The 13th Culture Next conference gathered 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.
The event hosted 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 created 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 included meetings and matchmaking sessions with local artists and organisations, city tours and visits, and various local showcases and events.
Culture Next is an informal, friendly and relaxed network dedicated to mutual support and collaboration between European cities which are current or former candidates for the European Capital of Culture title, awarded or not.
Seven years after its founding in Cluj-Napoca, Romania, Culture Next involves around 40 cities on the continent. In 2021 the network received a grant from the Creative Europe programme of the European Commission to scale-up Culture Next and improve its capacity to work with more European cities.