Candidacy for Lviv European Capital of Culture 2030: "Responsibility to Be"

📷 various authors part of #lvivcandidatecityecoc2030 archive

Finally, I’ve found the right moment to share some important news. This year has been extremely busy, and while most of my recent work isn't even online yet (it will be soon!), I must pause to reflect on one important experience I am proud of.

This story begins with an invitation to be one of the conceptual co-creators for the Candidacy for Lviv European Capital of Culture 2030. I couldn’t be more honoured and immediately responded, doing all I could to articulate a situated proposal to integrate with the other meaningful projects in the bid titled:"Responsibility to Be". Creating a situated conceptual approach for Ukraine with all it entangles, based on many levels of "responsibility" while making sense internationally was a challenge. But I can’t be more grateful to have contributed to shaping the vision of the proposal that, despite not reaching the successful final selection, reached the semifinal! For me, this bid is a powerful stand of commitment and creativity, structured as an innovative-situated-respectful programme integrating Arts and Culture as a vital space for safety, awareness, healing, dignity and knowledge.

The main objective of the bid was to establish Lviv as a central space for socio-ecological regeneration that would strengthen communal bonds in Ukraine and abroad. However, I believe Lviv is already The Capital of Culture despite the decision from the European Commission. I would like to highlight and highly value the rigorous dedicated work the core team undertook for years to make this bid happen and reach this important stage, their commitment facing the war while working for this huge impactful project.

Thanks to all the international institutions and professionals I contacted for support and partnership for the project section I was in charge of. From Colombia, Peru, Mexico, Spain, UK, Ukraine... their trust and the overwhelming motivation to participate were already a sign of how much this cross-border cultural collaboration is needed!

I wish this work can be continued in the future. Meaningful, caring and committed collective work is the key to building the Culture we need in Europe.

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