Athens, 13 June 2026
PRESS RELEASE
The second training activity of the European project C-CYCLE – Cooperation on Cultural Yield through Coaching and Learning Evolution (2024-1-EL01-KA220-VET-000257519), co-funded by the Erasmus+ Programme, was successfully completed on 11 and 12 June 2026 in Athens, Greece. The training event, entitled “Strengthening Cultural Resilience and the Capacity of Remote Local Communities”, was organised by the Hellenic Agency for Local Development and Local Government (EETAA) and took place at its headquarters in Metaxourgeio.
Focusing on cultural resilience, sustainable local development and the empowerment of local communities, the two-day training event brought together local government officials and representatives of grassroots cultural organisations from the Regions of Attica and Central Greece, as well as experts and trainers from Greece, the Netherlands and Portugal, within a dynamic framework for knowledge exchange, collaboration and capacity building.
The EETAA CEO, Mr. Anastasios Mavridis welcomed the participants and the contributors , while he highlighted the strategic importance of culture as a driver of social cohesion, sustainable local development and the resilience of local communities. He emphasised EETAA’s systematic investment in strengthening local stakeholders and developing innovative cultural policy tools, particularly for remote, peripheral and/or vulnerable areas of the country.
The two-day programme focused on strengthening cultural management and shaping sustainable cultural policies at the local level, showcasing good European practices and exploring European Union funding opportunities for culture. Of particular importance were the contributions of the Ministry of Culture, specifically of the Creative Europe Desk Greece, as well as of the Association of Dutch Municipalities. In addition, the findings of the field research conducted in the two Greek regions studied by the project were presented, highlighting both the challenges and opportunities for the development of the cultural sector.
Special emphasis was placed on transforming ideas into applicable cultural initiatives through interactive workshops coordinated by The Hague
Academy for Local Governance and presentations delivered by numerous partner organizations. Within this framework, participants worked collaboratively and productively to develop local action plans with an immediate social and cultural impact.
The hybrid format of the training activity, which also enabled the online participation of trainees, further strengthened the transnational character of the project, confirming the importance of European cooperation in enhancing local cultural ecosystems.
The two-day training event was attended by 14 municipalities from the Regions of Central Greece and Attica, namely the Municipalities of Distomo–Arachova–Antikyra, Agrafa, Skyros, Mantoudi–Limni–Agia Anna, Istiaia–Edipsos, Amfikleia–Elateia, Domokos, Hydra, Poros, Kythira, Spetses, Aegina, Troizinia–Methana and Mandra–Eidyllia, as well as by 11 local cultural organisations that actively contribute to shaping the cultural landscape of these areas.
The successful completion of the second training activity in Athens highlights the need to identify the characteristics of the country’s remote areas and adapt them to contemporary models of local cultural governance. Through such an approach, the project’s potential is further confirmed, and the foundations are set for its next phases of development, strengthening the European dialogue on culture as a driver for social cohesion, local development and social innovation.
The C-CYCLE project continues to build a strong European cooperation network among local authorities, cultural organisations and educational institutions, aiming to enhance the skills of cultural professionals and local governance practitioners. Through a combined methodology of experiential and theoretical training, exchange of experiences and practical application, the project seeks to make a substantial contribution to the development of more resilient, participatory and sustainable cultural policies across Europe.
The next training activity of the project will take place in The Hague for Dutch stakeholders, where valuable outcomes are also expected regarding the catalytic relationship between culture and sustainable local development.
Funded by the European Union. Views and opinions expressed are, however, those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or the State Scholarships Foundation (IKY). Neither the European Union nor the granting authority can be held responsible for them.
View attached the detailed press release regarding the 2nd C-CYCLE training in Greece
