Next stop: Évora 2027! What have we learnt from the future European Capital of Culture?
The middle of May 2026 brought us an exceptionally inspiring journey to the Portuguese city of Évora. We took part in the international meeting of the “ECoC Family – 20th Anniversary” network. The event created a space for exchanging experiences between the previous, current and next European Capitals of Culture — an exchange that always brings fresh perspectives and new insights.
During dynamic expert panels, we discussed the conceptualisation of programmes, the level of European engagement and sustainable long-term legacy. We also had the opportunity to experience an up-close preview of Évora’s artistic programme for 2027.
From Theory to Living Culture in Urban Space
On the first day of the conference, one of the highlights of the programme was a panel devoted to the themes of host cities. Representatives of European Capitals of Culture – Andrea Pier from Chemnitz 2025, Sjoerd Bootsma from Leeuwarden-Fryslân 2018, and John Romão, Artistic Director of Évora 2027 – discussed how the original idea of ECoC evolves and shifts throughout the demanding process of turning it into reality. The speakers emphasised the significant impact that local policies and the cultural environment of each place have on this process. Every city must come to terms with the history of its own region. The key to success lies in bringing the idea of Europeanness and the European Capital of Culture directly to residents. It is them who should feel like citizens of Europe and co-creators of the programme by volunteering, taking part in open calls and directly participating in artistic projects.
A Taste of Évora 2027
Theory quickly gave way to practice. During the curatorial visit entitled “A Taste of Évora 2027 – Artistic Programme”, we saw how artistic projects can work in public space and genuinely engage local communities. By the city’s cathedral, Helena Zuber presented “Ebora Musica” – a project focused on musical heritage as a tool for building community and fostering international relations.
The Malvada collective introduced “Aqueduto”, a project that masterfully weaves together the city’s historic infrastructure and urban landscape with storytelling. Sara Anjo talked about her project dedicated to the Almansor River; the project is based on a relationship with the natural environment, the memory of place and an exploration of the local context. At the former bus station Antiga Rodoviária, John Romão presented the concept of the future “House of Crafts” (“Casa do Saber-Fazer”) – a space connected with local craft and handicraft traditions. In the city garden Jardim Público de Évora, near the Palácio de Dom Manuel, we had the opportunity to see the performance of the multigenerational community choir “Coro Vozes de Abril”. It was a vivid example of a project built on active participation by residents, and the establishment of long-term relationships through culture. The day concluded with a performance of the traditional puppet show called “Bonecos de Santo Aleixo”, produced by Centro Dramático de Évora (Cendrev), who showed how Évora 2027 plans to weave the traditional intangible heritage of the Alentejo region into a modern, cultural programme.
Heritage as the Foundation of a Modern Institution
The São Bento de Cástris monastery serves as the official headquarters of the Évora 2027 team. It is a great example of adapting historic heritage to the needs of a contemporary cultural institution: former monastic rooms have become a working space, and a venue for debates, international gatherings, and initiatives that are developed together with residents. The organisers demonstrate that historic architecture can become a powerful part of the narrative and identity of the entire programme.
Within these inspiring walls, we took part in two expert panels. The first one was devoted to the European engagement was moderated by Vuk Radulovic. The panel was focused on a question of how to develop international partnerships without losing a strong connection with the local community. Seasoned ECoC experts – Beatriz Garcia and Else Christensen-Redzepovic – shared their experience alongside Mija Lorbek, representing Nova Gorica/Gorizia 2025. The second discussion was devoted to legacy, and addressed the lasting impact of the programme after the year of celebration comes to an end. The experts – Rafaela Neiva Ganga from the University of Liverpool, Jan Stepan from Depo 2015, and Pascal Keiser from Bourges 2028 – discussed the long-term influence of the European Capital of Culture title on urban development, the expanding the cultural sector’s capacities and engagement of residents.
The study visit to Évora proved to be highly valuable from the perspective of networking and mutual exchange. Gathering insights from the experiences of experts representing other European Capitals of Culture is an invaluable resource. They will undoubtedly play a significant role in the continued dynamic development of the European Capital of Culture Lublin 2029 programme.
Marta Ryczkowska
Małgorzata Drozd-Domaciuk
Translated by: Aleksandra Górecka
Proofread by: Zofia Świerszcz
