---
title: Infrastructure
type: taxonomy_archive
taxonomy: topic
slug: infrastructure
term_id: 55
permalink: "https://worldcitiescultureforum.com/topic/infrastructure/"
post_count: 101
---

# Infrastructure

Posts in this archive: 101

- [CULTURAL SPACES: How Adelaide is boosting its cultural offering and tourism with a $400 million expansion of an iconic market](https://worldcitiescultureforum.com/wp-content/uploads/wp-mfa-exports/city-project/adelaide-develops-market-square-district.md) — Find out how Adelaide Central Market’s $400 million expansion and the creation of New Market Square will transform the city’s cultural and culinary heart, balancing heritage preservation with economic growth.
- [City of Music: How Adelaide protected its live music venues through special purpose legislation ](https://worldcitiescultureforum.com/wp-content/uploads/wp-mfa-exports/city-project/city-of-music-how-adelaide-protected-its-live-music-venues-through-special-purpose-legislation.md) — The Planning, Development and Infrastructure Amendment Act 2024 is the first Australian law to formally establish a designated “live music venue area” within a city centre. This special purpose legislation was created to save a landmark live music venue – the Crown and Anchor hotel – from demolition and development. 

This case highlights the delicate balance between cultural vibrancy and urban planning. Maintaining live music spaces is not only a matter of nostalgia but an essential component of a city’s social and economic fabric.
- [How the Chicago Monuments Project is reimagining public memory through equity and art ](https://worldcitiescultureforum.com/wp-content/uploads/wp-mfa-exports/city-project/the-chicago-monuments-project.md)
- [Culture After Dark: Three Ways Cities Are Supercharging the Night-Time Economy](https://worldcitiescultureforum.com/wp-content/uploads/wp-mfa-exports/post/culture-after-dark-three-ways-cities-are-supercharging-the-night-time-economy.md) — Cities from Guangzhou to Toronto are increasingly placing culture at the heart of their night-time economies. Our 5th Edition World Cities Culture Report  shows that what was once an overlooked policy area is now firmly mainstream: 97% of cities are actively supporting night-time initiatives.
- [Cities Step Forward: How Pedestrianisation is Powering Culture in the Streets ](https://worldcitiescultureforum.com/wp-content/uploads/wp-mfa-exports/post/pedestrianisation-cultural-tool-inclusive-cities.md) — From Barcelona to Bogotá, cities are embracing the power of pedestrianisation. By turning roads into people-first spaces, they are opening streets to culture, creativity and community life
- [5th World Cities Culture Report Reveals Culture Is Driving Urban Innovation Worldwide](https://worldcitiescultureforum.com/wp-content/uploads/wp-mfa-exports/post/launch-world-cities-culture-report-5th.md) — New report shows cultural participation is rebounding strongly, creative spaces are being protected, and the night-time economy has become a mainstream policy focus for global cities.
- [Inclusive public art empowering unhoused creatives in Austin ](https://worldcitiescultureforum.com/wp-content/uploads/wp-mfa-exports/city-project/art-for-all-austin-public-art-initiative-2.md) — Art for All is a public art initiative in Austin led by Raasin in the Sun and the City of Austin, offering paid creative opportunities to unhoused individuals. By transforming public spaces with community-driven murals, the programme promotes an inclusive culture and supports access to social services. Through mentorship, workshops, and storytelling, it fosters connection, skill-building, and financial stability – making public art more accessible for all while enriching Austin’s public realm strategy.
- [Sikka Arts Festival: A multidisciplinary celebration of local creativity in Dubai ](https://worldcitiescultureforum.com/wp-content/uploads/wp-mfa-exports/city-project/dubai-sikka-art-and-design-festival.md) — Dubai’s Sikka Art and Design Festival has grown into a year-round initiative that supports emerging creatives across disciplines, revitalises historic districts, and drives cultural participation while positioning the city as a regional hub for innovation and artistic talent.
- [Impact Measurement: Dubai’s first ever creative impact report shows culture is a huge economic driver for local and foreign investment](https://worldcitiescultureforum.com/wp-content/uploads/wp-mfa-exports/city-project/dubai-creative-impact-report.md) — Dubai’s first Creative Impact Report reveals that the city’s cultural and creative industries contribute significantly to GDP, jobs, and foreign investment, positioning culture as a central driver of economic growth, innovation, and global recognition.
