City initiatives

Explore 100+ sustainable and inclusive cultural initiatives from cities already implementing the Eurocities Lille Call to Action; from the public procurement of cultural resources to creative climate activities addressing health and wellbeing.

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Pillar I: Ecological transition in the field of culture

Priority 1 Reducing the use of resources and using sustainable public procurement

Priority 2 Preserving nature in urban areas when hosting events

Priority 3 Rethinking mobility/reducing carbon emissions due to the mobility of artists and audiences

Priority 4 Encouraging local artistic creation

Priority 5 Facilitating connections between local cultural stakeholders

Priority 6 Improving the energy efficiency of cultural buildings

Priority 7 Assessing the environmental footprint of cultural events

Priority 8 Using the potential of digital technology in a responsible way

Priority 9 Training our staff and local actors on biodiversity and ecological issues

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

Pillar II: Inclusion in culture and through culture

Priority 11 Providing access to cultural programmes for all, ensuring that barriers to access to culture are addressed

Priority 12 Developing ambitious cultural projects for vulnerable groups

Priority 13 Taking creative climate action to improve health and wellbeing

Priority 14 Strengthening cultural and artistic diversity

Priority 15 Integrating gender issues and ensuring gender parity in local cultural policies

Priority 16 Increasing citizen’s participation in developing and implementing cultural policies

Pillar I

Ecological transition in the field of culture

Priority 1: Reducing the use of resources and using sustainable public procurement

By signing the Call to Action, cities strive to choose the most sustainable solutions when organising cultural events, particularly through the choice of materials. This approach consists of consuming the least new material possible by: facilitating the circular economy; promoting the re-use of material and props; and helping local organisations share existing resources.

Cities commit to introducing a principle of sustainability and eco-responsibility in all new public contracts created, in order to implement responsible purchasing policies such as: committing to the principle of only purchasing what is necessary; favouring the purchase of materials that are sustainable over time and easily reusable; favouring second-hand purchases and encouraging the sharing of material.

Priority 2: Preserving nature in urban areas when hosting events

To minimise the impact of cultural events, cities commit to respecting natural sites’ biodiversity when hosting events in natural environments. This requires assessing sites prior to events and restoring them afterwards.

Adopting eco-responsible and inclusive approaches in festival organisation – Amiens, France

Adopting eco-responsible and inclusive approaches in festival organisation – Amiens, France

Every year from May to October, Amiens hosts the Hortillonages International Garden Festival, welcoming visitors to follow contemporary art trails across a group of garden blocks on the banks of the Somme river. The festival, located in a 300-hectare natural site in the heart of the city, supports architectural and artistic creations.

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Priority 3: Rethinking mobility/reducing carbon emissions due to the mobility of artists and audiences

Cities committed to the call to action will act on sustainable mobility when organising cultural events (festivals, concerts, exhibitions) with the following ambitions: avoiding unnecessary travel; shortening or sharing unavoidable travel; encouraging soft and active mobility and the use of low-carbon vehicles.

This approach will apply to the mobility of local actors organising cultural events but also to the mobility of artists, artworks, equipment and especially audiences.

Priority 4: Encouraging local artistic creation

Cities who commit to the Lille Call to Action strive for cultural activities to be as locally produced as possible.

This approach should be cross-cutting, focusing on the origin of the materials and consumables needed to organise cultural activities and, as much as possible, supporting local artists and creators from all artistic disciplines.

Priority 5: Facilitating connections between local cultural stakeholders

The role of municipal authorities is central when it comes to bringing the local cultural sector together.

Cities commit to supporting local cultural and creative actors in their sustainability efforts, for example by promoting the exchange of innovative practices between actors, by providing common support services or facilitating contacts and joint projects with actors outside the culture sector.

Priority 6: Improving the energy efficiency of cultural buildings

Energy efficiency is key to reducing the energy consumption of cultural buildings.

As owners of heritage and cultural buildings, cities commit to improving the energy efficiency of such buildings by supporting cultural organisations in finding technical solutions to reduce their energy consumption and/or produce renewable energy on site.

Priority 7: Assessing the environmental footprint of cultural events

Cities commit to producing, as far as it is possible, the most exhaustive carbon report possible (ideally SCOPE 3) and life cycle analysis for every cultural event organised.

Priority 8: Using the potential of digital technology in a responsible way

Using digital technology can help reduce unnecessary travel and thus reduce the environmental impact of cities’ activities. However, our digital habits must also evolve, as greenhouse gas emissions from the digital sector are increasing year upon year.

