European Capital Of Democracy #ECoD

🔵 Happening Now at the Smart City World Expo in Barcelona! If you're looking for innovative cultural formats in public spaces, you can't miss Oliver Hangl. Hangl has a talent for creating formats with a clever twist, drawing in audiences and encouraging them to see cities in fresh ways. This week, he’s taking this approach to explore democracy! 🚀 Oliver invites everyone to join the "Alphabet of Democracy," assigning ideas or principles to each letter. This collaborative effort celebrates the core values of democracy – like letters building words, these values form the foundation of a resilient, participatory society. As Expo visitors race to catch one big idea after another, there’s one stop they can’t pass by – and that’s right here with us! Dive into the ideas and conversations we’re sparking at this year’s Smart City World Expo! 🏃 In the upcoming days the letters are going to change! Stay tuned! More art and democracy is coming soon! The project is supported by the  Federal Ministry for Arts, Culture, the Civil Service and Sport (BMKOES), and Smart City Expo World Congress. Copyright: ECoD

Art ignites dialogue! Everywhere and especially around democracy!  Our second featured artist in the Expressions of Democracy project is Aldo Giannotti. Drawing plays a central role in Aldo’s artistic practice, serving as a powerful medium to highlight socio-political concepts and processes. His site-specific works employ various forms of expression, from performance art to diverse artistic mediums, prompting deep reflection and critical thought.✏️ In his two-part artistic intervention, Aldo invites you to take matters into your own hands in a humorous yet profound way. His drawings encourage us to reclaim responsibility for the communities we inhabit and challenge conventional notions of equality. ⚖️ 📅 November 5-7 📍 Smart City Expo World Congress, Barcelona If you’re in Barcelona, don’t miss the opportunity to engage with Aldo's thought-provoking work! Discover more about the project and artist Aldo Giannotti at https://lnkd.in/dxGSumGS The project is supported by the Federal Ministry for Arts, Culture, the Civil Service and Sport (BMKOES), and Smart City Expo World Congress. Copyright: Aldo Giannotti

🌍 Shaping Tomorrow’s Cities Today: Youth Leading the Way on #WorldCitiesDay! By 2050, cities will be home to 70% of the global population. As hubs of culture, diversity, and democratic innovation, cities hold the potential to lead on sustainable development—yet they face immense challenges. This #WorldCitiesDay is themed Youth Climate Changemakers: Catalyzing Local Action for Urban Sustainability. Young people are not just residents of our cities; they are the architects of tomorrow’s urban landscapes. 🌱 In Europe, the European City Network is empowering cities to foster youth participation and promote democratic engagement at the local level. Through in-person and online gatherings our member cities collaborate to inspire youth-led initiatives, share expertise, and ensure that young voices are integral to urban policy. The collaboration among cities across Europe showcases what’s possible when local governments unite to build resilient urban spaces. If you are interested in collaborating with a diverse group of experts from all around Europe, then join us! The call for the third European Capital of Democracy is still open and by applying you become a member of this growing community! 🔵https://lnkd.in/dTGYEVzG Photo: Mural in Brussels by Rikardo Druskic Copyright: Rikardo Druskic UN-Habitat (United Nations Human Settlements Programme) United Nations #UrbanOctober #SustainableCities #EuropeanCityNetwork

Art Meets Democracy at the Smart City Expo World Congress! 🎨✨ Expressions of Democracy, an interactive project with two immersive performances/installations will mark Barcelona’s closing as the first European Capital of Democracy. Next week at the Smart City Expo World Congress, art and civic values come together in a unique space designed to reflect on and explore democratic ideals. Featured Artist: Oliver Hangl  Oliver Hangl, a performance and media artist, curator, and urbanist, explores the relationship between people and their environments. In his artistic intervention, he invites you to contribute to the “Alphabet of Democracy” by assigning ideas or principles to each letter. This collaborative effort highlights the fundamental values of democracy, much like letters forming words that shape a resilient and participatory society. 📅 November 5-7 📍 Smart City Expo World Congress, Barcelona If you’re in Barcelona, engage with these thought-provoking expressions of democratic values! Discover more about the project and artist Oliver Hangl at https://lnkd.in/dxGSumGS The project is supported by the Federal Ministry for Arts, Culture, the Civil Service and Sport (BMKOES), and Smart City Expo World Congress. Swipe through some of Hangl's previous works as of: - The walking gallery as a part of Hundertwasser bewegt, Kunsthaus Wien - Silent Bootskonzert: Elektro Guzzi - Window Words: k48 - Offensive für zeitgenössische Wahrnehmung - The walking concerts 📷 Copyright: Thomas Lieser/ Oliver Hangl/ Helmut Prochart

🚨Last Chance! Final Call! If you’re reading this, you know it’s important – so don’t miss out! Our webinar is tomorrow! Join us for the 9th #ECoDCityNetwork Webinar on “The Intergenerational Approach of Braga’s Impact Entrepreneurship Programme.” 📢 Featuring Carlos de Sousa Santos, co-founder of the Human Power Hub – Braga’s trailblazing Social Innovation Center. Carlos will share fresh insights and effective strategies for building impactful, cross-generational communities through unique collaborative projects. This is an opportunity to rethink social entrepreneurship, shifting focus from solo ventures to dynamic, multi-generational communities. The Human Power Hub’s hybrid model unites civil society, public, private, and educational sectors in groundbreaking ways – don’t let this chance pass by! And…why are these guys dressed like milkmen? What does that have to do with Braga? Find out tomorrow at 10:00 CET. 🔴REGISTER HERE: https://lnkd.in/d8VErWct

