CAST Project

🔙 to the end of June in Lyulin 7.

The Living Neighbourhoods festival celebrated the shared efforts of neighbours, volunteers, artists, local organisations and partners who had been working together to improve two public spaces in the neighbourhood. 🏘

Over three days, the programme included music, workshops, crafts, photography, skate activities, science labs, civic initiatives, circus performances and family-friendly events, creating a welcoming meeting point for residents of all ages. 🛹

One of the highlights of the festival was the level of local participation. Residents did not simply attend the event. They helped shape it, shared ideas and spent time together in the spaces they had been improving over the previous months. 👏

As part of the Danube Festival Caravan, Living Neighbourhoods showed how culture can bring people together and encourage people to take an active role in the places they share. 👩‍👩‍👦‍👦

It has already been more than a month since Fabrika Fest Stara železarna welcomed visitors to Ravne na Koroškem. ⚙️

From 21–23 June, this year’s edition of the festival brought together industrial heritage, culture, science and creativity across several locations in the town. The programme began with a sunrise concert on Uršlja Gora and continued in the Old Ironworks complex with workshops, discussions, exhibitions, concerts, guided tours and activities for visitors of all ages. 💯

Fabrika Fest explored the connection between Ravne's industrial past and its future. Visitors could learn about more than 400 years of ironworking tradition, discover local stories, take part in robotics workshops, experience contemporary art and join conversations on the role of culture in community development. 🎖

As part of the Danube Festival Caravan, Fabrika Fest showed how industrial heritage can become a place for learning and new ideas while bringing people together in spaces that continue to shape the identity of Ravne na Koroškem.

Thank you to Zavod Iskriva, iskrišče za razvoj lokalnih potencialov and everyone who helped make this edition of Fabrika Fest possible. We look forward to seeing how the festival continues to grow in the following years.

‘How can we reach more people?’

The new trainee tentatively raises her hand. ‘We could try representing more people in our media communication?’

The boss frowns. ‘What do you mean?’ she finally asks.

Sam isn’t used to speaking out in team meetings but this is something she strongly believes in. She takes a deep breath and continues:

‘There’s a lot of people out there who don’t feel like we’re really aware of them. They feel ignored and forgotten. We need to show them that isn’t the case. We see them, we hear them.’

‘Who feels ignored?’ the boss asks, her frown deepening. Sam can’t tell if she’s annoyed or just thoughtful.

Tom, a senior colleague, speaks up. ‘Sam’s right,’ he says, ‘if we want to reach people with different life experiences, we have to adapt our communication strategy. There are a lot of marginalized groups. Young people, families, older generations... People with disabilities or neurological differences... People who speak different languages... Even women, who make up half the population, don't always feel represented.’

‘That's true,’ says the boss. ‘And how do we change that?’

‘There's lots of ways we can do that,’ Sam says. ‘It’s about how we use language and pictures. It’s about what we say in our mission statement, which narratives we use on social media, who we talk to and how we involve different groups. For example...’

Sam's colleagues listen closely. When Sam finishes talking, the boss is no longer frowning.

If you want to learn more about the examples Sam shared, swipe through the visuals or reach out to us directly. We look forward to hearing from you!

In June, the Danube Festival Caravan was in 4 countries celebrating local culture ✨

>> In Hungary, the Night of Museums welcomed 2,855 visitors to the Savaria Museum's venues in Szombathely on 20 June. Throughout the evening, visitors explored exhibitions, joined workshops, took part in guided tours and discovered stories spanning Roman history and contemporary art. 🏛️

>> In Moldova, the 10th anniversary edition of DescOperă transformed Orheiul Vechi into an open-air stage for four evenings of opera and classical music. Audiences enjoyed productions including The Barber of Seville and Nabucco, alongside performances by the National Philharmonic "Serghei Lunchevici" and the National Symphony Orchestra of Teleradio-Moldova. During their study visit, CAST partners experienced the festival firsthand and explored its role in bringing together culture, local heritage and communities. 🎼

>> In Slovenia, Fabrika Fest welcomed visitors to Ravne na Koroškem with a programme inspired by the town's industrial heritage. From a sunrise concert on Uršlja Gora to exhibitions, workshops, discussions, guided tours and evening performances at the Old Ironworks complex, the festival demonstrated how former industrial spaces can become vibrant places for community life. 🏭

>> Finally, in Bulgaria, the Living Neighbourhoods Festival brought Lyulin 7 to life. Over three days, residents, volunteers, artists and local organisations came together for workshops, music, photography, science activities, crafts and family events. More than a festival, it became a space for neighbours to meet, exchange ideas and celebrate the community they are shaping together. 🌳

Each stop had its own character, yet together they showed how culture can strengthen connections between people, places and communities across the Danube region. 💙

The last time Alex went to an exhibition, she was completely overwhelmed.

