If our current society were an orchestra, culture would be the inspiration for innumerable melodies that gradually dial down and eventually blend into the background noise. Our cities hold the baton to make culture sound vibrant and dynamic, and they conduct it in harmony with sustainability and inclusion to play much more enriching symphonies.

As such, culture is a powerful driver of social and environmental transformation. It shapes identities, strengthens social ties, and stimulates local economies. Cities are where cultural initiatives take shape and directly impact people’s lives, making them central to achieving Europe’s sustainability and inclusion goals. Despite this, culture is still often viewed as secondary to other priorities.

For this concert to work, clear and effective support and policies from European institutions are essential. The show must go on.

#100daysEU

Eurocities has launched the #100daysEU campaign to share ten priorities for a better Europe, including to underline the importance of supporting cultural and creative sectors as a way to strengthen democracy, accelerate climate action, and improve urban life. The campaign calls on the new European Commission to take decisive steps to integrate sustainability and inclusion into cultural policies and practices. Through this initiative, Eurocities highlights the essential role that culture can play in shaping a fair and sustainable future for all Europeans.

Cities are already taking the lead in promoting sustainable and inclusive cultural policies and activities. As Dejan Crnek, Deputy Mayor of Ljubljana, Chair of the Eurocities Culture Forum, and one of Eurocities’ two Shadow Commissioners for Sustainable Culture, explains: “Every cultural initiative has the potential to be a catalyst for positive change.”

Cities recognise the urgency of applying green and inclusive practices in their cultural policies, addressing issues such as environmental impact, accessibility, social participation, and understanding that a more inclusive cultural landscape benefits everyone. Nicole Yardeni, Deputy Mayor of Toulouse and Eurocities’ Shadow Commissioner for Sustainable Culture, emphasises this point: “From addressing physical accessibility to creating opportunities for engagement, Eurocities envisions a cultural landscape where everyone feels a sense of belonging.”

Local actions, European echoes: How can the EU help?

The European Union has a crucial role to play in supporting cities to achieve these goals. To build sustainable and inclusive urban cultural policies, EU institutions must provide greater support for local actions that promote culture as a vector for change. This includes funding pilot projects that go beyond traditional programmes like Creative Europe and helping cities promote greener and more inclusive cultural events and policies. The EU must foster collaboration between cities to promote knowledge-sharing and peer learning, allowing cities to learn from one another’s experiences and build more sustainable urban futures.

How cities are taking the lead

Cities are already aware of the power of culture to boost change through sustainable and inclusive policies. The Lille Call to Action on Sustainable Culture, launched by the city of Lille and Eurocities and signed by more than 50 mayors to date, commits cities to implement strategic actions to create greener cultural practices and ensure that culture is accessible to all citizens.

Similarly, thanks to the European Capital of Culture programme, cities bearing the title across Europe have boosted their ambitious cultural policies and actions. In 2025, Chemnitz will focus on themes of democracy and civic engagement, while Nova Gorica-Gorizia will demonstrate how cross-border collaboration can strengthen cultural ties and build lasting connections.

Public open spaces, such as libraries, and other third spaces also play a vital role in promoting inclusive culture. As highlighted in the European Union Work Plan for Culture 2023-2026, libraries are gateways to media literacy, critical thinking, and civic engagement. The Oodi library, in Helsinki, is a good example of how a high quality cultural investment has been designed by involving local residents and authorities, resulting in a space characterised by its openness to the public, safety, and with free admission for all.

Actionable culture

As Nicole Yardeni and Dejan Crnek jointly stated: “Together, we can empower youth, make the most of cultural policies and activities to enhance quality of life, celebrate diversity, and promote active lifestyles across Europe.” Culture must be recognised as a central pillar of sustainable development. By embedding sustainability and inclusion into cultural policies, cities can lead the way in fostering a more resilient and cohesive Europe. The time to act is now, and European cities are ready to show the path forward.

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This article has been prepared as part of Eurocities #100daysEU campaign, which seeks to highlight 10 actions for cities that the new European Commission should be focussed on.
Previous articles in this series include:
100 days EU: New European Commissioners take their seats
Ensuring EU investments meet cities’ needs
A digital future that is human-centred
Why cities matter in the EU enlargement process