2023 Eleusis European Capital of Culture organised the second self-assessment workshop in the framework of the international participatory planning programme Pilot Cities. The activity took place at Cine Eleusis on Saturday 9 March, where residents of the city defined the place of culture in Elefsina as well as their priorities for the future. An initiative by the European organisation in cooperation with the Culture Committee of the international UCLG organisation – United Cities and Local Governments.
Based on the self-assessment guide of the Culture 21 agenda, and following the first meeting of Pilot Cities, which was held on 26 January 2019 at the EKEDA – Elefsina / West Attica Labour Union Building, residents of Elefsina and the broader region participated in an intensive full-day workshop, with the aim of laying the foundations for the long-term cultural strategy of their city.
The event was honored with the presence of Charalambos Tsafaras, Deputy Mayor of the Municipal Clinic, the Park of Traffic Education and Cultural Events – AISCHYLEION, Georgios Roumeliotis, Councillor – International Relations and Tourism Development, Constantina Zervou, Municipal Councillor, representatives of ethnic and other cultural associations and institutions, as well as dozens of citizens of Elefsina and the surrounding area.
What are Pilot Cities?
Elefsina is the only Greek city and one of the 16 European ones participating in Pilot Cities. An international programme that places culture as the fourth pillar of a city’s sustainable development alongside the economy, environment and social inclusion. Through the unique context that the 2023 Eleusis European Capital of Culture has created in the city in recent years, Elefsina is moving towards a new model of sustainability, with art and culture at the heart of every human activity and the residents as the driving force behind the whole of this participatory programme.
Each theme corresponds to an aspect of the city’s cultural development, which is achieved through either organised policies or civil society initiatives. At the same time, however, it is also a commitment to the long-term cultural strategy of Elefsina.
The action concerns the thematic areas linked to culture: COMMUNITIES (inclusion, quality of life, education, equality, coexistence), PROSPERITY (economic development, creative economy, work in the cultural sector, sustainable tourism, digitalisation), PLACES (public space, cultural heritage, architecture, urban design), NATURE (ecological and social transition, climate change, gastronomy), GOVERNANCE (cultural strategy, public administration, participatory processes, networking, communication), RIGHTS (freedom of expression, participation of minorities, accessibility, protection of artistic creation, training).
The network of cities that participate includes: Galway, Gabrovo, Gijon, Lisbon, Namur, Swansea, Tenerife, Terrassa, Timișoara, Leeds, Nova Gorica, Rijeka, Esch-sur-Alzette, Elefsina, Eivissa/Ibiza, etc.
For more information about the first self-assessment workshop that took place in 2019 see here, and for its results here.
A production of the 2023 Elefsis European Capital of Culture
In cooperation with the Commission for Culture of the international organisation UCLG-United Cities and Local Governments.
