New perspectives from researcher networks on the Oulu2026 evaluation research project

Since 1985, the title of ‘European Capital of Culture’ (ECoC) has been awarded annually to one or more European cities. The ECoC activities have attracted a great deal of interest over the years, and multidisciplinary research is carried out on a European scale.

During the autumn, Cupore’s research team will visit the 2024 ECoC cities in Bodø, Norway and Tartu, Estonia. In Bodø, the researchers will participate in a scholar workshop together with international colleagues and present the results of the Oulu2026 baseline report published last spring. In Tartu, the researchers will meet colleagues from the research and evaluation team of Tartu2024. During both visits, the research team will get acquainted with the ECoC programme on site. In addition to Bodø and Tartu, Bad Ischl in Austria is also a ECoC city in 2024.

“It will be interesting to hear how other European Capitals of Culture are studied and evaluated, what results have been achieved and what kind of development needs for evaluation have been identified. Comparing the results and ideas enable us to conduct even more comprehensive and high-quality research and evaluation work in the Oulu2026 research project,” says Senior Researcher Mervi Luonila.

The results of the research project have already been presented at the International Conference on Cultural Policy Research (ICCPR) in Warsaw, Poland on 20^th of August. The results will also be presented at the ENCATC Congress in Lecce, Italy, in September.

The visits are funded by the Oulu Cultural Foundation, which is responsible for the operation of Oulu2026, Bodø2024, Tartu2024, the Finnish Institute in Estonia and the Nordic Administrative Union (NAF).

Further information:

Senior Researcher Mervi Luonila, Docent, DMus in Arts Management, mervi.luonila@cupore.fi, tel. +358 50 305 3414

Oulu will be the European Capital of Culture in 2026 along with 39 other municipalities from Northern Finland. Oulu2026 is a long-term, culture-based urban development project, the aim of which is cultural climate change. The purpose of the Oulu2026 project is to create and strengthen culture, wellbeing, and vitality in our Northern region.

The multidisciplinary research team at the Center for Cultural Policy Research Cupore will monitor and evaluate the European Capital of Culture 2026 theme year, the impacts of related activities, and the longer-term impact on Oulu and its neighbouring municipalities.

Read more on Cupore’s research here.

Photo: Harri Tarvainen/ Oulu2026