The problem is not that Romania lacks creativity; the challenge is to identify it, connect it and create the space it needs to develop, Mirabela Gradinaru, partner of President Nicusor Dan, said on Monday at the roundtable debate 'Creative Romania: Observatory & Laboratory of Creative Ecologies,' held as part of the second edition of Romanian Creative Week X Bucharest and hosted by the 'Carol I' Central University Library.

'What is happening here is more than a conversation about the creative industries. It is a conversation about collaboration, about bridges between fields and about our ability to build together. Ultimately, this is what it comes down to: how do we build together for Romania? The most valuable ideas often emerge at the intersection of different perspectives. And that is exactly what you are doing here today, bringing together multiple fields and different viewpoints. We know Romania has a deep connection to its heritage and traditions, but it also has people working at the forefront of technology and innovation. We do not have to choose between the past and the future. Our challenge is to discover what we can build when we come together. And when we talk about creative ecologies, we are really talking about ecosystems of trust and collaboration. Creativity does not flourish in isolation. It needs connections, people who share ideas, institutions that support such initiatives, and I hope that the presence of the Presidential Administration here today underscores its desire to support all creative industries, as well as communities that encourage experimentation and the courage to try something new. Because very often what we lack is courage, even when initiatives do exist,' Mirabela Gradinaru said.

She noted that in the past, 'a nation's strength was measured primarily by the resources it possessed.'

'Today, in an economy based on knowledge and innovation, I am convinced that our competitive advantage increasingly lies in our ability to generate ideas and turn them into solutions that are relevant to society, helping address the various challenges societies face today,' she opined.

'Creative industries do not merely produce cultural goods, products or services; they create opportunities. They create the opportunity for a city to reinvent itself, for a community to make its voice heard, and for a young person to build a future here in Romania. And I sincerely believe that the challenge of the coming years is to transform the creative energy we possess into a strategic advantage for the country's development, especially in the era of AI. The future belongs not only to those who have resources, but to those who have the imagination, courage and ability to turn ideas into reality,' Gradinaru stressed.

The roundtable discussion 'Creative Romania: Observatory & Laboratory of Creative Ecologies,' hosted by Marlene Herberth, focused on how Romanian creativity can be recognised, connected and supported over the long term.

'Romania needs to become better at recognising, connecting and supporting the creativity it already has. Through my work at the intersection of heritage, contemporary art and communities, I see how much the continuity of an idea depends on the relationships that sustain it: who passes on knowledge, who provides space for experimentation, who finances projects and who opens access to the public,' the host of the event said.

Presidential advisor Valentin-Sorin Costreie said one of Romania's challenges is related to creativity.

'The invitation was for a roundtable that does not physically exist, but we are using our imagination and here we have a roundtable, in fact several small round tables. And I was thinking that this is Romania's problem as well. Romania already has islands of creativity that have been recognised and that already export creative output. The challenge is how we bring these small round tables together into one large roundtable called Creative Romania. I don't believe this can be achieved unless we start from the ground up, from a very early stage, I would say beginning with early childhood education in kindergarten and the first years of school, and cultivate something we have not really nurtured. (...) Why should we have a Creative Romania? Our educational system is neither designed nor tailored to foster creativity. Quite the opposite. (...) What should we do to become more creative? We need to change the educational paradigm across society. We need to nurture the curiosity that we naturally possess. Children are highly creative and inventive. The problem is that we place them into rigid frameworks, and in doing so we lose much of their creative potential,' he argued.

Costreie stressed that Romania has 'potential which, when nurtured through the commitment of mentors, parents and role models these children should have, can thrive.'

'I believe we need to nurture their creativity and provide them with role models,' he added.

Participants in the 'Creative Romania: Observatory & Laboratory of Creative Ecologies' roundtable meeting included architect Teodor Frolu, founding member of the Bucharest Urban Space Association; visual artist Andrei Cozlac - curator of RCW's New Media District; Andrei Boncea - president of the Film Producers Alliance; designer Ioana Ciolacu, president of the Romanian Fashion Council; Anca Lupes - president of RAW Music and founder of Mastering The Music Business; and Bogdan Trambaciu - director of the Project Management Unit within the Ministry of Culture.

Romanian Creative Week X Bucharest runs through October 8, bringing contemporary art, fashion, installations and events dedicated to the creative industries to the capital. AGERPRES (RO - writing by: Petronius Craiu; EN - writing by: Simona Klodnischi)