Cooperation between European Capitals of Culture and Cultural Cities of East Asia

This study was commissioned by the European Commission and the EU Delegation to China to the Cultural Diplomacy Platform with the objectives of assessing the potentials and challenges for developing a strategic partnership between the EU cultural flagship initiative “European Capitals of Culture” and the trilateral Japan, China, South Korea cultural cooperation initiative “Cultural City of East Asia” (which promotes cooperation in the areas of business, trade and economy, education, culture, environment, disaster management and health). The study focuses on European Capitals of Culture’s cooperation potentials with Cultural City of East Asia in China with some references to Japan and South Korea.
The study is set in the context of the EU-China High-Level People-to-People Dialogue and the development of the EU strategy for international cultural relations. What is the added-value of ECoC-CCEA cooperation? A suitable match between a European Capital of Culture and a Cultural City of East Asia culture can prove beneficial for cultural professionals and institutions in terms of artist mobility, cooperation projects, co-creations, cross-sector networking, capacity-building, branding and consultancy work. It can also lead to new networks, cooperation and cross-fertilisation with other sectors of the two cities, in areas such as the creative sector, tourism, energy and environment, business, rural development, the care sector, education, health and technology. Cooperation between ECoCs and CCEAs can also lead to new networks, cooperation and cross-fertilisation with other sectors of the two cities, in areas such as the creative sector, tourism, energy and environment, business, rural development, the care sector, education, health and technology. The study also acknowledges that, within the ECoC action, culture has proven to contribute to the well-being of citizens and to the prosperity of a city as well as its potential to position itself nationally and internationally.
The Cultural Relations Platform preparing this study is implemented by a consortium of four organisations: the Goethe-Institut Brussels (the consortium leader); the European Cultural Foundation; the International Network for Contemporary Performing Arts and the University of Siena.