6th: Oulu (Finland), 2020 [moved online]
Building successful ecosystems based on cultural partnerships
The Conference
DUE TO THE CORONAVIRUS OUTBREAK IN EUROPE, THE MEETING WAS CANCELED AND IS POSTPONED UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE.
Ambitious cultural projects, such as the European Capital of Culture, are brought to life in complex ecosystems involving people, initiatives, organisations, projects which are put together in a climate that aims to support the growth and organic development of cities, citizens and the cultural sector. Culture Next looks, at the network’s 6th meeting in Oulu, Finland, at the ecosystems of partners (both local and international) created or activated around such projects, and aims to explore the way they work, what keeps them alive, and what good do they bring to the local environment. We aim to explore this by looking into the role of networks, local and international partners, the importance of collaboration and cooperation in increasing our impact and the sustainability of our actions in the cultural sector.
Culture Next organizes meetings twice a year, which take place in various cities of the network, former or current candidates to the European Capital of Culture title. Each meeting aims to explore topics of interest both to the local hosts and the members of the network, and it’s an opportunity for participants to share their work, connect with other European cities sharing the experience of bidding for the ECoC title, work together and last but not least discover the local context of the hosting city.
The 6th Culture Next meeting is co-organized with the City of Oulu, which is bidding for the European Capital of Culture title in 2026. The main objective of the project is Cultural Climate Change that enhances connection between divided European citizens in a sustainable way. On a local level it reinforces the position of art and culture in the city. It’s about using culture as a city development tool and emphasising it as a factor to improve the quality of life.
Read more about Oulu 2026 here: www.ouka.fi/oulu/oulu2026-english
Culture Next meetings are particularly relevant to professionals, organisations, institutions, local administration representatives or international experts connected to the European Capital of Culture title.
Participation for the meeting is free of charge. Registration is open by February 21st.
Culture Next
Culture Next is an informal, friendly and relaxed network dedicated to mutual support and collaboration between European cities which are current or former candidates for the European Capital of Culture title, awarded or not.
Seven years after its founding în Cluj-Napoca, Romania, Culture Next involves around 40 cities on the continent. În 2021 the network received a grant from the Creative Europe programme of the European Commission to scale-up Culture Next and improve its capacity to work with more European cities.
Interested to become a member?
Register nowMember Cities
Our members are cities or organizations representing various cities: former and future title holders, cities which continued their cultural programmes even without being selected aș ECoCs and cities which intend to do this.
Many of our members represent cities which are current candidates, interested în developing European connection and sustainable cultural programmes which can be implemented independently of the jury decision.
