Through the case study of the SKREI Convention, a cultural cooperation project with partners in Norway, Italy and Portugal focussing on the historic trade routes of dried and salted codfish, this paper aims to analyse how regional identities can be understood and portrayed as well as represented within cross-cultural contexts. The findings place questions and challenges for cultural organisations based in peripheral areas who seek to influence policy. Firstly, the analysis will look at how various layers of cultural identities already exist in different regions and why they are essential to the local economy and culture and why they represent opportunities and challenges for cultural organisations. Secondly, attention will be given to gathering and embedding them in larger, shared and participative European cultural narrative. Finally, considerations will be given to how these challenges can impact on the policy-making process at regional and national levels.
paper-skrei