Culture as an inspiration for the economy
As part of the international initiative SIT DOWN 2025, SPIRIT Slovenia and the Ministry of the Economy, Tourism, and Sport are organizing a business forum that will highlight the importance of connecting entrepreneurship with culture, sustainability, and human rights. The focus will be on inspiring conversations with leading business leaders, artists and diplomats who believe in the power of cooperation for a better future for humanity.
This exceptional event combines business, art, and a vision of a better future.
Highlight of the evening: world premiere of the musical Peace Child
To mark the 80th anniversary of the end of World War II and the founding of the United Nations, the premiere of the musical Peace Child will bring together more than 150 young musicians, singers, soloists and storytellers from over 25 countries, including regions marked by conflict. Created by David Gordon and Yusuf / Cat Stevens, the musical is based on an original screenplay by David Woollcombe and tells a story of courage, cooperation, and creativity in a world of division. Inspired by a story from Papua New Guinea, where reconciliation between tribes was sealed by the exchange of children – the so-called children of peace – the musical invites us to reflect on the world we are creating and the role of young people as peacemakers.
Date: August 23, 2025, at 4:00 p.m.
Place: Križanke, Ljubljana
Program of the business part of the event:
16:00 – Arrival and registration
16:30 – Opening remarks (Minister Matjaž Han and Tamara Zajec Balažič, Director of SPIRIT Slovenia)
16:45 – Lecture: The Art of Leadership – Bernhard Kerres, Innovation and Culture Advisor and Former Director of Konzerthaus Vienna
17:00 – Panel 1: Partnership with Culture
Moderator: Dr. Žiga Vavpotič
Ana Stanić, President, Committee of the Creative Industry Association of the Chamber of Commerce of Serbia
Janez Škrabec, director, Riko
Bernhard Kerres, advisor
Tomislav Čizmić, CEO, Telemach
Nataša Kos, Head of the Sector for Cultural and Scientific Diplomacy, Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry
Darko Brlek, director and artistic director, Ljubljana Festival
17:45 – Artistic segment: presentation of the project The [Uncertain] Four Seasons – a reconstruction of Vivaldi’s seasons based on climate predictions until 2050
18:00 – Panel 2: Artificial Intelligence and Sustainability: The Impact of Technology on the Economy and Society
Moderator: Nena Dokuzov
Mark Pleško, Director, Cosylab
Boštjan Gomilšek, director, Result
Aleš Pevc, Head of Technology Office and Development Projects, Technology Park Ljubljana
Mihajela Črnko, CCO, IRCAI
18:45 – Informal networking with diplomats
20:30 – Premiere of the musical PEACE CHILD
The event will also be broadcast at the Expo Osaka World Expo in the United Nations Pavilion under Slovenian sponsorship. The project will culminate on October 23 with an economic forum in Vienna organized by SPIRIT Slovenia, Advantage Austria and WKO, and concluded with a musical performance in the Vienna Konzerthaus.
Source: SPIRIT Slovenia
