We are pleased to invite you to this international workshop, dedicated to fostering discussions and sharing the latest research and best-practice around the evaluation and monitoring of European Capitals’ of Culture (ECoCs).

This workshop aims to bring together scholars and practitioners involved in past, ongoing and future ECoC evaluation programmes. Our aim is to discuss together the  various dimensions, challenges and opportunities of monitoring and evaluating ECoC impacts, outcomes, and hosting processes.

About the workshop

The European Capitals of Culture initiative stands as a significant platform for urban development, cultural exchange, (sustainable) tourism as well as manifold nuances of societal transformation at local, national and European levels. As host cities embark on their cultural journey, assessing the impacts and effectively monitoring their progress becomes imperative. This workshop seeks to explore the multifaceted aspects of evaluation and monitoring within the context of ECoCs, as well as discuss the diversity of practices in evaluation and monitoring now the ECoC initiative is turning 40 years old.

Being organized during the ECoC title year in Bodø (Bodø 2024), this workshop represents a unique opportunity to discuss and reflect around ongoing differences and similarities in ECoC evaluation practices, including reflections about their deficiencies, established and new challenges, the most pressing needs and key prospects for the future.

Workshop format

The workshop will encompass invited keynote presentations about models for evaluation and monitoring by different monitoring teams and from experts in the field; as well as opportunities for networking and discussion of collaboration. It will be followed up by discussion and the highlighting lessons learned.

The workshop aims to provide a list of recommendations for future ECoCs as well as new initiatives that can improve the overarching framework and reduce costs of future evaluation and monitoring practices.

This is a timely discussion, just ahead of the ECoC programme 40^th anniversary in 2025 and the upcoming revision to its legal framework.

Keynote speakers and panelists

Dr. Beatriz Garcia, Associate Director, Centre for Cultural Value, University of Leeds; Hon. Senior Research Fellow, International Cultural Policy & Mega-Events, University of Liverpool (UK)

Dr. Hilmar Rommetvedt, Research Professor, NORCE, Project manager for the evaluation of Stavanger2008 (Norway)

Rolf Norås, Director of Cultural Affairs in the City of Stavanger (1997 to 2017) and Strategic Director of Stavanger2008 (ECoC), (Norway)

Dr. Anatoli Bourmistrov, Professor, Nord University Business School, Lead of MONITOR2024 evaluation and monitoring project of Bodø2024 (ECoC), (Norway)

Anne Kurzweg, Lead of Monitoring & Evaluation of Chemnitz 2025 (ECoC), Lead of ECOCs exchange meeting on Monitoring & Evaluation (Germany)

Dr. Jak Spencer, Co-Founder & Chief Impact Officer, Polyloop (UK)

Lizzie Raby, Head of Product, Polyloop (UK)