The CRI Academy Returns for Its Second Edition!

6 weeks of workshops
27 sessions
70+ participants
A mix of formats and levels
Small-group workshops: 15 to 30 participants

Citizen participation, finding partners, budget planning, ecological transition, artists’ fees, European cooperation… Since 18 May, the 2026 CRI Academy has been supporting a new generation of cultural project leaders across the Centre-Val de Loire region.

Designed as a space for collective learning and skills development, this second edition continues the ambition of the CRI: to give everyone the tools to turn an idea into a concrete cultural project, rooted in its local area and open to Europe.

A More Focused and Accessible Academy
Following the very strong response to the first edition in 2025, Bourges 2028 has chosen this year to provide more focused support and reach groups that were less represented last year: young people, school students and residents of priority neighbourhoods.

The workshops now welcome smaller groups (15 to 20 participants), creating more opportunities for discussion and individual support. Several sessions are also offered at beginner or advanced level, making it easier to respond to participants’ different backgrounds and levels of experience.

This commitment to greater accessibility is already reflected in the figures: 18 of the 30 priority neighbourhoods in the Centre-Val de Loire region are represented among this year’s participants.

The Academy is therefore built around a strong belief: there is no one-size-fits-all profile for developing a cultural project.

Developing a Cultural Project Is a Skill You Can Learn
Building a budget, finding European partners, incorporating a low-carbon approach, gaining a better understanding of artists’ social and intellectual property rights, or organising a cultural event: the Academy provides practical tools to support participants at every stage of their projects.

As last year, the European dimension plays a central role in the 2026 edition, with several workshops dedicated to cooperation and European cultural networks.

Citizen Participation at the Heart of Projects
Another major development this year is the central and cross-cutting role given to citizen participation across all the projects supported by the Academy.

The first workshop of this edition, led by Bourges 2028, the Ligue de l’enseignement and Carine Bélard from 18 to 20 May, was entirely dedicated to this issue.

Entitled “How to Prepare Your Project for the Bourges 2028 CRI”, the workshop gave participants an opportunity to explore the requirements of the CR! application while reflecting on how to develop projects together with local residents and communities.

Through the Academy, Bourges 2028 aims to support collective, citizen-led and European initiatives capable of fostering new cultural dynamics across the region.