A total of 114 applications by individuals, civil associations and other institutions were submitted to the Ministry of Culture in the field of culture in the fourth call for creative industries. 61 projects have been supported, Culture Minister Elizabeta Kanceska-Milevska said at Friday’s press conference. So far, 211 projects have received financial support since the start of announcement of the 2013 call.

Projects including digital ceramics, applications in Cyrillic design products, first fashion collection with 3D printing, first Macedonian brand of household, festival of fruit and veggie figurines, several projects of NGOs designed for people with special needs are selected by a committee composed of Mitko Hadzi-Pulja, Robert Jankulovski, Andrej Bartling, Gordana Vrencoska and Bekim Memeti.

Kanceska-Milevska announced the results from the fourth call highlighting that the goal of the calls (based on the National Strategy for Development of Culture 2013-2017) is to encourage young people to develop creative potential and create innovative and quality products that will produce a brand and will have financial benefits.

These projects have aesthetic, original, practical and applicable value; evident creativity and innovation and sustainability in the market in the field of visual arts, graphic design, multimedia design, industrial design, product design, fashion design as well as events, festivals, conferences and forums. Calls have enabled us to identify and to define recognisable brands in the Macedonian culture and art, which aim to put our country among the European countries that recognize the creative potential, Kanceska-Milevska said.

Culture Ministry provided Denar 5.5 million for the previous three calls and to unite creative people and a place where they will present their products has helped the opening of the Center for Design & Innovation - Public Room. An exhibition of subsidised projects will open on Feb. 6 at Public Room. The project of this centre has been also supported at the call which foresees this year’s opening of children’s workshop and workshop where designers that will develop their prototypes.