Over 500 events are being organised as part of this year's edition of Romanian Creative Week (RCW), the largest event dedicated to the creative industries in the European Union, which takes place in Iasi, May 14 to 25.

Irina Schrotter, president of the Federation of Employers in Creative Industries (FEPIC), on Monday told a press conference that RCW was declared a strategic cultural event by the Ministry of Culture, being the only one of its kind in the Moldavia region and the seventh in Romania.

'Thus, Romanian Creative Week (...) joins the other six cultural projects of national or international importance in the country: the Sibiu International Theatre Festival (FITS), the National Theatre Festival (FNT), the Transylvania International Film Festival (TIFF), Astra Film Festival, Art Safari and Bookfest International Book Fair,' said Irina Schrotter, president of FEPIC and organiser of RCW.

Over the course of 12 days, RCW brings together approximately 500 events and over 1,000 artists, writers, designers, architects, cultural entrepreneurs and innovators from Romania and abroad.

According to the organisers, the agenda highlights emerging ideas, cross-border collaborations and perspectives on the future of the creative industries.

'The fact that Romanian Creative Week was named the most important creative event in the European Union and recently recognised by the Ministry of Culture as a strategic cultural event of Romania deeply honours us and, at the same time, gives us a great responsibility. RCW is a project born out of a personal belief: that Romania has the creativity, energy, and intelligence not only to produce relevant culture but to become a regional leader in the creative industries. We are not talking about dreams, but about reality - a reality built with hard work, determination, and courage. We want to develop this ecosystem, to offer younger generations a stage worthy of their true value, and to demonstrate that art, education, innovation and entrepreneurship can go hand in hand. I am grateful to all who believe in this project and invite everyone who wants to be part of Romania's creative future to join us. RCW is more than a festival. It is a movement,' added Irina Schrotter.

A first for this edition is the Education Section, during which renowned figures in Romanian culture will deliver Creativity Conferences between May 14 and 17.

'Romanian Creative Week is a gift from the creative industry to Iasi, and also a gift from our city to the residents who cherish imagination. In recent years, this festival of the creative industries, through its impressive series of events dedicated to literature, music, film, fashion, visual arts and architecture, has proven to be a true celebration of innovation, courage and the desire to transform passion into value for the entire community. For a city that has given the country and the world so many distinguished cultural figures, Iasi's recognition as a major creative city internationally flatters us, but also compels us to look further. As promised, we will make Iasi the most important meeting point for creative industries in the country, in a grand game of imagination, education and creation. We will strengthen Iasi's status as the capital of creativity,' said Iasi Mayor Mihai Chirica, present at the event. AGERPRES (RO - writing by: Daniela Malache; EN - writing by: Adina Panaitescu)