First #GATHERING KSIgune Connections: the space to promote cooperation between Higher Education and the Basque Cultural and Creative Industries

The first KSIgune Connections gathering took place on 12 May at the Ensanche Building in Bilbao. Miren Artaraz, Director of University Policy and Coordination of the Basque Government, and Aitziber Atorrasagasti, Director of Promotion of Culture of the Basque Government, welcomed the participants, coming from Faculties, Schools and companies and entities of the cultural and creative sectors of the Basque Country.

The gathering is part of the KSIgune Connections programme, which also has a call for projects that was presented on this occasion by Josean Urdangarín (Department of Culture and Language Policy of the Basque Government) and Ruth Mayoral (Head of Higher Education Programmes at Euskampus Fundazioa).

Until 27 October, when the third edition of this call for proposals will close, funding will be available for Bachelor's and Master's degree final projects, group assignments and research group projects carried out in collaboration between Higher Education centres and cultural and creative entities in the Basque Country.

With the aim of encouraging this collaboration between Higher Education and companies, an important part of the agenda was dedicated to favouring this connection between the academic community (students, teaching and research staff, directors) and the community of the different sectors integrated in the Cultural and Creative Industries (managers, facilitators, managers, artists, producers, etc.).

Representatives from various faculties of the UPV/EHU, IDarte, EUNEIZ, Dantzerti, Musikene, Mondragon Unibertsitatea, University of Deusto, Elías Querejeta Zine Eskola, IED Kunsthal Bilbao and some higher education centres co-starred in the meeting from the academic side. Around 35 representatives of entities from the Basque cultural and creative sectors, including the Basque District of Culture and Creativity (BDCC), Karraskan, Urbanbat and ZAWP, among others, also attended the event. All of them, part of the KSIgune ecosystem, participated in a structured activity from which they were able to share their ideas and projects. It is now to be hoped that many of the ideas that emerged will crystallise into real projects that can be funded in this third edition of the KSIgune Connections call for proposals.