Integrating culture and urban planning
Cologne advocates for the integrating cultural spaces into urban planning practice. The city is at the forefront of transforming commercial centres in cities by repurposing vacant space in pedestrian zones into cultural spaces open to all. For example, the city museum has recently moved into a former department store and the city library will temporarily move into a former shopping centre on the main commercial in 2024
Fostering a sustainable culture
Cologne has set ambitious climate targets and is aiming for climate neutrality by 2035. In pursuit of this goal, the city is establishing new standards for a sustainable culture. In September 2023, the Department of Art and Culture launched the “Köln hoch 3” project. This initiative includes the professional training programme “Transformation Manager Sustainable Culture” and the creation of climate balance sheets. By the end of October 2023,19 representatives from 17 multidisciplinary cultural institutions in Cologne successfully completed the training. Nine cross-sector cultural institutions were involved in creating a climate balance sheet for monitoring greenhouse gas emissions
Documenting the past for future generations
In Cologne, a key focus is on documenting the past for future generations. The NS-Documentation Centre is dedicated to commemorating, researching, and communicating the history of Cologne under National Socialism. It is based in the EL-DE-House, which served as the headquarters of the Cologne police from December 1935 to March 1945.
The EL-DE-House was named after its builder, Leopold Dahmen. During the Nazi era, it became a symbol of terror in Cologne and the Rhineland. From this location, Gestapo officers orchestrated the systematic surveillance of the population and spread violence and terror.
A unique feature of the EL-DE-House is the former house prison in the cellar, which still contains over 1,800 inscriptions by prisoners. These inscriptions and drawings on the cell walls serve as a poignant and largely unchanged memorial to the suffering endured by those held there.
