The Eurocities Awards were held yesterday in Brussels, honoring leaders who are driving innovation in cities across Europe. The awards recognize city governments and leaders that have developed and implemented policies and projects to improve the quality of life for their citizens.
- Hamburg took first place in the category for "Managing the Energy Crisis Sustainably" with MySmartLife. The project laid the groundwork for an original plan to transition cities away from fossil fuels.
- The category "From human global mobility to local community cohesion" was awarded by Bilbao and Diversitours. Through guided tours in three neighborhoods, this intercultural community project sought to highlight the contribution of immigrant groups to the growth of the city.
- London took up the prize in the category "Young people co-creating public spaces" with Seen & Heard. To provide young people (aged 16 to 24) with a voice in the management of their local public space, a research and engagement project was created. The Brent London Borough is where it happened.
A
new initiative, led by the city of Lille and Eurocities, invites mayors from across Europe to commit to the development of local cultural policies and events that prioritize sustainability and inclusivity. 24 cities already signed the document and many more have pledged to. The call to action is structured around 16 priorities, categorized into two pillars: the ecological transition of local cultural policies and events, and inclusion in culture and through culture. By signing it, cities commit to developing sustainable and inclusive cultural policies, implementing at least one principle from each pillar, and providing examples of their initiatives each year.
