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ECoC Echo: Nine countries unite forces for sustainable culture!
Chemnitz is part of the European initiative ECoC Echo, which unites the cultural capitals for sustainable regional development.
ECoC Echo: Nine countries unite forces for sustainable culture!
Today is an exciting day for the cultural scenes in Europe. Nine European countries have launched the ECoC Echo initiative. The aim of this initiative is to strengthen the long-term impact of the European Capitals of Culture (ECoC) on regional development, even beyond the actual title year. chemnitz.de reports that ...!
The ECoC Echo initiative brings together cities that already bear or will bear the ECoC label. Chemnitz, which will profile itself as a cultural capital in 2025, is at the heart of this. Cities such as Leeuwarden, Novi Sad and Veszprém are also part of the project, which aims not only to exchange experiences but also to create a sustainable network.
A strong network
The project is supported by a budget of around 2.27 million euros, divided between the nine countries and twelve partner organizations. It envisages the involvement of local actors who play a key role in cultural policy. Tartu 2024 representative Sille Talvet-Unt highlights the importance of developing sustainable strategies that extend beyond the Capital of Culture year.
By developing strategies, the initiators want to ensure that the cultural heritage created in the title year is embedded in local structures. This not only promotes regional growth, but also the formation of new cooperation systems.
The advantages of the ECoC program
The ECoC program was launched in 1985 and has since awarded more than 60 cities in the EU and beyond. The benefits of this program are many. Cities benefit from increased visibility, an improved city image and a revitalization of local culture. culture.ec.europa.eu describes that... the cultural diversity and richness of European cultures should be highlighted.
The top priority is to promote common cultural heritage, which also strengthens European citizens' sense of belonging. Two cities are planned as European Capitals of Culture for 2025, an exciting event that requires a lot of planning and preparation.
Sustainability in focus
Long-term impacts are notoriously difficult to quantify, but there is a clear trend towards sustainable legacy planning. This means that cities are placing increasing emphasis on the long-term consequences of cultural interventions. europarl.europa.eu shows that…513985) innovative approaches to measuring sustainability success must also play a role.
For the future, it is crucial that cities – even after the celebrations of a Capital of Culture – actively maintain and promote their networks. A common evaluation framework and increased cooperation between ECOCs can help realize the full potential of the programme.
The results of this initiative will be presented in Bourges in 2028, at the same time as the next Capital of Culture opens. Let's be excited to see what creative solutions will be developed in the coming years!