On 28.11.2024, a delegation of the Culture Next network met with the representatives of DG Culture within the European Commission, responsible for the Creative Europe programs and for the European Capital of Culture Projects, to discuss the network’s work and its contribution to the formulation of future regulations related to the European Capitals of Culture program.
The network also organized an informal meeting of European cultural networks for an information session on the next activities on the agenda and an open dialogue on how they can support, align, or complement each other’s actions.
The informal gathering brought together ten major international cultural networks: Culture Action Europe, European Network for Cultural Centres, ENCATC, Eurocities Culture, European Cultural Foundation, European Festivals Association (EFA), Global Cultural Districts Network, International Federation of Libraries, Trans Europe Halles, and UBC – Union of Baltic Cities. This was an opportunity for representatives from these organizations to engage in a meaningful exchange about shared priorities and collaborative opportunities. The networks expressed unanimous support for a proposal to establish a mobility program for network managers, an idea advanced by Culture Next. Encouragingly, the European Commission committed to further exploring this initiative.
A further outcome of the meeting was an agreement for Culture Next to host a mailing list dedicated to facilitating closer communication among the networks, in order to support the exchange of information, updates on opportunities, and the coordination of common initiatives and future gatherings. In addition, participants agreed to join Culture Next’s efforts in organizing a new meeting in Brussels with Members of the European Parliament (MEPs) in the spring ofn 2025. This planned event will ask for support of the network’s proposals for reforming the European Capitals of Culture program.
With this event, Culture Next achieved a significant milestone, solidifying its position as a key player in promoting cooperation among Europe’s cultural networks as well as an innovator in forming the ECoC program.
