Pre-Conference Workshops

From Lyrics to Legacy: Building Social Capital Through Art & Creativity

Facilitator/s:

Matthew De Cae, ProActif

Workshop Description:

This workshop is a hands-on journey through the same 4-step process—Imagination, Experimentation, Resilience, Strategy—that led to the creation of “Whatever It Takes”, a song I wrote and perform in 110 global languages. Alongside ALDIC (Luxembourgish Association for Intercultural Dialogue), the song was rewarded a 12.000 Euro grant for the production of a video that is being entirely led by marginalised youth aged 12-26. The video is set to be released in December 2025 and is a testament to the power of creativity, collaboration and, fittingly, social capital. It’s about unlocking the creative potential of individuals and teams to build social capital, and drive meaningful change.

The 4-step process includes:

1) Imagination: How to generate bold, inclusive ideas that resonate across boundaries
2) Experimentation: Techniques for rapid prototyping, appliance of efficient feedback, and creative risk-taking
3) Resilience: Building emotional and collaborative stamina to navigate complexity and overcome creative barriers
4) Strategy: Turning creative outputs into sustainable, scalable value, and impact

The workshop blends education and entertainment (i.e. edutainment) to create a dynamic, immersive, and interactive learning experience.

Objectives or Learning Outcomes:

1) Demystify the creative process by breaking it into four actionable stages: Imagination, Experimentation, Resilience, and Strategy.
2) Foster cross-cultural and cross-generational empathy through the lens of multilingual expression
3) Build social capital by encouraging participants to co-create, share, and reflect on ideas that transcend individual perspectives.
4) Translate artistic insight into practical frameworks applicable in education, business, and social innovation.

Intended Audience:

– Social innovators looking to mobilize communities
– Educators seeking new tools for engagement and inclusion
– Business leaders aiming to spark creativity, collaboraiton, and resilience in their teams
– Artists and creators wanting to scale their vision across cultures

About the Facilitator/s:

I hold a Master Degree in Arts & Social Sciences, having studied in 5 separate countries and lived in 8 more since then in the context of work. I’m also a certified NLP coach (neuro-linguistic programming).

Having spent 10 years in the hospitality industry, I currently hold a position as Head of Professional Re-integration at ProActif, an employment activation scheme for long-term job seekers.

I can converse in 15 languages and consider language learning to be the most viable portal for connection and mutual understanding.

I am 36 years of age and am also heavily involved in social initiatives, such as supporting Luxembourg’s Special Olympics soccer team as a trainer or holding regular workshops for refugees and young people trying to design a life in Luxembourg. Finally, I regularly host evening events and was most recently called up as master of ceremony for the official inauguration of the Hotel Alfa Marriott Luxembourg.

About the workshops

On Thursday, March 26, 2026, the conference will host up to 30 half-day workshops, running in both morning and afternoon sessions, before the opening keynote presentation by Professor Robert Putnam in the evening.

These workshops will span a wide range of topics connected to social capital, offering space for hands-on practice, in-depth research exploration, applied analysis, and more. They provide an opportunity for participants to engage closely with experts, develop practical skills, and exchange insights in a more interactive format than the main conference sessions.

Workshop Signup will be available with the conference registration

Registration will open in October 2025. Even before registration opens, you can register your Expression of Interest to receive timely updates, registration reminders, and program news directly from the organisers.

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Want to facilitate a workshop?

We invite proposals for workshops to be held in conjunction with Social Capital 2026. We welcome submissions from academics, practitioners, policymakers, community leaders, and others with relevant expertise or experience.

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