Design, Organization and Facilitation of Creative Living Lab as part of SOCRAT project

As part of the SOCRAT project, Sustainability Office was responsible for the organisation and coordination of a 10-day Creative Living Lab in Kvarner Region, designed as a participatory space where local heritage, craftsmanship and contemporary creativity could come together to generate new cultural tourism ideas.

Our role covered the end-to-end operational delivery of the Living Lab. We coordinated the local participants — including an artist, craftsperson/creative industry representative and civil society representative — as well as the international mentor and project partners. We developed the detailed programme and daily schedule, coordinated availability and communication, secured and prepared locations, organised field visits and ensured the logistical and technical conditions required for the laboratory.

We also prepared the working materials, creative tools and equipment needed for the sessions and coordinated all practical arrangements. Throughout the process, we maintained continuous communication with participants and partners, monitored attendance and participation, and adapted the programme where necessary to respond to the needs of the group and the development process.

We also developed the content and facilitated the co-creation process. The participants explored local places, heritage, materials, traditions and stories through field-based research, discussions and creative experimentation. We helped connect these local resources with contemporary creative approaches and supported participants in moving from initial ideas towards tangible concepts and prototypes for cultural tourism.

The Living Lab resulted in new, sustainable tourism experience rooted in local context, while also creating new connections between artists, craftspeople, creative practitioners and civil society. The process demonstrated how participatory and cross-sectoral collaboration can transform local heritage and creative knowledge into new visitor experiences and opportunities for sustainable tourism development.

Following the implementation, we prepared the project report and supporting documentation in line with Interreg programme guidelines providing evidence of both the process and its outcomes.