The first meeting of the Geographically Rebellious Capitals Network has concluded with a shared commitment: to continue the work initiated in Las Palmas de Gran Canaria and move towards establishing a permanent European platform for cultural cooperation between territories that share challenges and opportunities shaped by their different geographical realities.
The meeting, promoted by the Las Palmas de Gran Canaria bid for European Capital of Culture 2031, brought together representatives from Kiruna (Sweden) and Lublin (Poland), European Capitals of Culture 2029; Larnaca (Cyprus), European Capital of Culture 2030; Victoria, on the Maltese island of Gozo, selected for 2031; and Burgas (Bulgaria) and Heerlen (the Netherlands), cities developing their bids for the 2032 and 2033 titles, respectively.
The meeting provided an opportunity to identify common interests, share experiences and, above all, confirm the six cities’ willingness to maintain a collaboration that extends beyond the timelines and outcomes of their respective European Capital of Culture processes.
A shared agenda and a new meeting in January
One of the main agreements reached was to continue the work through a new meeting scheduled for mid-January 2027. This gathering will provide an opportunity to explore the collaborative opportunities identified during the meeting in greater depth and move forward with the development of several joint projects.
Discussions brought to the forefront issues that shape the realities of all these territories: community-building, the need to rethink Europe from its margins, human mobility and migration, the role of younger generations, and the importance of strengthening cultural connections between territories.
Building on these shared areas of interest, the cities have identified various opportunities for joint action that will begin to be explored at the next meeting, with the aim of turning initial exchanges into concrete initiatives.
Larnaca invites the network to present its initiative at an international meeting
Another significant outcome and opportunity arising from the meeting is Larnaca’s invitation to present the Geographically Rebellious Capitals Network at the next IETM (International Network for Contemporary Performing Arts) plenary meeting, which will take place in the Cypriot city from 25 to 28 May 2027.
This invitation represents an initial opportunity to raise the initiative’s international profile, share its principles with other members of the European cultural sector and gradually expand the network’s reach.
Taking part in this forum will also enable the participating cities to connect their experiences with other professionals, organisations and international platforms working in contemporary performing arts.
A shared declaration to champion cultural peripheries
The meeting has also made it possible to advance the content of the forthcoming Las Palmas Declaration on Cultural Peripheries, a document that will set out the principles and aspirations shared by the participating cities.
The declaration is based on a common conviction: peripheries should not be understood solely in terms of their distance from centres of power and decision-making, but rather as spaces capable of generating knowledge, cultural innovation and new responses to contemporary challenges.
The initiative therefore calls for a reassessment of traditional centre-periphery relationships and champions geographical and cultural diversity as a strategic asset for Europe's future.
A network with a long-term vision
The founding meeting has laid the foundations for a work agenda that includes the development of a 2027 roadmap, the implementation of pilot projects throughout 2027 and 2028, exchanges between artists and cultural professionals, and the establishment of a permanent working group.
The network also aims to progressively extend its connections to other island, border and peripheral territories across Africa, the Americas and Asia, strengthening the international and tricontinental dimension of this initiative.
With this first meeting, LPGC’31 is driving an alliance that aspires to continue beyond the outcome of the European Capital of Culture 2031 competition. It is a commitment to turning cooperation between diverse geographical realities into a tool for building a more open, connected Europe that better reflects its full diversity.
