About project

Creative Patterns is an international cooperation project that supports women aged 40+ in developing their creative businesses, strengthening digital skills and increasing their competitiveness. The project is implemented in cooperation between Ida-Viru County (Estonia) and the Vidzeme region (Latvia) within the Central Baltic Programme 2021–2027.
Many talented women have creative ideas, valuable craft skills and years of experience, yet often lack the digital knowledge, confidence or business support needed to turn these skills into sustainable entrepreneurship. Creative Patterns helps bridge this gap by combining practical business development, digital learning and cross-border networking.

Why is the project needed?
Eastern border regions in Estonia and Latvia have experienced significant economic challenges in recent years. At the same time, creative industries offer new opportunities for entrepreneurship, local development and employment.
Research shows that women aged 40+ often face barriers in entrepreneurship, particularly in digital marketing, online visibility and business development. Without these skills, many creative entrepreneurs struggle to reach new customers and expand beyond local markets. Creative Patterns addresses these challenges by providing practical knowledge, mentoring and international cooperation opportunities.

Project objectives
The project aims to:
strengthen digital skills among creative entrepreneurs;
support the creation and development of sustainable creative businesses;
improve product and service design;
increase participants’ competitiveness in local and international markets;
create long-term cooperation networks between Estonia and Latvia;
promote entrepreneurship among women aged 40+.

What participants will gain
Participants will take part in an intensive cross-border development programme including:
practical workshops led by experienced experts;
individual mentoring sessions;
training on digital marketing and digital portfolio creation;
product and service development;
branding and photography;
business planning and sales;
study visits and networking events in Estonia and Latvia;
opportunities to exchange experiences with other creative entrepreneurs.
The programme is designed to help participants transform creative ideas into market-ready products and services while building confidence in entrepreneurship.

Who can participate?
The programme is intended for women aged 40 years and older who:
are planning to start a creative business;
have recently started a small creative business;
already operate a creative business but wish to improve and develop it further.
Participants come from Ida-Viru County (Estonia) and the Vidzeme region (Latvia).

Cross-border cooperation
Creative Patterns is built on the belief that entrepreneurship grows through cooperation. By bringing together creative entrepreneurs from Estonia and Latvia, participants gain:

• new contacts and business networks;
• inspiration from neighbouring regions;
• opportunities to discover new markets;
• exchange of knowledge, ideas and best practices.

The project builds on the successful experience of the previous Creative Bloom project while placing a stronger emphasis on practical business development, digital skills and international cooperation.