In Rennes, a fine arts museum has opened in the heart of a deprived neighbourhood. In Rotterdam, the municipality works with festival organisers on a multi-year plan to reduce CO₂ emissions and tackle shared challenges such as energy, transport, waste and single-use plastics. Investment in culture is important for its own sake. It supports creativity, jobs and economic development, and plays a key role in social inclusion and improving quality of life. At the same time, cities are stepping up their work to strengthen local democracy. As the closest level of government to people, they help build trust, defend democratic values and involve residents in shaping their communities. In cities, culture and democracy can interact and reinforce each other. Cultural spaces such as libraries, museums and community venues can create opportunities for dialogue, participation and expression. In parallel, cities are developing democratic practices that give people a stronger voice in public life. Together, strong cultural ecosystems and vibrant local democracies help cities remain innovative, attractive and competitive. They support talent, encourage creativity and strengthen the social foundations that enable long-term economic success.
What Eurocities works on
- Culture and creativity: strengthening cultural sectors, supporting artists and creative industries, and improving access to culture
- Social inclusion and quality of life: using culture to bring communities together and reduce inequalities
- Local democracy: promoting citizen participation, democratic innovation and the protection of shared values
- Links between culture and participation: exploring how cultural initiatives can support dialogue, engagement and inclusion
- Connecting cities: creating spaces for exchange, peer learning and cooperation
- Sharing knowledge and solutions: showcasing practices that work and helping cities learn from each other
- Working with EU institutions: ensuring cities’ experience shapes European policies and programmes
