EcocNews continues its journey to know more about the short-listed cities. After Leuven and MolenBeek we stopped in Namur.

Namur is the capital city of the Wallonia region of Belgium. At the confluence of the Meuse and Sambre rivers is the Citadel, a medieval fortress with 7km of underground passages, gardens, views and a golden statue of a giant turtle. In town, the Felicien Rops Museum focuses on the works of this 19th-century, Namur-born artist. The baroque St. Loup Church has marble columns and a richly carved ceiling.

Why did your city decide to apply for the European Capital of Culture?
We decided to submit Namur's candidacy for the title of European Capital of Culture because it is the perfect time for our city to accelerate its long-term strategy (Namur Confluent Culture), where culture plays a central role as a driver of economic, social, and territorial development. Although Namur is still relatively unknown on the European stage, we are ready to take this step. The city has the political will to transform and the necessary infrastructure, passionate teams, both in cultural institutions and in the non-profit sector.

Our city has a unique cultural profile, combining tradition, fairground arts and folklore on one hand, with contemporary and digital culture on the other. This diversity is a true asset, and through collective work, we can transform this diffluence into a great collective adventure, stronger and more beautiful.

The history of our cultural strategy dates back to 2012, with the launch of Namur Confluent Culture (NCC), which positioned culture as a key lever for the city's development. This approach brought together cultural actors, artists, citizens, and public authorities to co-create a long-term vision. In 2021, Namur became the only Belgian city to receive the UNESCO Creative City title for Media Arts, a recognition that reflects the creative energy of our territory.

Today, thanks to our past experience and the successful projects we have carried out, we see the title of European Capital of Culture as a major opportunity. This title would serve as a springboard to strengthen our positioning in Europe and transform Namur into a true laboratory of confluence and participation, capable of reconciling tradition and modernity, the local and the global. In a context of tensions and ruptures, we firmly believe that confluence is the solution to promote the personal and socio-economic flourishing of Namur's inhabitants and contribute to the enrichment of other medium-sized cities in Europe.

What do you think are the keywords of your application?
Confluence, Tensions / attentions, Laboratory, Youth, Participation, Sustainability, Territory, Folklore, Digital art.

How are you involving citizens in this competition?
We have been involving citizens in this competition from the very beginning. Namur 2030 builds on a long-term cultural strategy initiated in 2012, developed in collaboration with cultural institutions, local associations, and citizens. Since 2018, through the Namur Confluent Culture (NCC#1) project, the city and province have launched various participatory initiatives, strengthening the engagement around the brand “Namur, Confluence of Futures.”

Today, with Namur 2030 we aim to broaden this foundation by creating a large-scale project focused on the common good. The project seeks to promote the well-being of each individual and strengthen social cohesion, with a central focus on cultural rights. One of our main priorities is to pay special attention to the entire population, especially the most vulnerable.

The theme of our candidacy was defined through collaboration with the residents of Namur. Numerous meetings have brought together hundreds of stakeholders from the cultural, economic, and associative sectors to reflect on the main directions of Namur 2030. Thematic workshops have allowed us to refine these directions, engaging dozens, even hundreds, of citizens. Additionally, over 300 bilateral meetings have taken place, involving civil society, municipal services, cultural, associative, economic, and academic sectors, as well as other local stakeholders.

To make this candidacy inclusive and gain the support of all, we launched an awareness campaign followed by a public engagement campaign. Our goal is for this cultural capital to be understood and experienced as a shared project, by, with and for everyone.

Dedicated artistic projects will be developed with artists, children, citizens and organizations in places of care such as hospitals, prisons, and shelters to ensure that this capital truly belongs to everyone. We believe in doing « with »,  not « for », and aim to make every citizen an active participant in culture by fostering access, connection and by creating bonds between different communities. This is what we call confluence.

Our approach also includes the 46 neighborhoods of the city and surrounding communes through our "Maisons des Confluences. »  Inhabitants, local institutions, businesses, and local associations are invited to use these spaces to develop  locally relevant projects, through collaboration. The want to shine a light on spontaneous cultural initiatives from each neighborhood, extending their reach beyond local and beyond 2030.

With Namur 2030, our ambition is to create vital spaces for local connections, while building a collective imagination inspired by the legends, stories, and dreams of the people who live here. These "catalysts for the common good" weave a lasting network between territories, enabling communities and populations that do not often interact to engage in dialogue and collaboration. These spaces foster the active participation of residents and associations in cultural dynamics, not only until 2030 but well beyond.

What are the next steps on your journey?
The next steps in our journey include finalizing the submission of our bid, strengthening our last collaborations, and working on the layout of the final bid book. We are also engaging artists to create illustrations that will support our narrative. Additionally, we will launch a large-scale awareness campaign and, of course, prepare for the jury’s visit and our oral presentation.

Numerous actions will be carried out on the ground to make our candidacy known among as many citizens as possible and continue to consolidate various projects. We are also inviting a diverse range of partners to join us at key events, such as the KIKK Festival at the end of October, where we will bring together all the UNESCO Creative Cities clusters in the Media Arts field, as well as the international partners of Namur 2030.

What are your thoughts on the European Capital of Culture competition?
The European Capital of Culture competition presents an incredible opportunity for a city to challenge itself, reinvent its identity, and experiment with large-scale projects. It offers a unique chance to integrate into various international networks while also enhancing and activating the ones the city is already part of.

This competition is the perfect moment to test and validate a long-term strategy that goes beyond 2030. For instance, we are already working towards 2044, laying the groundwork for Namur Confluent Culture 3, which will focus on key issues such as care, humanity, and Europe’s priorities. It’s an unprecedented opportunity for Namur to bring its stakeholders together and work collectively on fostering a sense of pride among all the people who make up the city.

Regardless of the outcome, this competition allows us to shine a spotlight on Namur, raising its profile internationally and contributing to its position in Europe, and the world.

On a personal level, this is an incredible, one-of-a-kind adventure. It’s a project that truly makes sense, and it offers an intense, enriching experience filled with values and purpose for everyone lucky enough to be involved.