“Culture must reach the ordinary person!” | The call of Carmen NASTASĂ, moderator of the Culture Panel within REF Moldova 2025
100 economic opportunities for the development of the Moldova Region on the A7 Highway route
REGIONAL ECONOMIC FORUM MOLDOVA 2025
19th Edition – Vatra Dornei, July 9–13, 2025
Thematic Panel:
Culture and Regional Identity – Tradition, Innovation and Social Cohesion
Speakers:
Carmen NASTASĂ – former Director of the Center for Culture and Arts “Carmen Saeculare” in Piatra Neamț
Claudia STAVROSITU – producer, director and screenwriter of “The Sun of Moldova”
Topic of the intervention:
“The role of culture and regional identity in Moldova’s sustainable development, by making cultural heritage accessible to the general public and ensuring responsible historical communication in the modern context”
The Regional Economic Forum Moldova and the importance of culture
Regional Economic Forum Moldova 2025 has consolidated itself as a strategic platform for dialogue and collaboration between decision-makers, the business environment, public authorities, and experts from various fields, with the goal of sustainable development of the Moldova region.
Within this framework, Panel 10, dedicated to the theme “Culture and Regional Identity – Tradition, Innovation and Social Cohesion”, highlighted the importance of cultural heritage and identity values in supporting regional economic and social progress.
Culture must reach all people
Carmen Nastasă, former Director of the Center for Culture and Arts “Carmen Saeculare” in Piatra Neamț and moderator of the Culture Panel, opened the discussion with a plea for accessibility and relevance of cultural heritage:
“I ask you, because you know very well… For 12 years I was in a cultural institution and I tried to make even the leadership of certain institutions understand that it is very important for this information from historians, scientific, written, to be brought to the masses. It’s useless for a hundred researchers to gather and talk only among themselves.”
She pointed out a major challenge: how to translate historical and scientific knowledge into accessible and attractive language for the general public, especially for young people. In this sense, she proposed a modern solution:
“You can look on TikTok… we must somehow find a fusion, using today’s tools, to attract the attention of young people to beautiful things.”
From the position of an economic manager who took over a cultural institution in a difficult situation, Carmen Nastasă showed that “not everything old is bad, not everything new is good” and offered a concrete example of success: “I took over an institution that was at minus 10… We must acknowledge what is wrong. I am not boasting, but it can be done.”
“The Sun of Moldova”: The balance between historical truth and fiction
Producer and screenwriter Claudia Stavrositu brought an essential perspective on responsibility in representing history through media:
“What I want to say, and I want to emphasize this, is responsibility. Because now media can distort. And it is a responsibility for those who bring such projects to the public.”
She explained that the project “The Sun of Moldova” does not aim for a spectacular re-enactment of historical battles, but rather emphasizes respect for historical facts, complemented by a fictionalized narrative to illustrate the complex decisions and motivations of Stephen the Great:
“We will certainly respect the historical facts. Even if based on certain historical data and obviously fictionalized a bit, in order to show the decisions behind the choices he made.”
She also highlighted the resilience and strength of a personality who ruled for nearly half a century:
“He was a personality who ruled for 47 years, no matter how it was, he must have been extremely strong.”
Culture, heritage, and identity – pillars of regional development
The discussions emphasized the strategic role of cultural heritage in social cohesion and in the economic development of Moldova. Projects such as Terra Ștefanianna represent models for valuing history and identity in the current context, stimulating creative industries and strengthening the sense of belonging.
The Regional Economic Forum Moldova thus provides an important platform for partnerships and funding aimed at supporting cultural initiatives with broad impact, reaffirming that heritage is not only a preserved past, but a living resource for the future.
Conclusion: A future built on tradition and innovation
The panel dedicated to culture reconfirmed the importance of dialogue between past and present, between historical rigor and modern communication tools. Culture and regional identity are more than symbols – they are active vectors of sustainable development that must be strategically integrated into all regional plans.
Thus, only through responsibility, collaboration, and innovation in cultural communication can the Moldova Region become a strong region, with an authentic identity open to change.
