Samenvatting

This paper analyzes four Cultural Game Jams (CGJs) in the Netherlands, conducted within EPIC-WE, a European project exploring how game-making can become a tool for both cultural reflection and dialogue between youth and cultural, educational, and creative stakeholders. The jams connected cultural heritage organisations, creative industries, higher education, and young people (15–25) in a Quadruple Helix framework. Across two years, youths designed games that addressed societal issues, cultural heritage, and European values, while their roles evolved from participants to members of a Youth Advisory Board acting as co-designers, research assistants, and co-facilitators. Through cross-case analysis of jam formats, game outcomes, and the development of youth involvement, the paper shows how participatory, creativity-based practices can position young people as cultural agents rather than mere audiences. The findings offer insights for cultural and public institutions seeking to engage youth as co-creators in shaping cultural meaning and societal narratives