The Cities Ahead programme (2023-2025) supported ambitious European cultural and creative cities in attaining greater international visibility and cultural appeal. During a two-day academy, renowned experts imparted practical knowledge on international cultural urban development. Through a worldwide open call, cities received additional stimuli from the cultural and creative industries.
Cities Ahead is a good opportunity for cities to reflect on what resources they have.
Charles Landry
Programme
The programme was divided into two phases:
Cities Ahead Academy: The Academy consisted of expert input and workshops designed to train local administrations and cultural actors in international cultural urban development. The two-day Academy was organised locally in the participating city and offered three freely selectable modules. It was aimed at employees from cultural administration, economic development, urban planning, offices for international relations and tourism, as well as staff from local cultural institutions.
Cities Ahead Open Call: The optional Open Call was a global initiative to promote innovative and participatory creative projects in the participating cities. It provided an opportunity to involve artists, creatives, and the local population in the urban development process.
Modules
Building Creative City Ecosystems
Establishing cities as cultural centres and developing creative districts
Leveraging Culture for Sustainability
Utilising the potential of culture for sustainability-oriented urban development
Crafting Cultural Strategies
Strategic planning in cities and regions
Joining International Networks
Harnessing international initiatives for urban development
Working with Cultural Data
Collecting data and using it for urban development
Enabling Cultural Participation
Utilising citizen participation and involving communities in urban development
The Cities Ahead Academy Bratislava was organised by the Goethe-Institut in cooperation with the Metropolitan Institute of Bratislava on 26 and 27 November 2025 at TU-BA.
In partnership with the City of Essen’s culture department, the Goethe-Institut hosted the Cities Ahead Academy Essen at St. Gertrud Church’s former community hall on July 3 and 4, 2025.
The Cities Ahead Academy Krefeld was hosted by the Goethe-Institut in cooperation with the City of Krefeld on May 19 and 20, 2025 in the old Krefeld Stadtbad.
The Cities Ahead Academy Rüsselsheim am Main was organised by the Goethe-Institut in cooperation with the City of Rüsselsheim am Main on 04 and 05 March 2025.
The Cities Ahead Academy Oldenburg was organised by the Goethe-Institut in cooperation with the City of Oldenburg on 23 and 24 September 2024 at the Forum St. Peter Oldenburg.
The Cities Ahead Academy Göttingen was organised by the Goethe-Institut in cooperation with the City of Göttingen on 13 and 14 May 2024 at the Goethe-Institut Göttingen.
The Cities Ahead Academy Hamm was organised by the Goethe-Institut in cooperation with the city of Hamm on 29 February and 1 March 2024 at the Gustav-Lübcke-Museum Hamm.
The Cities Ahead Academy Logroño was organised by the Goethe-Institut in cooperation with the Cultural Department of the City of Logroño and Museo Würth La Rioja on 28 April 2023.
The Cities Ahead Academy Augsburg was organised by the Goethe-Institut in cooperation with the Department for Culture, World Heritage and Sport of the City of Augsburg from 1-3 February 2023.