- [Hamburg’s INTRO programme connects professional artists in exile and cultural institutions](https://worldcitiescultureforum.com/wp-content/uploads/wp-mfa-exports/city-project/hamburg-intro-programme-for-refugee-artists.md) — Launched in 2019 by Hamburg’s Ministry of Culture and Media, the INTRO programme supports refugee artists through institutional partnerships, workshops, and funding. The initiative aims to foster cultural inclusion, challenge restrictive institutional norms, and promote mutual learning and cultural exchange. By enabling 12-month collaborations, it helps artists build networks and visibility, while supporting cultural institutions in evolving toward more inclusive, anti-discriminatory practices rooted in global dialogue.
- [Inclusive Public Art: How Helsinki’s Biennales are making art accessible in the city and its islands ](https://worldcitiescultureforum.com/wp-content/uploads/wp-mfa-exports/city-project/helsinki-biennial.md) — Since 2021, Helsinki Biennial has been held all around the city and its 300 islands. This cultural festival by the City of Helsinki embodies their ambitious cultural vision to develop the city’s art scene through inclusive public art; and combine art with the beauty of Helsinki’s natural spaces and islands. 2025 will mark the Helsinki Biennial’s third edition, attracting new visitors to the city and boosting the local economy.
- [Heritage Infrastructure: Transforming İstanbul’s 19th-century Rami Barracks into Rami Library](https://worldcitiescultureforum.com/wp-content/uploads/wp-mfa-exports/city-project/istanbul-rami-library.md) — The transformation of İstanbul’s 19th-century Rami Barracks into the Rami Library has created one of Türkiye’s largest cultural hubs, blending heritage conservation with innovative services to support lifelong learning, research, and community life.
- [Communities: Using a maritime museum to drive local economic development in Jakarta](https://worldcitiescultureforum.com/wp-content/uploads/wp-mfa-exports/city-project/jakarta-museum-for-local-economic-development-for-social-changes.md) — Jakarta’s Museum for Local Economic Development for Social Changes initiative (MLEADS) is a pioneering programme at Museum Bahari Jakarta, turning heritage into a tool for social and economic development. Through creative training, youth engagement, and cultural activities, the programme supports the Penjaringan community while aligning with Sustainable Development Goals. Backed by government and private partners, MLEADS empowers residents and repositions the museum as a living resource for inclusive urban development.
- [Cultural Resilience: Three ways Kyiv is supporting culture during conflict](https://worldcitiescultureforum.com/wp-content/uploads/wp-mfa-exports/city-project/cultural-resilience-three-ways-kyiv-is-supporting-culture-during-conflict.md)
- [Library Strategy: How Lisbon Library Network is strengthening libraries as a cultural and social ecosystem](https://worldcitiescultureforum.com/wp-content/uploads/wp-mfa-exports/city-project/lisbon-library-network.md) — The Lisbon Library Network functions as an integrated municipal system connecting libraries across the city’s neighbourhoods. The network’s Strategic Programme 2025–2035 ensures that this ecosystem continues to thrive, adapting to technological, social and urban transformations while reinforcing the library’s role at the heart of Lisbon’s cultural policy.
- [How night-time cultural policy can regenerate town centres](https://worldcitiescultureforum.com/wp-content/uploads/wp-mfa-exports/city-project/bromley-night-time-enterprise-zone-cultural-regeneration.md) — In 2022, Bromley became one of the first boroughs to join the Mayor of London’s Night Time Enterprise Zone programme. Using strategic cultural programming and evening activation – like Library Lates and a Winter Lights Festival – the initiative significantly reversed high street decline, boosted footfall and positioned the town centre as a safe, welcoming, and culturally vibrant destination after dark by providing experiences for all.
- [Inclusive Public Art: Los Angeles’ Public Artists in Development programme for underrepresented artists ](https://worldcitiescultureforum.com/wp-content/uploads/wp-mfa-exports/city-project/los-angeles-county-public-artists-in-development.md) — In 2023, Los Angeles County’s Civic Art Division launched Public Artists in Development (PAiD), a new initiative funded by the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation. Through funding, apprenticeships and professional development, it directly addresses the lack of equitable representation in public art by investing in the participation of underrepresented artists – including BIPOC, LGBTQ+, disabled, self-taught, and emerging artists. It offers a replicable model to diversify and democratise access to public commissions.
