Established in 2017, based in Cluj-Napoca (Romania) Culture Next is dedicated to European Capital of Culture candidates, current or former, awarded or not.
The mission of Culture Next 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, they support all cities, being them awarded or not, to implement culture-led local development programmes and policies. They are committed to deliver a sustainable impact and meaningful legacy of the ECoC programme.
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 media partnership will be formalised at the 13th Culture-Next conference, to be held from 16 to 18 October 2024 in Cluj-Napoca.
The 13th Culture Next conference gathers representatives from 50 European cities and the most important cultural networks, together with representatives of the European Commission, local artists, and cultural organisations from Cluj-Napoca.
The event hosts keynote speeches, panels, and workshops on the Culture Goal (making Culture the 18th SDG in the next UN Agenda) and the ECoC Reform (improving the European Capitals of Culture project of the European Union).
A dedicated government officials’ agenda creates opportunities to share good case practices and discuss collaborations on hot European topics such as the New European Bauhaus, Culture and Resilience, Culture and Well-being, and so on. The conference includes meetings and matchmaking sessions with local artists and organizations, city tours and visits, and various local showcases and events.