Culture Next

Established in 2017, Culture Next is dedicated to European Capital of Culture candidates, current or former, awarded or not.

MISSION

Our mission is to contribute to having more European Capital of Culture (ECoC) programmes implemented in European cities and regions and to define a long-term European vision on local development through culture and creativity.

Building on the experiences, processes and collaborations established during the ECoC bid, we support all cities, being them awarded or not, to implement culture-led local development programmes and policies. We are committed to deliver a sustainable impact and meaningful legacy of the ECoC programme.

RELEVANCE

Whether being ECoC labelled or not, all cities need support and inspiration în order to carry on with the implementation of their programmes.

The partnerships, talents and resources mobilised through ECoC bidding make a strong base for culture-led sustainable development in these cities. We can all contribute to the success and legacy of the ECoC project.

Cities are where democracy, inclusiveness and innovation are produced, and culture is a facilitator of this entire ecosystem. More cities with cultural programmes mean more power to address European challenges and opportunities.

MOTIVATION

The European Capital of Culture (ECoC) is one of the most recognized action programmes of the European Union.

The dynamics and dimension of the process makes it attractive to cities that seek cultural, social, economic and infrastructural transformation. The hundreds of cities participating in this process bring together a vast set of learnings, good practice and knowledge that it’s important to share and by doing so, to be an agent of positive action for Europe.

Bidding for the European Capital of Culture title requires commitment, investment and cooperation among various local actors, the candidature being an important unique development opportunity for all participating cities. However, more than 80% of the bidding cities are not awarded the title.

Beyond the bidding itself, all these cities develop strong cultural strategies and establish mechanisms for cultural planning and citizen participation. Moreover, these cities manage to raise significant budgets and energy for the implementation of their programme: a multiannual integrated plan contributing to local and European development. After the competition, all these efforts and emotional and financial investments are usually lost.

Culture Next attempts to gather and offer possible answers to this delicate question: How can candidate cities – be they candidates, title holders or former candidates that did not make it through the selection – make the most of this exceptional mobilising of talents, ideas, resources and energy?

Culture Next works towards achieving wider European acknowledgement and recognition of culture as sustainable development and towards extending the existing European cultural cooperation frameworks.

The network also contributes to the ECoC programme legacy, by facilitating the implementation of more ECoC programmes in Europe.

The network focuses on capacity building, organising conferences and annual meetings, and on developing a platform for promoting member cities, as well as facilitating collaborations among them. Also, the network aims to become a voice in shaping European cultural policies.

The community in numbers

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    Events organised by the community

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    Mission

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    Relevant benefits

    1. Exchange of information and expertize specific for the needs of cities in different phases of the ECoC candidacy.

    2. Free access to the Network’s capacity building programme for cultural cities: an annual training programme built on the needs of the members and funded through suitable European grants;

    1. Exchange of information and expertize specific for the needs of cities in different phases of the ECoC candidacy.

    2. Free access to the Network’s capacity building programme for cultural cities: an annual training programme built on the needs of the members and funded through suitable European grants;

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    EXECUTIVE TEAM

    Cluj Cultural Centre acts as the Network secretariat since the founding of Culture Next în 2017.

    The Network Executive Team is strengthened with city representatives and other cultural and policy experts who take an active role în the implementation of the Network’s activities.

    Cluj Cultural Centre is a non-governmental organization for culture and sustainable development. Legacy of the city’s bid for the European Capital of Culture 2021, the Centre implements an interdisciplinary programme to address strategic challenges of the society. The Centre has 116 members: cultural organizations and institutions, universities, associations of the business sector and of the civil society, and the local and regional administration.

    ȘTEFAN TEIȘANU

    SECRETARY GENERAL

    ȘTEFAN TEIȘANU

    SECRETARY GENERAL

    RARIȚA ZBRANCA

    CULTURAL POLICIES LEAD

    RARIȚA ZBRANCA

    CULTURAL POLICIES LEAD

    MEDA COROVEI

    FINANCIAL DIRECTOR

    MEDA COROVEI

    FINANCIAL DIRECTOR

    BRUNO INÁCIO

    MEMBERSHIP COORDINATOR

    BRUNO INÁCIO

    MEMBERSHIP COORDINATOR

    ANDRÁS FARKAS

    PROJECTS COORDINATOR

    ANDRÁS FARKAS

    PROJECTS COORDINATOR

    LORENA COPIL

    COMMUNICATION COORDINATOR

    LORENA COPIL

    COMMUNICATION COORDINATOR

    BOARD MEMBERS

    The Culture Next Board is comprised of six city representatives.

    The Board meets periodically (weekly if needed, at least once per month, and ad-hoc when necessary), develops and updates rules and regulations în the network functioning, and take them to the members plenary for revision and approval. The Board makes strategic decisions for the Network and represents Culture Next în external contexts.

    The board members are part of the Culture Next Policy Task-Force and are responsible for drafting position papers on behalf of the network.

    ANGELIKI LAMPIRI

    DIRECTOR OF CULTURAL TRAINING, ELEUSIS 2023 ECoC

    ANGELIKI LAMPIRI

    DIRECTOR OF CULTURAL TRAINING, ELEUSIS 2023 ECoC

    CARLOS MARTINS

    BOARD MEMBER, AVEIRO

    CARLOS MARTINS

    BOARD MEMBER, AVEIRO

    HENRI TURUNEN

    EXECUTIVE PRODUCER, OULU 2026 ECoC

    HENRI TURUNEN

    EXECUTIVE PRODUCER, OULU 2026 ECoC

    IMMIE JONKMAN

    CEO, LEEUWARDEN FRYSLÂN 2028

    IMMIE JONKMAN

    CEO, LEEUWARDEN FRYSLÂN 2028

    PAM JOHNSON

    HEAD OF CULTURE PROGRAMMES LEEDS CITY COUNCIL

    PAM JOHNSON

    HEAD OF CULTURE PROGRAMMES LEEDS CITY COUNCIL

    TEREZA BARČÁKOVÁ

    INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS, TRENČÍN 2026 ECoC

    TEREZA BARČÁKOVÁ

    INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS, TRENČÍN 2026 ECoC