FOR THE STARS TO SHINE, IT IS NECESSARY TO CREATE THE SKY
Creative Gate: A platform that opens the door to the future of the Balkans
If we have nothing, we are left with creativity. If we have creativity, we have everything. This is not just a thought but the essence of life in the Balkans — a region that has survived for centuries despite wars, crises, injustices, and poverty. Our nations have survived thanks to their inexhaustible resourcefulness and power to create from nothing. Now is the moment to move from survival to creation. The Balkans should not only be a place where creativity serves to survive but also to develop and help itself and the whole world. To become a space where ideas know no borders, where authenticity is not only a value but an essential capital, and where future generations can create the world they want to live in. Our region is a place that has shown for centuries that the most beautiful can emerge from the most challenging conditions. Creativity here is not just a tool for survival — it is our way of defying the past and shaping the future.
Heaven for the stars that should shine
This is the moment to create a sky that will make our stars shine brightest. A sky that will connect talent, passion, and innovation, both within our borders and with the world. Only with a clearly defined space for development can creativity realize its full potential and become the driving force for the Balkans and the global community.
Our past is a lesson, but our future is an opportunity. This is the moment to show the world, but above all ourselves, that the Balkans is not the end — but the beginning. The beginning of a story where creativity knows no obstacles, where dreams don’t have to leave their roots to become reality, and where our contribution will shine brightly enough to inspire others.
The Balkans are crafting their own sky by creating the Creative Gate platform. Because there are no stars without the sky. Even if they exist, if they are not visible, they cannot light the way or be a guide for anyone. They fall and disappear without purpose. But imagine a region where every star is visible. Where talented young people don’t leave to make their dreams come true, but stay because they know this is the place where they can shine the brightest. Imagine a place where stars from all over the world gather, drawn to our authentic spirit and inspired by our strength and resilience.
Our region has a chance to become the epicenter of creativity. This is true not only for those who live here but also for young people from all over the world who often feel like outsiders in their communities. They, like us, know that creativity is their way out and their most excellent chance.
Creativity has been our light in the darkest moments, and now it can become our guide to the stars.
New class: Creative class
We live in a time when where you come from is no longer essential but what you can create. A new class was born: a creative class that does not recognize borders, rules, or frameworks. This class is not asking for help but for space to create. The Balkans, a region with authentic, raw creativity born of the struggle for survival, have the opportunity to lead this revolution.
Creativity is not a privilege here; it is a way of life. Generations before us were created from nothing, defying impossible conditions. Today, we are responsible for recognizing that potential, releasing it, and putting it on the global stage.
Let’s stop the soul drain and create a future here
We have talked about brain drain and losing our most talented people for years. But now we face a more significant challenge—to prevent soul drain. It is not enough to keep people. We must give them a reason to stay, space to create, and future generations to inspire.
The Creative Gate platform is that space. It is a call to redefine who we are and what we can be. We must show the world that we are not just a region that survives but one that creates. We must be known not only for our difficult and brave past but also for the future we are building. This region can and must become one of the global centers of innovation, culture, and creative industries.
Creativity is the bridge to the future
Creativity is the most powerful and sustainable resource of the 21st century. While last century’s resources like oil and coal shaped industrial revolutions, and technology and data dominated the digital age, creativity remains the only infinite, universal, and inexhaustible resource. It knows no borders and does not depend on natural resources — creativity requires investment in people, their ideas, and dreams.
Creative industry: The driving force of the world economy and the pride of the Balkans
In a world where ideas have more value than raw resources, the creative industries have become one of the most important drivers of the global economy. With a share of over 3% of global GDP, the creative industries contribute an incredible $2.25 trillion annually, employing 30 million people worldwide. In the European Union, this sector accounts for 4.4% of GDP and provides jobs for more than 7 million people, while in the United States, it contributes over 800 billion dollars annually.
The creative sector is leading the growth. In the UK, for example, it is growing twice as fast as the rest of the economy. These are not just numbers—they are evidence of the transformative potential of creativity in developing societies, economies, and cultures around the world.
