The next World Cities Culture Summit will take place in Lisbon on 23-25 October 2019, it has been announced on the final day of this year’s international conference.
The news follows a highly successful meeting of city leaders and top cultural experts from 32 cities who, over three days in San Francisco, explored what can be accomplished by bringing culture and technology together.
Lisbon has been chosen to host next year’s summit thanks to its strategic positioning as “an open capital: a central and cosmopolitan city, with an international calling”. The city is considered to be an architectural gem (with a reputation especially for tiling and tile-making), and is currently enjoying something of a renaissance among young European entrepreneurs and creatives who are coming to the city to take advantage of its affordability and ancient charms.
The role of culture in building open and tolerant cities, its role in addressing environmental challenges and forward-looking audience engagement strategies will be discussed at the Lisbon Summit.
Catarina Vaz Pinto, Deputy Mayor for Culture, Municipality of Lisbon said:
“It’s a great honour for us to host this fantastic event. We are still young members of the World Cities Culture Forum and very happy to be among this group of cities. We are totally committed to work actively in this network and that is why we choose to embrace hosting the summit.”
Justine Simons OBE, Deputy Mayor for Culture and the Creative Industries and Chair of the World Cities Culture Forum said:
“It is great news that Lisbon will host the next annual World Cities Culture summit, bringing together city leaders from across the globe to share new ideas on the growing importance of culture to improve our cities. Culture has the power to transform lives – making our cities welcoming and liveable places. As an open and vibrant city, Lisbon will be a great host and help to inspire us all.”
The summit is organised by the World Cities Culture Forum, which is made up of 38 world cities, who all recognise the impact and importance of culture and creativity and are committed to them being at the heart of public policy and city planning.
The 2018 summit, in San Francisco, saw vibrant discussions about how urban centers can maintain their cultural identities in the face of rapid technological change.