Positive Outcome Stories Series - European Capital Of Democracy #ECoD: Truth, Lies & Democracy Game Jam With millions of players across Europe, the gaming community is stepping up to fight fake news. At the Truth, Lies & Democracy Game Jam, developers created video games to combat disinformation and promote democratic values. Discover how gaming is becoming a powerful tool for democracy. #ThankYouDemocracy  #GamingForGood #FightDisinformation #ECoD #EuropeanCapitalofDemocracy https://lnkd.in/e66c8b8W

It’s already been a week! 😲✨ And we’re still buzzing with excitement over the incredible experience in Braga!   From the valuable insights gained to new connections made, it was a couple of days to remember! At the last day we asked our vibrant community, “What’s the first that comes up to your mind when we say D E M O C R A C Y? 🗳️  The responses were absolutely spontaneous, inspiring, and created a unique definition of democracy reflecting the moment. We are happy to share the results with you! 🔴Want to be part of this dynamic network?  Apply for the European Capital of Democracy 2026 and join us: https://lnkd.in/g2b64gqx THANK YOU ALL! ❤️ Stefan Sindelar  | Laura Thomas | Alicia Linder | Eric Ankersmid | Cheryl Horemans | Evi Vlaminck | Miles Gualdi  | João Freitas Alcaide  | Filipe Fernandes | François-Xavier Leurquin | Carla Nunes Semedo  | Ph.D. Floreta Kertusha | Arieta Zahiri | Katarzyna Ziemann | Michał Zorena | Maryna Radova | Artur Zawora | Dervis Hadzimuhamedovic | Teresa Feith | David Leal García | Melina Daskalakis ... and many more

🚀 Missed the last City Network Meeting? Don’t worry, we’ve got you covered! Through our recent #CityNetworkMeeting, we realized just how much there is to learn from Município de Braga and its people, especially regarding intergenerational approaches in social and entrepreneurial development! For those who couldn't make it to the meeting, here's your chance to dive into these exciting topics and take a refreshing sip from the well of knowledge! (we’re not exaggerating…) 💡 Join us for our 9th #ECoDCityNetwork Webinar and learn from the renowned expert: 🎙️ Carlos de Sousa Santos, co-founder of the Human Power Hub – Braga’s Social Innovation Center. Carlos will share his unique, effective methods for fostering collaboration between generations and transforming communities through innovative projects. What you could learn by attending the webinar: - Activating and empowering elderly citizens to play a direct role in shaping society. - Exploring creative projects that span generations, developing entrepreneurial communities rather than just individuals. - How social entrepreneurs can benefit from acceleration programs involving multiple generations in co-creation spaces. This webinar is also a great moment to rethink #entrepreneurship – shifting focus from individuals to building vibrant entrepreneurial communities where different generations collaborate to co-create! The Human Power Hub’s hybrid model brings together civil society, public, private, and educational sectors in a disruptive way – don’t miss out on this chance! 🗓️Wednesday 30th October, 10:00 – 11:00 CET 🔴REGISTER NOW: https://lnkd.in/d8VErWct

The show must go on! This time, in Valongo! 🪭 Following our #EuropeanCityNetworkMeeting in Braga, the democratic journey continued in Valongo for the International Observatory on Participatory Democracy IOPD Valongo 2024 Conference, focusing on "Populist threats: building democratic resilience with participatory communities." 🗣️   The conference explored key topics, such as:  • Challenges posed by populism to participatory democracy  • The impact of AI on civic engagement  • Opportunities with civic technology  • Best practices for inclusive participation  • Transparency and open governance The Mayor of Município de Valongo, Jose Manuel Ribeiro opened the conference together with Emilia Saiz, Secretary General of United Cities and Local Governments (UCLG), and Cas Mudde, a renowned expert on extremism and democracy. Specialists from Antwerp (Roel Camps), Barcelona (Arnau Monterde, Bru Aguiló), Cascais (Isabel Xavier Canning) and many more... ECoD contributed a workshop on “European Civic Platforms”, using the persona method to identify blockers, boosters and inclusive approaches for connecting city representatives, civil society and citizens across Europe. 💭AI was identified as an opportunity to tackle complexity, translation and content analysis options - but offline methods of engagement and low-barrier forms of tech-supported participatory practice were equally important! Funnily enough, the team met a Citizens' Juror, Giovanni Allegretti, who led a workshop on the challenges of participatory democracy and AI, followed by sessions with Katy Rubin (Legislative Theatre) and Aaron Landsman (Perfect City). For information about the #CityNetwork, visit: https://lnkd.in/dTGYEVzG Stefan Sindelar Laura Thomas Alicia Linder

Life does not end after you retire!☀️ We wrapped up our tour on a high note at the Senior Academy in Município de Braga! This remarkable socio-educational initiative, launched by the Municipality of Braga in 2022, is dedicated to enhancing the quality of life for our senior citizens. By promoting active and healthy aging, the Academy encourages lifelong learning and the pursuit of knowledge. We had an amazing time exploring traditional Portuguese instruments, enjoying music and dance, and even joining in on the fun! Did you know that the ukulele has a "father"? YES! The braguinha (or machete) is a delightful four-stringed instrument from the guitar family!🎸 This was the perfect conclusion to the #ECoDCityNetworkMeeting! ❤️ A heartfelt thank you to all participants and hosts for making this experience unforgettable. Together, we reflected on our challenges, values, and shared enthusiasm for the meaningful work we are pursuing! More about the #CityNetwork: https://lnkd.in/dTGYEVzG