Pillar 1:
Ecological transition in the field of culture

Priority 10:
Having specialist to carry out public policy objectives on sustainable culture

After signing of the Call to Action, the City of Lille identified 51 commitments to promote the transformation of professional practices in the cultural sector.

A Sustainable and Inclusive Culture Department was set up, with two people coordinating the implementation of these commitments in conjunction with all culture department agents. For two years, the department developed and tested concrete projects and global actions.

This long-term structural process aligns with Lille’s cultural strategy and its collaboration with local operators. Increasingly, staff members seek guidance from the department on incorporating sustainability into daily operations, including public procurement and reuse practices.

The focus has broadened beyond these 51 initial commitments, with “sustainable and inclusive culture” becoming the central pillar of Lille’s cultural policy.

This shift culminated in the 2024 launch of a wider strategy, ‘Culture Durable Partagée’ (shared sustainable culture) supported by a joint manifesto signed by over 30 local cultural organisations.

This manifesto calls for collective action to reshape cultural policies in response to the climate emergency and rising social inequalities. It aims to reduce organisations’ environmental footprints while enhancing the social impact of culture across Lille.

To implement this vision, Lille worked with local partners to co-create a practical tool: 20 pictograms illustrating keywords for sustainable and inclusive culture.

These keywords reflect key values of the city’s cultural policy such as accessibility, creativity, circularity, and wellbeing. They also provide a framework that guides cultural institutions to align their daily practices with sustainability and inclusion goals.