.