Cities are aware of the importance of assessing the environmental impact of our digital use, and commit to developing and implementing sustainable solutions that minimise carbon emissions from digital technologies.

Priority 9: Training our staff and local actors on biodiversity and ecological issues

Adaptation to climate change and the preservation of biodiversity are two essential elements to ensuring a collective ecological transition.

Cities commit to increasing the awareness and skills of staff throughout their administrations, regarding both biodiversity and ecological issues, as well as issues linked to inclusion.

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

Cities commit to appointing contact persons within their administration who can monitor initiatives aimed at making cultural policies and activities more sustainable while documenting changes and impacts on the ground.

Such persons can support local cultural organisations in their sustainability efforts. City administrations can also be supported in this journey by external specialists providing the necessary training to the city’s staff members.

Pillar II

Inclusion in culture and through culture

Priority 11: Providing access to cultural programmes for all, ensuring that barriers to access to culture are addressed

An ambitious cultural policy fosters the conditions for creativity and expression for all, at all stages of life, regardless of their social background.

To achieve a more inclusive society, cities commit to facilitating access to cultural activities for all inhabitants of our territories and neighbouring areas, and to removing barriers to cultural access such as socio-cultural, geographical, economic and technological barriers.

Priority 12: Developing ambitious cultural projects for vulnerable groups

Excluded audiences are those for whom cultural sites or activities have not been designed or adapted, which can lead to limited participation in the city’s cultural life or a less engaging physical or intellectual experience. In the interests of fair access to art and culture, cities commit to inclusion both through culture and within culture.

This includes developing cultural and artistic activities that raise awareness of different types of vulnerability, including those related to disability; making cultural venues and events more accessible to vulnerable or disabled people; supporting projects that foster intergenerational dialogue and connect audiences across different stages of life; and organising cultural activities in settings such as social centres, hospitals, prisons, or homes for the elderly to reach those who might otherwise be excluded.

Priority 13: Taking creative climate action to improve health and wellbeing

Artists and designers are agents of change, and cultural experiences can have positive benefits on health, mental health and wellbeing, help develop confidence, dignity and new skills, and create new links between people.

Cities commit to exploring the opportunities to integrate climate considerations with health programmes through arts and culture, tackling the existential climate crisis humanity is facing.

Priority 14: Strengthening cultural and artistic diversity

The protection and celebration of all cultures is essential to ensuring cultural diversity on urban territories, and all cultures deserve equal status. Cities commit to favouring the conditions of creation for all artistic expression, without discrimination, and to ensuring favourable conditions for the participation and enjoyment of everyone.

Cities also commit to cultural policies that support the creation of a modern urban cultural heritage whilst preserving and enhancing that of the past. This involves assigning value and space to contemporary and emerging artistic and cultural trends, without normative judgement.

Café Romano project: Making Roma culture visible – Oulu, Finland

Café Romano project: Making Roma culture visible – Oulu, Finland

As part of the Equal Oulu2026 initiative, and throughout 2024, Café Romano hosted biweekly events at Oulu10, an accessible venue, where Roma women led presentations on topics such as Roma history, clothing, music, and traditions. The aim was to create a welcoming and educational space, to increase visibility, support cultural expression, and involve Roma in planning and implementing cultural activities for Oulu European Capital of Culture 2026.

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Priority 15: Integrating gender issues and ensuring gender parity in local cultural policies

Culture plays an essential role in raising awareness of gender discrimination and in renewing social relations. Cities commit to promoting cultural and artistic actions that reflect the voices of women and gender minorities.

To avoid gender discrimination, cities aim to implement preventative measures and make cultural events accessible and welcoming to all genders. Signatories also commit to achieving parity within their local authorities, including in leadership positions, and to ensuring full equality of access to jobs in the cultural sector.

The GAS Seal initiative: Genders, Accessibility and Sustainability – Terrassa, Spain

The GAS Seal initiative: Genders, Accessibility and Sustainability – Terrassa, Spain

Launched in 2019 through an initiative of the Department of Cultural Promotion, the GAS seal defines the principles guiding all cultural projects developed or supported in Terrassa. It ensures that these projects are free from gender discrimination and that they promote a non-sexist and non-androcentric vision of the cultural sphere.

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Priority 16: Increasing citizens’ participation in developing and implementing cultural policies

Cities recognise that local governance is intimately linked with cultural policies.

Signatories commit to developing dialogue and creative means of deliberative democracy on cultural activities, whether through the participation of residents, civil society, educational institutions, and other groups or networks.