The Balkans: The flower of creativity growing from stone
This global trend has not bypassed the Balkans, either. Moreover, Serbia can boast that the share of creative industries in its GDP is as high as 7.4%—almost twice as much as in many developed countries. Although the reason is partly related to the underdevelopment of other sectors, this figure sends a strong message: creativity in the Balkans not only survives but flourishes, often despite all the challenges.
Serbia’s creative industries have developed without systemic support, like a flower growing between two stones. They currently employ 127,000 people, and over 70,000 companies operate in this sector. Most of the employees come from the younger generation, which shows that this sector retains young talent and motivates them to create a future here. The digital sector and the film industry lead the way in exports, while the cultural and creative branches attract the attention of the world public.
If we already show strength that surpasses many developed countries, imagine what we could achieve with true support and vision!
Creativity as a guideline for the global economy
The flower from the Balkans’ stone now seeks light to show the world its true color. Creative industries have already demonstrated their strength and resilience—now is the time for them to become a key component of the region’s strategic development.
The Balkans can inspire the world and show that creativity is how the global economy should go. With Creative Gate, we are building a platform that allows the Balkans to be part of the world scene and one of the leaders. This is the bridge to the future; everyone is invited to cross it.
Creative Gate: A bridge between the present and the future
Creative Gate is not just a digital platform — it is a vision of the future of the Balkans. This is the bridge that connects us to the global world and also the bridge that connects us to ourselves. A region that has survived centuries of challenges now has the opportunity to show the world what it can do.
By registering for free on the platform at www.creative-gate.org, we have a chance to redefine our identity—not as a lagging region but as a leading one.
In a world where everything passes, creativity remains eternal. She is our stamp in time, our voice, and our face. Now is the time to light that flame and light the way to a new era. This is our moment. Let’s use it.
The key is in action. We must immediately recognize the importance of this resource and invest in the people, tools, and platforms that will unleash and multiply it.
A MESSAGE TO THE YOUTH: LET’S BUILD A HEAVEN WHERE NO ONE HAS TO LEAVE
Several times in my life, I was forced to leave the Balkans to achieve what was impossible there. Leaving was never my choice but a necessity. Each time, I left hoping that the experience would help build something better, more lasting, and more inspiring here. Today, as someone who left again only to return, I want to believe that I am among the last who had to do so.
Through the Creative Gate initiative, I hope we will build a future where no one has to leave home to pursue their dreams. My departure is not a message of giving up—on the contrary; it is a pledge to return—to return to a region where talented young people will have everything they need to create, innovate, and realize their potential without losing their roots and identity.
The Balkans have the power to become one of the sources and centers of global creativity — not only for those who live here but also for those who seek inspiration and opportunity. I believe that through Creative Gate we will together create a space where dreams come true, where the stars shine the brightest, and where leaving is a matter of choice, not necessity.
I may not be the last to leave, but I want to be among the last. Together, we will build a heaven where no one has to go because dreams not only survive here but flourish and light up the world. This is our moment. Let’s create it together.
Creative Gate is the dream of all of us who believe in Balkan stars. That we never have to choose between roots and wings again.
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Why invest in creativity in the Balkans?
1. Growth economy: The creative sector is among the fastest growing in the world. By investing in the creative industries, our region can drive a wave of economic growth, creating thousands of new jobs and increasing exports of high-value products and services.
2. Preventing the outflow of talent: Young people often leave the region because they do not find the opportunities that the creative industries can provide here. Creative Gate is a tool for creating an environment that motivates young people to stay and attracts talent from other parts of the world.
3. Contribution to regional branding: Creativity is not only an economic resource but also a key element in branding nations and regions. The Balkan peoples have a unique story of authenticity and resilience that can inspire the world. Creative Gate can position the Balkans as a global synonym for innovation and creativity.
4. Multidisciplinary development: Creative industries connect technology, culture, economy, and society. By investing in this sector, we contribute to developing other areas, from education and tourism to digital transformation.
5. Sustainability and future: Creative industries depend less on traditional resources and infrastructure investments. They are based on human capital, innovation, and ideas, making them a sustainable solution for the region’s long-term development.
