The European Capitals of Culture are a dynamic format that is redefined anew in each city. This was clearly demonstrated during the training meeting with Dr Beatriz García—one of Europe’s most active experts in cultural policy, culture-led urban development, and the long-term impacts of the European Capitals of Culture.
The event brought together representatives of Lublin’s cultural sector, including members of the ECoC consortium, artists and creators, as well as city officials. The meeting became a space for an intensive exchange of ideas, questions, and experiences focused on the role of culture as an integral element of urban policy. Drawing on over 20 years of research experience—including work on Liverpool 2008, Glasgow 1990, and evaluations of subsequent ECoC editions—Dr García demonstrated how crucial strategic thinking is when it comes to programme legacy, narrative coherence, and data-driven work.
On the one hand, the discussions in Lublin provided inspiration and confirmed the validity of the chosen path; on the other, they clearly highlighted the scale of the challenges and the amount of work still ahead in the process of the European Capital of Culture Lublin 2029. Dr Beatriz García’s visit marks an important step in building a conscious, long-term, and responsible approach to the ECoC—as a process that has the potential to bring lasting change to the city and its communities.