It began to go wrong as soon as she arrived. She wasn’t expecting to encounter so many people at the entrance, which made her feel anxious. When she tried to escape the crowd by going through an open doorway, a security guard called out in a voice loud enough to be heard above the commotion.

For the security guard, Alex was a visitor in a dripping raincoat with a large rucksack who hadn’t bought a ticket.

But Alex, in her distress, had bypassed the cloakroom, the bag-check and the ticket counter. She didn’t understand why the officer was shouting at her and started to panic.

This is where a social narrative can help. It’s a story with photos and text that explains what visitors can expect when they go to an exhibition or other cultural space. The narrative helps visitors prepare for uncomfortable situations like a busy entrance area.

A social narrative is one example of accessible communication that tourism and cultural professionals can use to make more people feel welcome. Swipe through the visuals for other ideas 👉

Looking back at another stop of the Danube Festival Caravan: Night of the Museums in Szombathely, Hungary 🇭🇺

On 20 June 2026, Savaria Museum welcomed 2,855 visitors for an evening of interactive cultural activities 🖼️ 🙌

Visitors explored the world of ancient Roman games, discovered contemporary art and took part in hands-on activities designed for audiences of all ages.

Thank you to Savaria Museum team for opening their doors and making this year's edition part of the Danube Festival Caravan.

Savaria Múzeum

The Danube Festival Caravan is in Slovakia with the Floating Mill Festival - Hajómalom Fesztivál - Gúta/Kolárovo! 🌊

From 9–11 July, the festival invites visitors to spend a summer weekend by the Little Danube with live music, local food, family activities and the chance to discover the historic floating watermill that gives the festival its name. 〽

The floating mill is one of the last remaining floating watermills in Europe and an important part of the region's heritage. 💯

The programme features concerts by Desh, Parno Graszt, Halott Pénz, Wellhello, VALMAR, Dánielfy and many more. Alongside the music, visitors can enjoy talks, local gastronomy and activities throughout the weekend. 🎼☘

📅 When? 9–11 July 2026
📍 Where? Floating Mill, Petőfiho rad 4, Kolárovo, Slovakia

🎟️ Tickets start from €32 for a day pass. Festival passes and VIP tickets are also available. ▶

Whether you're coming for the concerts or to visit the floating mill, it's a great opportunity to spend a summer day by the Little Danube. 🌊

Imagine after a long day of work you are able to visit an art gallery at night. 🖼️

The usual daytime rush is gone. The rooms are quieter, the light feels softer and the whole building seems to slow down. 📉

With fewer people around, you notice details you might normally pass by, and there’s more space to simply stay with an artwork, without moving on too quickly. 🦥

It makes you realise how much the experience of culture changes depending on how you engage with it. 🌈 ✨

How can we make cultural programmes accessible? By designing exhibitions, tours, events and projects that invite people with different backgrounds, abilities and life experiences to participate in ways that fit their day-to-day reality.

The Danube Festival Caravan continues through the summer months. ☀️

Over July and August, the caravan heads to Slovakia and Serbia, where visitors can explore local festivals shaped by the history and character of each place.

The Floating Mill Festival returns to the banks of the Little Danube in July, while Kult Fest will bring cultural events to communities across Serbia throughout August. Later in the month, the Kolárovo Fair will gather visitors for a weekend of activities, traditions, folk crafts and local life.

📍 9–11 July — Floating Mill Festival, Slovakia

📍 Every weekend in August — Kult Fest, Serbia

📍 14–16 August — Kolárovo Fair, Slovakia

Wherever your summer takes you, these festivals offer a chance to spend time somewhere new and get to know the people behind it.

We'll be sharing more about each festival soon.