“Every cultural initiative has the potential to be a catalyst for positive change,” says Dejan Crnek, Deputy Mayor in Ljubljana and Chair of the Culture Forum. “At the core of Eurocities’ mission is a dedication to greener and more inclusive local cultural policies and activities. By fostering a sustainable culture, cities lay the groundwork for resilient and thriving communities.”

Culture has a significant impact on our environment and sustainable artistic initiatives can make a difference. Findings from the Greening the Creative Europe Programme report published by the European Commission suggest several opportunities for the Creative Europe Programme – the European Commission’s flagship programme to support the culture and audiovisual sectors – to enhance its contribution to climate, biodiversity mainstreaming, and behavioural change. For example, creative and cultural content can drive change towards a more environmentally responsible society.

The 46 signatory cities of the Eurocities Lille Call to Action on sustainable culture are incorporating ecological measures in their cultural policies and activities. They have already taken vital steps to show that a more sustainable and inclusive future for culture is attainable, through adaptation and collaboration.

For example, the Museum of Fine Arts inLille hosted Experience Goya, an eco-friendly exhibition of the. The eco-design minimised environmental impacts by considering each step of the project and its lifecycle without degrading its statement or aesthetics.

Amsterdam took actions to ensure that cultural buildings become more sustainable with the launch of the ‘The Green Menu’ platform – a digital knowledge and inspiration tool to help organisations managing buildings in the cultural sector, such as churches, mills, forts and monuments, make more sustainable choices.

Some actions can be as simple as providing joint tickets for cultural events and public transportation, which allowed Turku to reduce its overall emissions and to reduce the carbon footprint of its cultural organisations.

Last year, Eurocities continued pushing for the goals set out in the Lille Call to Action by being among the founding signatories of the Global Call to Action. Signatories asked the UN Climate Change Convention to put culture at the heart of international climate policy, planning and action because they believe culture has the power to help people imagine and realise low-carbon, just, climate resilient futures.

However, today’s challenges are escalated by the limited resources in the sector and the need for specific skills and knowledge building. So, as part of Eurocities’ future work on greening culture, the network will collaborate with ENCATC, the European network on cultural management and policy, to develop a training programme based on the need for local governments to acquire new competencies and skills on how to make local culture more sustainable.

Making culture more inclusive is also part of the Eurocities Lille Call to Action. “From addressing physical accessibility to creating opportunities for engagement, Eurocities envisions a cultural landscape where everyone feels a sense of belonging,” says Nicole Yardeni, Deputy Mayor of Toulouse and Vice-Chair of the Eurocities Culture Forum.

Cities, like Glasgow and Amsterdam, which have already signed the Call to Action promote cultural accessibility to the widest possible range of people such as the disabled, elderly, homeless and immigrants. Opening culture to everyone means creating affordable options, considering physical and social barriers, and making sure the information reaches different audiences.

The active involvement of locals in a city’s cultural life is a foundation for a high-quality, healthy and fulfilled life for everyone, but also for the prosperity of the local community. Ecorys’ study ‘Culture and democracy, the evidence’ provides valuable insight on the interlink between culture and democracy. According to the study, the likelihood of citizens engaging in civic and democratic life is significantly higher when they participate in cultural activities.

There are still disparities across the European Union regarding citizens’ involvement in cultural events, which inevitably affects their participation in democracy. And this is just one more justification for why it is so important that cultural events be accessible and affordable. Even more so, funding cultural engagement can also help achieve other societal goals, including those related to social inclusion, health, and education.

This is also why the next Eurocities Culture Forum, taking place alongside the Belfast Year of Culture in September 2024, is particularly relevant and topical. The event will be a chance for cities to see how the opportunities for inclusion and participation can be maximised through cultural investment and opportunities for civic democracy.

A particular aspect of culture that can be tricky to innovate and make more sustainable is heritage and cities have much to learn from each other in terms of policies, partnerships, ways of working and good practices. That’s why Eurocities is involved in the European Heritage Hub pilot project to design and implement a training and capacity-building programme for city representatives and heritage professionals to tackle environmental, digital, and social challenges specifically related to heritage in their local contexts.

