In recent years, culture and cultural heritage have been seen as one of the key cornerstones of Sustainable Urban Development. They not only instil a sense of value and common identity in society, but also are key assets for regional competitiveness, social cohesion, and economic growth of European cities. Furthermore, there is a positive correlation between rates of citizens’ engagement in cultural activities and indicators of civic engagement, democracy, and social cohesion.

Acknowledging the important role of culture and cultural heritage as drivers for change in the urban environment, coordinated efforts at the EU level have mainstreamed investments and policies to achieve meaningful results in preserving and enhancing cultural assets and fostering equal access to culture. In that, many programs and initiatives under Cohesion Policy support cities in:

  • Leveraging culture for creativity and place-based approaches to urban change
  • Highlighting the role of culture in our attempts for a green and just transition and a circular economy
  • Reinforcing their economic strength through a sustainable approach to the consumption of culture and sustainable tourism

The European Urban Initiative also recognizes the role of culture and cultural heritage as a Sustainable Urban Development driver, and is organizing a dedicated Policy Lab on this topic. This event, scheduled for 26th and 27th September in Chalandri, Greece aims to emphasize the transformative power of culture and cultural heritage in urban settings and to explore how culture and cultural heritage can drive social cohesion, environmental sustainability, and economic resilience in European cities.

For more information, please visit the website of European Urban Initiative.