- [Supporting Melbourne’s d/Deaf and Disabled artists through The Warehouse Residency ](https://worldcitiescultureforum.com/wp-content/uploads/wp-mfa-exports/city-project/warehouse-residency-for-deaf-and-disabled-artists.md) — The Warehouse Residency is City of Melbourne’s flagship programme for d/Deaf and Disabled artists, offering access-led support, funding, and leadership opportunities. Designed with artists and grounded in disability justice, it supports bold, interdisciplinary work while challenging structural barriers in the arts. Since 2021, the programme has supported 40+ creatives, with plans to expand into producing, digital formats, and enhanced access budgets through 2028.
- [A Network of City Wide Festivals: Milan is alive](https://worldcitiescultureforum.com/wp-content/uploads/wp-mfa-exports/city-project/milan-is-alive.md)
- [Open-Air Museum: How Milan turned a new park into a cultural destination ](https://worldcitiescultureforum.com/wp-content/uploads/wp-mfa-exports/city-project/milan-art-line.md)
- [Participatory Murals: A ‘Name in Every Neighbourhood’ of Milan ](https://worldcitiescultureforum.com/wp-content/uploads/wp-mfa-exports/city-project/milan-a-name-in-every-neighbourhood.md)
- [Museum Expansion: How Montréal tripled its city museum size, team and programming co-created by citizens](https://worldcitiescultureforum.com/wp-content/uploads/wp-mfa-exports/city-project/museum-expansion-how-montreal-tripled-its-city-museum-size-team-and-programming-100-co-created-by-citizens.md) — Between 2019 and 2024, Montreal transformed its city museum into MEM – Centre des mémoires montréalaises. Now located in the Quartier des spectacles, MEM tripled in size and was co-designed with over 75 citizens through a participatory planning process. With exhibitions co-created by community groups and inclusive governance at its core, MEM redefines the city museum as a civic space rooted in memory, diversity, and belonging.
- [Cultural Appreciation: How Nanjing is integrating aesthetic education into urban life](https://worldcitiescultureforum.com/wp-content/uploads/wp-mfa-exports/city-project/nanjing-social-aesthetic-education-initiative.md) — In 2024, Nanjing launched a cultural strategy focused on three areas: revitalising public spaces, nurturing humanistic aesthetic values, and promoting city-wide aesthetic awareness. 53 projects were piloted to engage citizens with art and beauty through public space revitalization, evening classes, and cultural programming. Supported by digital campaigns and volunteer networks, the initiative enhances cultural wellbeing and offers a replicable model for embedding aesthetic education into urban policy and city planning.
- [Opening Doors: The app making Oslo’s municipal buildings accessible after-hours to activate cultural volunteering](https://worldcitiescultureforum.com/wp-content/uploads/wp-mfa-exports/city-project/oslonokkelen-after-hours-culture-app.md) — To support community life and volunteer engagement, Oslo is opening up municipal buildings through Oslo Booking and The Oslo Key – digital solutions for reserving and accessing schools and civic venues for culture and the community. The initiative addresses the growing need for free and flexible indoor spaces, removes bureaucratic barriers, and extends access beyond regular opening hours. In 2024 alone, 4.5 million hours of volunteer activity were booked at municipal venues, revitalising underused infrastructure to support inclusive cultural life citywide.
- [A Place Becoming: Anchoring community amid urban change in Oslo](https://worldcitiescultureforum.com/wp-content/uploads/wp-mfa-exports/city-project/oslo-mortensrud-anchoring-communities-with-art-amid-urban-change.md) — As Oslo grows rapidly, the city’s public art strategy ensures new developments reflect the identity and voices of existing communities.  In Mortensrud, for instance, artists collaborated with residents to embed local histories into redevelopment.  Projects such as Last Station Mortensrud and Together We Can Move Mountains use photography, performance, and digital art to honour everyday life and lost landmarks. The approach fosters dialogue, preserves memory, and places cultural heritage at the centre of urban change.
