Oulu2026, City of Oulu and cultural stakeholders will focus on European Capitals of Culture legacy by taking part in the Knowledge Transfer Seminar in Veszprém. Seminar is hosted as part of the ECOC Echo project by the city of Veszprém on October 6 – October 8 2025, bringing together stakeholders from past, present, and future European Capitals of Culture (ECoC) to explore the long-term impact of cultural initiatives on urban and regional development. Veszprém-Balaton region was holding the title of European Capital of Culture in 2023.
Key Objectives of the seminar are: foster active knowledge exchange among ECoC stakeholders; Explore legacy pillars as cultural programming, infrastructure, finances, emotional impact, and organizational models; strengthen European cooperation and build networks for sustainable cultural policy. Seminar sessions will be led by experts including Tibor Navracsics, Minister of Regional Development of Hungary and former European Commissioner for Education, Culture, Youth and Sport; Gyula Porga, mayor of Veszprém, covering topics such as emotional legacy, regional cooperation, and financial sustainability.
Site visits to legacy venues include the CODE – Center of Digital Experiences, Dungeon Museum, ActiCity Dance and Movement Centre, and Modern Art Center.
Also will take place networking events with a touristical touch and guided city tours.
Participants of the ECOC Echo project are Leeuwarden 2018 (Netherlands), Novi Sad 2022 (Serbia), Veszprém 2023 (Hungary), Tartu 2024 (Estonia), Chemnitz 2025 (Germany), Oulu 2026 (Finland), Liepāja 2027 (Latvia), Évora 2027 (Portugal), and Bourges 2028 (France). The project, ECoC Echo, focuses on solutions that help preserve and amplify the momentum generated during the title year, fostering growth in the cultural sector, regional development, and international cooperation.
Local stakeholder and knowledge transfer event will be organised in Oulu after the seminar in Veszprém.
The project is co-funded by the European Union’s Interreg Europe programme, which supports interregional cooperation and helps public authorities across Europe develop better policies.
More information:
Oulu Culture Foundation: Project Coordinator Mirja Syrjälä, mirja.syrjala (a) oulu2026.eu, +358 40 5029 633
City of Oulu: Project Coordinator Laura Kärki, laura.karki (a) ouka.fi, +358 40 624 8098