The European Heritage Hub project has already collected good practices from cities and will organise online workshops and onsite peer-learning visits for cities and professionals to learn from each other and exchange challenges and solutions. The project will also make a wealth of heritage content, policies, initiatives, and news easily accessible to all; providing research and policy papers to fully seize the potential of cultural heritage for our economy, society, and the environment.

Another aspect that has a fundamental impact on people’s quality of life is the design of buildings and urban spaces that are inclusive and considerate of everyone’s needs. “At the same time, these designs should not harm the environment or use up more resources than the Earth can handle,” says Clémentine Daubeuf, Living Spaces Project Coordinator at Eurocities. “This is crucial for the happiness and health of contemporary societies and the well-being of future generations,” she adds.

This is why Living Spaces, the European funded peer learning programme for cities and regions on high-quality architecture and built environment, facilitates knowledge exchange on processes and good practices for architectural policies and projects among cities and regions in the EU.

Groningen’s Kunstwerf building brings the city’s previously scattered dance and theatre companies together. Spaces and facilities are organised around a series of interconnected courtyard gardens. The building mixes public areas, ateliers for artists and performance spaces.

Nicosia, redeveloped its historic Eleftheria square, which connects the new with the old part of the city. The new design explored innovative solutions to give it a contemporary character while respecting its historic heritage.

Berlin took the opportunity to transform a socially stigmatised neighbourhood into a more diverse urban area. Its Art and Creative Quarter concept, integrates a new creative community into a neighbourhood where migrant populations live, without triggering social conflicts or displacement. This creative quarter transformation proved that urban development relies on collaboration and a shared vision, and that effective cooperation is key.

Toulouse took a different approach, creating a set of six booklets known as the ‘Cahiers Toulousains’ covering a range of policy areas including housing, nature, economy, facilities, and inclusion. The booklets address vital issues such as preserving neighbourhood identity, enhancing green spaces, improving public areas, facilitating mobility, boosting the economy, and enriching the city’s architectural and urban diversity. Such a broad approach to urban planning issues can inspire other cities to do the same in their own context.

Initiatives such as the above showcase how architecture has the potential to create better living conditions and, once again, opportunities for cities such as the peer learning visits organised by the Living Spaces project, are crucial , to strengthening the capabilities of city administrations to successfully drive high-quality projects.

Eurocities will continue its work to bring cities’ expertise and needs to the forefront of the European debate. For example, through its work withthe European Institute of Technology Culture & Creativity (and its new cities and regions network) or through its role in the European Commission’s expert group on cultural heritage, passing on key messages on cities’ needs.

“Eurocities’ work on cultural policies is a collective effort to redefine the cultural landscape. To continue doing so it is important that the next EU mandate recognises cities’ role in shaping European policies,” says Julie Hervé, Head of Culture at Eurocities.

The commitment to a socially inclusive and environmentally responsible Europe set out in the Eurocities European elections manifesto, exemplifies how cities have ambitious goals for all Europeans. A better Europe starts in cities and the EU must see local governments as partners in achieving this goal.

Eurocities’ vision for more sustainable and inclusive cities and message for the next EU mandate, is further reinforced in the top recommendations cities have identified in the Eurocities Statement for Culture to promote a vibrant and resilient European cultural scene.

Culture, heritage, and architecture play pivotal roles in shaping vibrant, sustainable cities that enrich the quality of life for all citizens. As cities increasingly place these elements at the core of their urban agendas, their potential to drive economic development, social inclusion, and ecological sustainability becomes more pronounced.

The connection of cultural policies to broader European strategies underscores the importance of integrating culture with the green, social, and digital transformations. It is imperative for the EU to enhance its support for cities through cultural initiatives and by fostering collaborative, transdisciplinary approaches. By encouraging long-term peer-learning and the sharing of innovative practices, the EU can facilitate cities in the adoption of sustainable and inclusive cultural policies that not only address today’s challenges but also set a foundation for future resilience and prosperity.