- [Cultural Infrastructure: How Paris integrated a media library and a refugee house](https://worldcitiescultureforum.com/wp-content/uploads/wp-mfa-exports/city-project/james-baldwin-media-library-and-refugee-house-paris.md) — The James-Baldwin Media Library and the Refugee House form a pioneering dual institution located in the former Jean-Quarré High School in Paris’s 19th arrondissement. Designed to serve both local residents and newcomers, this collaborative cultural and social hub fosters community integration, mutual understanding, and inclusive access to public services. The two facilities represent a bold response to contemporary urban challenges through innovative use of public space.
- [Théâtre de la Concorde: Where Art Meets Democracy](https://worldcitiescultureforum.com/wp-content/uploads/wp-mfa-exports/city-project/paris-theatre-de-la-concorde.md) — The Théâtre de la Concorde embodies the City of Paris’s commitment to use culture as a lever for democracy and social change. As the city’s first municipal theatre, it is designed as a public space for all, located at the base of the Avenue des Champs-Élysées. This prestigious yet unexpected setting invites people with little prior cultural engagement to participate. The theatre is addressing the defining democratic issues of our time through artistic creation, debate, and direct citizen involvement.
- [Reimagining San Francisco’s public monuments through equity and engagement](https://worldcitiescultureforum.com/wp-content/uploads/wp-mfa-exports/city-project/shaping-legacy-san-francisco-inclusive-review-of-public-monuments.md) — Launched by the San Francisco Arts Commission in 2023 and funded by the Mellon Foundation, Shaping Legacy is a groundbreaking initiative reimagining the city’s monuments to reflect more inclusive public histories. Centred on community engagement and a comprehensive art audit, the programme critiques existing representations and commissions new temporary artworks. It marks a major step in equitable cultural policy, ensuring public space honours San Francisco’s full diversity of voices and experiences.
- [Art in Transit: How San Francisco is integrating public art into its transportation infrastructure](https://worldcitiescultureforum.com/wp-content/uploads/wp-mfa-exports/city-project/art-in-transit-how-san-francisco-is-integrating-public-art-into-its-transportation-infrastructure.md) — San Francisco’s 2% for Art Program transforms transit infrastructure into cultural landmarks, embedding site-specific artworks that celebrate neighbourhood identity and weave creativity into the city’s daily rhythms of movement.
- [How São Paulo’s Spcine Circuit is transforming cultural access through public cinemas](https://worldcitiescultureforum.com/wp-content/uploads/wp-mfa-exports/city-project/spcine-circuit-public-cinemas-sao-paulo.md) — Launched in 2016, the Spcine Circuit has become one of Brazil’s most significant public cinema networks, transforming São Paulo’s cultural infrastructure and making access to film a civic right. With 32 public cinema rooms across 27 educational and cultural centres, the initiative brings free or low-cost cinema to underserved regions of the city—strengthening local identity, stimulating the audiovisual economy, and advancing cultural inclusion.
- [How Seoul's Outdoor Libraries redefined public reading spaces across the city](https://worldcitiescultureforum.com/wp-content/uploads/wp-mfa-exports/city-project/seoul-outdoor-library.md) — Seoul’s Outdoor Library initiative, launched in 2022, redefines urban public spaces by transforming them into open-air reading environments. With installations in Seoul Plaza, Gwanghwamun Square, and Cheonggyecheon Stream, the programme offers diverse literary and cultural experiences. Attracting over five million visitors by 2024, it has revitalised reading habits, inspired nationwide adoption, and earned international recognition, showcasing the power of innovative cultural policy in urban settings.
- [Art Festival_Seoul: How Seoul unified seven seasonal festivals into a cohesive annual programme](https://worldcitiescultureforum.com/wp-content/uploads/wp-mfa-exports/city-project/art-festival-seoul.md) — Art Festival_Seoul merges seven arts festivals into a continuous seasonal format across the year, hosted in central public spaces like Nodeul Island and Seoul Plaza. With expanded programming and improved accessibility services, attendance more than doubled from 2022 to 2024. The festival supports a wider range of artists and offers citizens diverse opportunities to experience culture in everyday life, contributing to Seoul’s post-pandemic cultural renewal.
