Violeta Simjanovska, Head of the Arts Management Department at the Sibelius Academy of Uniarts Helsinki, attended a royal reception hosted at St James’s Palace in London on 21 October 2025. His Majesty King Charles III and Prime Minister Keir Starmer hosted the event for the leaders of several Western Balkan countries, ahead of the UK-hosted Western Balkans Leaders’ Summit.
Royal Reception with His Majesty King Charles III, London 2025. Photo © Ian Jones Photography. Purchased by Violeta Simjanovska (Order No. 1459029)
The reception formed part of the Berlin Process, an international initiative supporting cooperation, economic development and European alignment in the Western Balkans.
The reception gathered cultural leaders, policymakers and international partners to highlight the role of the creative industries in strengthening cooperation across the Western Balkans. The evening celebrated artistic innovation in a region where Simjanovska has worked extensively and continues to collaborate with the British Council as an expert.
