Creative Bloom

Results

Context and Problem

Empowering female creative entrepreneurs aged 40+ in Ida-Viru (EE) and Vidzeme (LV)
Project period: 1 May 2024 – 31 October 2025
Lead partner: Ida-Viru Entrepreneurship Centre (IVEC, Estonia)
Partner: Vidzeme Planning Region (VPR, Latvia)

In both Ida-Viru (Estonia) and Vidzeme (Latvia), women aged 40+ often face difficulties re-entering or repositioning themselves in the labour market. Rapid technological development, digitalisation and structural economic change have made it harder for this age group to compete with younger professionals. At the same time, both regions are rich in creative talent and craftsmanship that remain underdeveloped commercially. Many women are active in creative hobbies – design, crafts, photography, or local cultural activities – yet lack the entrepreneurial knowledge, networks, and confidence to turn their creativity into sustainable income.

Idea and Solution

Explain the core project idea and the solution developed and implemented.
The Creative Bloom project was designed to empower women 40+ from Estonia’s Ida-Viru County and Latvia’s Vidzeme region through a cross-border mentor and entrepreneurship programme in the creative industries.
The project combined entrepreneurship training, mentoring, peer learning, and study visits to help participants transform creative ideas into viable business models.

The programme included:

• Six Mentor Club meetings (Sept 2024 – June 2025) covering topics such as entrepreneurship, design, pricing, accounting, circular economy, marketing & communication, and storytelling through photography & video.
• Two intensive 2-day trainings: product development (Nov 2024) and service development (Mar 2025).
• Two 3-day study trips: Latvia (Jan 2025) and Estonia (Aug 2025).
• Individual mentoring every month for each participant.
• Creative Industry Focus Day in Latvia, June 2025, during the LAMPA Festival in Latvia, discussing “Region as a value for creative entrepreneurship.”
• Creative Industry Focus Day in Estonia, Sept 2025,
  The programme participants presented their results for the first time to a wider circle of partners and experts in Ida-Viru County.

In Estonia: From 29 applicants, 16 women were selected (15 completed the programme).
In Latvia: From 95 applicants, 16 women were selected (14 completed the programme).

Each developed a creative concept or business plan, and several launched micro-enterprises or NGOs by the end of the project.

Implementation and Impact

Highlight the importance of cooperation among partners, the impact achieved in targeted regions and sectors, and the benefits for target groups.
Cross-border cooperation was essential for the project’s success. The Estonian partner (IVEC) contributed its prior experience in developing the Ida-Viru Creative Cluster and supporting small entrepreneurship, while the Latvian partner (VPR) brought strong regional development expertise. Joint activities enabled mutual learning, diverse perspectives, and the strengthening of regional identity through creativity. New insights, direct contacts, and innovative solutions emerged through the exchange of cross-border experiences.

Key outcomes:
1) 32 women from two border regions received intensive training and mentoring;
2) Entrepreneurial and digital skills were strengthened in both regions (including creation of online portfolios and social media accounts);
3) New micro-enterprises and NGOs were established;

4) Participants’ self-confidence, professional networks, and visibility increased;
5) Cooperation between Estonia and Latvia in the creative industries was strengthened;
6) The image of Ida-Viru and Vidzeme improved as emerging creative hubs.
The project proved that creativity can serve as a driving force for social inclusion, women’s empowerment, and regional development.
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Result indicator

Number of people with increased entrepreneurship: Target – 20 / Achieved – 29 completed the programme.
The project successfully enhanced entrepreneurship among women aged 40+, providing them with practical business knowledge, digital skills, and the confidence to start or develop their own creative enterprises.

Concrete examples:
1) Several participants registered their own small creative businesses or NGOs by the end of the project.
2) Participants improved their business models, gained new direct contacts both regionally and across the border, and developed new product prototypes as well as personal brand websites or social media accounts.
3) Both personal mentoring and cross-border direct contacts increased participants’ self-confidence and created favourable conditions for operating beyond the local market.
These results directly support the Central Baltic Programme’s objective of improving labour market participation among less competitive target groups.

Output indicator: Participations in joint cross-border activities (individuals)
Target: 30 | Achieved: 30 participations (Estonia and Latvia combined)

Cross-border outputs achieved:

1) Mentor Club meetings with participants from both countries, including online presentations.
2) Joint study trips in Estonia and Latvia with a total of 30 participants.
3) Shared experience exchanges and direct contacts among programme participants (held online, three times).
These joint activities resulted in measurable knowledge exchange and created the foundation for establishing a lasting cooperation network between the two regions.