European Capitals of Culture legacy initiative ECoC Echo members gathered in Leeuwarden

European Capitals of Culture legacy initiative ECoC Echo members gathered from 13 to 15 April in Leeuwarden and used fruitful days to explore how European Capitals of Culture Leeuwarden-Fryslân 2018 and its legacy programme Arcadia continues to shape the region through culture, community engagement and sustainable development.

“The Leeuwarden seminar resonated with me as well – impact comes from doing things together with your people and stakeholders and listening to them. Don’t be afraid of your uniqueness or of ideas that seem impossible!,” told project lead for ECoC Echo Sille Talvet -Unt.

Through a combination of expert presentations, discussions and site visits across Friesland, participants deepened their understanding of how cultural legacy can be built and sustained beyond the title year.

The study visit, part of the Interreg Europe ECoC Echo project, focused on the long-term impact of Leeuwarden-Friesland 2018 and its continuation through Arcadia, offering valuable insights for cities and regions across Europe.

Participants were officially welcomed by the mayor of Leeuwarden Sybrand Buma, who reflected on the long-term effects of the EcoC title and the legacy program of Arcadia on Leeuwarden as well the importance of long-term cultural investment and collaboration between communities, institutions and governments. The study visit overall reinforced the idea that the success of an ECoC programme lies not only in the title year itself, but in the networks and shared ownership it creates.

The core programme took participants across the region, combining strategic reflection with practical examples. At De Sluisfabriek in Drachten, sessions focused on how to start a legacy. Immie Jonkman presented the development of Arcadia as a continuation of Leeuwarden-Fryslân 2018, highlighting its organisational structure, guiding values and long-term ambitions.

Contributions from former alderman Sjoerd Feitsma and mayor Fred Veenstra provided insights into the regional and governmental perspective. A central theme throughout the seminar was mienskip – the Frisian concept of community. In her interactive session, Tamara Schoppert illustrated how local ownership is a key driver of success. In the afternoon at Museum Joure, the conversation turned to how to sustain legacy over time. Speakers including alderman Jan Dijkstra, Bouwe de Boer, Lieuwe Krol and Erik Fledderus shared experiences ranging from community-led initiatives to long-term branding strategies and future-oriented regional development.

On the last day, Jan van Erve emphasised the importance of building strong and lasting partnerships, highlighting trust and shared ownership as essential foundations for sustainable cultural legacy. Participants shared lessons learned and identified common challenges and opportunities in building sustainable cultural legacies across Europe.

Beyond the seminar sessions, participants explored Friesland through site visits and informal exchanges. Visits to Drachten and Joure highlighted how cultural initiatives are embedded in local communities, while shared travel moments and dinners created space for deeper dialogue and knowledge exchange.

The Leeuwarden edition of the ECoC Echo seminar demonstrated how legacy is not a fixed outcome, but an ongoing process shaped by collaboration and community. The event contributed to a growing network of European regions working together to extend the impact of their ECoC experience far beyond the title year.

Arcadia is the legacy programme of Leeuwarden-Friesland 2018, European Capital of Culture. Every three years, Arcadia presents a 100-day cultural programme across the province of Friesland, using art and culture to address contemporary societal themes and to connect people, ideas and generations.

ECoC Echo is an Interreg Europe project that brings together former, current and future European Capitals of Culture. The project aims to improve policy instruments and practicesrelated to cultural legacy, ensuring that the impact of an ECoC title extends far beyond the event year.

Participants of the ECOC Echo project are following present, past and future European Capitals of Culture: Leeuwarden- Fryslân 2018 (Netherlands), Novi Sad 2022 (Serbia), Veszprém-Balaton 2023 (Hungary), Tartu 2024 (Estonia), Chemnitz 2025 (Germany), Oulu 2026 (Finland), Liepāja 2027 (Latvia), Évora 2027 (Portugal), and Bourges 2028 (France).