From 8 to 10 July, Braga 25 took part in the 14th conference of the European network Culture Next, working with its European partners to build on the legacy of the European Capital of Culture bid, which resulted in the city being named Portuguese Capital of Culture – a title it is celebrating throughout this year.
The meeting took place in Leeuwarden, which was European Capital of Culture in 2018, with the participation of young people in culture and the arts as its central theme. The focal point of the Culture Next meeting’s programme was the Bouwurk, a multidisciplinary structure built in the city centre to host the 2025 edition of Arcadia. This 100-day Triennial, now in its second edition, is the legacy of the European title in this Dutch city.
The Bouwurk takes its inspiration from a cathedral built on the same site in the 16th century, which was eventually demolished after just over 50 years due to construction flaws. Of the original project, only the tower (Oldehove) remains, notable for its distinctly leaning form, a result of those same structural problems. It is now one of Leeuwarden’s main landmarks.
The Dutch city has turned a failed project into an icon, just as the 40 cities that make up the Culture Next network take pride in the journey they undertook in their bid for European Capital of Culture, even though, for most of them, this was not successful.
In Braga, the bid for European Capital of Culture is now an indelible mark, clearly reflected in the programme for Braga 25 – Portuguese Capital of Culture. The project team is building on the legacy of this process, championing the European dimension, cultural democracy and the celebration of artistic creation as fundamental values.
The Culture Next network was established in 2017, bringing together cities that have applied for the European Capital of Culture title – whether current or former, successful or unsuccessful – with the mission of supporting the implementation of culture-led urban development programmes and policies.
Braga is one of the founding cities of this network and Joana Meneses Fernandes, executive coordinator of Braga 25 and executive director of Faz Cultura – Braga Municipal Culture Company, EM, has been a member of the Culture Next board since the start of the year, with a four-year term.