STARTArt – Project overview (KA152-YOU)
Project Summary
STARTArt – Stimulating Talent in Arts through Resources and Training for Art entrepreneurship – empowers young people to turn creativity into viable ventures. Through non-formal learning that blends arts, entrepreneurship and soft-skills, participants co-create business ideas, practice sustainable approaches, and gain recognition via Youthpass. The exchange is hosted in Ružomberok, Slovakia with hands-on sessions and a public showcase.
Title: STARTArt
Participants: 38
Countries: SK • AT • NO • GR • UA • IT • ES
Location: Ružomberok, Slovakia
Key objectives
Develop Entrepreneurial Skills
Use tools like SWOT, PEST, Business Model Canvas, branding & marketing to turn creative ideas into viable, sustainable concepts.
Strengthen Soft Skills
Grow teamwork, communication, leadership and pitching confidence through practice, feedback and public presentation.
Enterprise Your Creativity
Use arts as a driver for social & economic value, aligned with sustainable practices and circular thinking.
The partnership
Slovak Coordinator — IKReON
IKReON coordinates STARTArt from Ružomberok, bringing strong experience in non-formal education that blends arts and entrepreneurship. The team leads facilitation onsite, steers quality & safety, and curates local cooperation (venue at Penzión Sidorovo and the idea-validation visit). IKReON also guides the Business Plan Development track and daily reflection/Youthpass routines to anchor tangible learning.
IT — A.T.C, Capizzi
ATC Capizzi brings deep practice in rural youth development through creative arts. They co-lead the Business Model Canvas pathway so participants can turn artistic value into clear customer propositions, revenue streams, and impact goals.
UA — Phoenix Association
Phoenix fosters resilience, inclusion and soft-skills growth for young people facing adversity. In STARTArt they animate collaborative tasks that strengthen communication, leadership and teamwork, ensuring a supportive climate where every voice is heard.
GR — Gridustry
Gridustry connects creative ideas with startup logic. They lead the Business Tools Overview (SWOT, PEST, SMART) and contribute digital-entrepreneurship know-how so participants can analyse markets, assess risks and plan next steps with confidence.
AT — AFIS
AFIS embeds sustainability and inclusion across learning. They run the Circular Economy track and introduce Lean Startup thinking so teams can prototype responsibly and design creative ventures that are both viable and climate-conscious.
Originally, the official partner of the project was ANPEDI, which unfortunately decided to dropout. AFIS took the place of ANPEDI carrying on with all the tasks and responsibilities.
ES — Colectivo Circo Zaragoza
Colectivo Circo Zaragoza contributes methods from performing arts and community work to make the exchange welcoming to all. They support social-inclusion strategies and help transform artistic energy into meaningful public engagement.
NO — ECCO
ECCO adds a practical lens from Norway’s vibrant CCI scene. They coach branding, marketing and pitch skills and share examples of creative startups, helping teams communicate value and prepare for juried feedback.
Unfortunately, ECCO decided to dropout from the project. The Coordinator took ECCO’s responsibility along the project and the partners contributed selecting each of the a +1 participant to participate in the Youth Exchange.
Activities overview
Project outputs
A key output is the open toolkit “STARTArt — Enterprise Your Creativity”, compiling methods, activities and best practices to replicate the project’s approach (to be shared via SALTO-YOUTH and the Erasmus+ Dissemination Platform).
With Thanks to Our Partners & Hosts
STARTArt was made possible by an amazing network of partners, hosts, and local supporters who helped our participants turn creative ideas into real, validated concepts.
KReON thanks partner organisations A.T.C, Capizzi (IT), Phoenix Association (UA), Gridustry (GR), AFIS (AT), Colectivo Circo Zaragoza (ES)
Special thanks goes to our hosts and supporters
Articles about STARTArt
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STARTArt Results: Empowering Creative Youth with a New Toolkit
STARTArt Results: Empowering Creative Youth with a New Toolkit IKReON is proud to release the official result of our project: the “STARTArt – Enterprise Your Creativity” Toolkit. After an intensive week of co-creation, testing, and validation with 38 young participants from across Europe, IKReON is excited to share the intellectual output of the STARTArt project….
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STARTArt Reflections: From Canvas to Business Plan in Ružomberok
Seven days, six countries, five startups, and one shared mission: to prove that creativity can be a sustainable career. We have just concluded STARTArt, an intensive Erasmus+ Youth Exchange hosted by IKReON in Ružomberok. By the end of the week, we didn’t just have business plans; we had a changed mindset. Participants arrived thinking of…
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STARTArt: Bridging Creativity and Enterprise in Ružomberok
Can an artist be an entrepreneur? This August, in Ružomberok, 38 young Europeans are coming together to prove that the answer is “Yes.“ We are thrilled to announce the launch of “STARTArt – Stimulating Talent in Arts through Resources and Training for Art entrepreneurship” (Project number: 2024-3-SK02-KA152-YOU-000287550), our latest Erasmus+ Youth Exchange designed to address…
