In recent years, the role of local authorities in managing cultural ecosystems, including heritage valorisation, has undergone a profound transformation in the Danube Region, following long-established trends in Western Europe. The emergence of the cultural and creative industries (CCI) paradigm has redefined the logic of cultural management, moving from a traditional, institution-centered approach toward a more dynamic, network-based and innovation-driven model (Shakya, 2024; Bellver, 2023). This shift has fundamentally altered the role of local actors.