What are 
the Urban Labs?

The Urban Labs are the core element of this project. These gather together cultural organisations, local authorities, cultural and creative spaces to explore complex urban challenges in collaboration with other stakeholders. Together, they commit to develop innovative solutions.

Seven organisations are responsible for leading and organising seven
Urban Labs in partnership with a number of selected organisations,
​the so-called Handshake Partners. In total, 37 organisations in 21 European countries are part of the Urban Labs. What they all have in common is that: 
​

• they are already exploring new and groundbreaking methodologies of co-creation and of policy development, and
• they are ready to override hierarchical organisational structures in favour of horizontal and collaborative approaches.

URBAN LAB THEMES AND PARTNERS

URBAN LAB 1
Leader: City of Lund, Sweden

Challenge:
What effective methodologies can foster cooperation between the municipality and cultural actors. In particular, how can the municipality embrace ​a peer-to-peer perspective in facilitating this cooperation?

​​Handshake partners:
Cultural centres Mejeriet and Stenkrossen (Sweden),
City of Giffoni (Italy), City of Kiruna (Sweden), City of Aarhus and Odense (Denmark).
​
Coordinator:
​Katarina Scott – katarina.scott@lund.se

URBAN LAB 2
Leader: Region of Scania, Sweden 

Challenge: 
How can the public administration mobilise and engage different stakeholders in developing and implementing the regional plan for culture?
​
​Handshake partners: ​​
Region Midtjylland (Denmark) and Emilia-Romagna Region (Italy).

Coordinator:
Ola Jacobson – Ola.Jacobson@skane.se

URBAN LAB 3
Leader: Kaapeli, Finland

Challenge:
How might cultural centre Kaapeli activate citizens and shift their role from being audience to become co-creators?

Handshake partners:
The Urban Biedriba Riga (Latvia) and cultural centre Aparaaditehas (Estonia) and inEstBayArea Development Helsinki-Tallinn (Estonia).

Coordinator:
Jutta Ahtola-Sutinen – jutta.ahtola-sutinen@kaapelitehdas.fi

URBAN LAB 4
Leader: Creative Industries Kosice (CIKE), Slovakia

Challenge:
How might CIKE involve stakeholders to formulate a vision for the future of the city and, particularly, for the future of the cultural sector?

Handshake partners:
European Creative Business Network.

Coordinator:
Zuzana Révészová – zuzana.reveszova@cike.sk

URBAN LAB 5
Leader: Hablarenarte, Spain

Challenge:
How might cultural association Hablarenarte encourage the commitment of civil servants and local politicians in the long-term development of participatory and collaborative public programmes?

Handshake partners:
Heart of Glass, European Alternatives, MediaLab Prado

Coordinator:
Carmen Mateos – carmen@hablarenarte.com

URBAN LAB 6
Leader: AMBASADA, Romania

Challenge:
How could community-led organisations contribute to create public policies and how could they become responsible for their implementation?

Handshake partners:
Foundation Novi Sad 2021 - European Cultural Capital (Serbia), Bakelit Multi Art Centre Foundation (Hungary), Rijeka2020 llc (Croatia), City of Leuven - Cultural and Creative Spaces Vaartopia (Belgium)​, Asociatia Timisoara Capitala Culturala Europeana2021(Romania), Timisoara City Hall (Romania).

Coordinator:
Andreea Lager-Tako – andreea.iager@plai.ro