Refresh Plus - Young art(ist)s refreshing heritage sites and legends is a European project funded under the Creative Europe Culture Programme. Refresh+ is coordinated by the Association of Historic Towns of Slovenia with the support of partners from Romania, Spain, Finland and Croatia.

Turku University of Applied Scinces brings expertise in advertising and marketing as well as artistic content to the project. The project activities involve members of the reserach group in Film and media and the Arts Academy students.

The main aim of this project is to foster capacities of the Cultural and Creative sector. The focus of the project is to contribute guidance for the new generations of European artists in strengthening their capacities to get “An independent international artistic career and market positioning”. This purpose is going to be reached within a European context in which Cultural heritage is put into value as well as the multicultural cooperation in the artistic creation.

During ReFresh+, 14 young artists from 5 countries will come together to learn, share and reflect on intangible heritage of Slovenia and Romania and get inspired by them. Through a facilitated process the artists will elaborate co-creation strategies and produce new artworks / performances linking cultural heritage and different forms of art expressions: theatre, music, visual arts, dance and film. The market potential of artworks will be assessed, and the artists equipped with the digital materials, skills and market networks.  

While the artworks will improve the attractiveness of the heritage sites, the young artists will strengthen their visibility and position themselves in the international art community. Artists remain connected after the project completion and the ReFresh+ business model documented and freely accessible in the form of e-booklet or video tutorial.