- [How Stockholm has dedicated workers to establish new cultural spaces](https://worldcitiescultureforum.com/wp-content/uploads/wp-mfa-exports/city-project/stockholm-culture-pilots.md) — Since 2016, Stockholm’s Culture Pilots have supported cultural actors and property owners in transforming underused spaces into vibrant cultural venues. Acting as matchmakers and advisors, the Pilots guide projects from idea to opening, offering coaching, funding advice, and help navigating city processes. From industrial sites turned into stages to former shops reimagined as music studios, the initiative has activated spaces citywide, proving that cultural infrastructure needs both vision and practical support to thrive.
- [Library Lab: Stockholm using UX methods to improve libraries](https://worldcitiescultureforum.com/wp-content/uploads/wp-mfa-exports/city-project/stockholm-library-lab.md) — To deepen cultural participation, Stockholm City Library has embedded user experience (UX) methods into daily practice across its 40 branches. At the Library Lab in Liljeholmen, launched in 2024 as a four-year experiment, staff use agile, user-led sprints to co-design future library services with local residents. From parent breakfasts to youth-led space redesigns, the Lab gathers insights to inform a major new library. The initiative has become a model for inclusive, needs-driven cultural infrastructure.
- [Creative Placemaking: How Sydney embedded public art into new developments](https://worldcitiescultureforum.com/wp-content/uploads/wp-mfa-exports/city-project/sydney-public-art-in-new-development.md) — Since 2011, Sydney’s City Art Strategy has embedded high-quality public art into new private developments, guided by the city’s planning system and its Sustainable Sydney 2030-2050 vision. Developments over AUD 10 are required to incorporate public art and encouraged to allocate a minimum budget of 1% of construction costs, with support from a dedicated public art team and advisory panel. Over 750 public art plans have been submitted, enabling hundreds of artists to contribute to Sydney’s cultural landscape through collaborative, site-specific works.
- [Creative Hoardings: How Sydney made construction hoardings beautiful](https://worldcitiescultureforum.com/wp-content/uploads/wp-mfa-exports/city-project/sydney-creative-hoardings.md) — Since 2016, Sydney’s Creative Hoardings program has transformed over 320 construction sites into outdoor galleries, showcasing the work of contemporary Australian artists. Introduced as part of the Creative City Action Plan, it mandates creative graphics on hoardings, enhancing public space while regulating advertising. Artists are paid above-industry rates for licensed designs, offered to developers free of charge. The initiative has boosted artist visibility, reduced graffiti, and become a model for cultural integration in urban development.
- [Songshan Cultural and Creative Park: A cultural ecosystem incubator in Taipei ](https://worldcitiescultureforum.com/wp-content/uploads/wp-mfa-exports/city-project/taipei-songshan-cultural-and-creative-park.md) — Once the Songshan Tobacco Factory, Songshan Cultural and Creative Park (SCCP) has become one of Taipei’s most significant creative workspaces since its reopening in 2011. Dedicated to preserving industrial heritage and promoting creative industries, the park has established itself as “Taipei City’s Hub for Originality.” Not only is it boosting cultural offerings for city residents and visitors, SCCP also successfully incubates Taiwanese fashion brands for international markets. 
- [Helsinki’s new museum for sustainable architecture and inclusive Nordic design](https://worldcitiescultureforum.com/wp-content/uploads/wp-mfa-exports/city-project/architecture-and-design-museum-helsinki.md) — The new Architecture and Design Museum in Helsinki will open in 2030, uniting two legacy institutions into a sustainable, inclusive, and globally significant cultural hub. Located in the city’s historic South Harbour, the museum will showcase Nordic design, support professional development, and foster public engagement. It reflects Helsinki’s strategic investment in cultural infrastructure and positions the city as a global leader in sustainable architecture and creative placemaking.
- [START Box Tokyo’s creative affordable workspaces](https://worldcitiescultureforum.com/wp-content/uploads/wp-mfa-exports/city-project/tokyo-start-box.md) — Land prices in Tokyo surged post-Covid which led to increased rents for artist studios and gallery spaces. So in 2023, Tokyo launched START Box, a project to let out vacant spaces – owned by Tokyo Metropolitan Government, Arts Council Tokyo, Tokyo Metropolitan Foundation for History and Culture and other partners – as creative workspaces at affordable rates to local artists. By the end of 2024, 45 artists used the spaces to create, collaborate and display their work.
- [Accessibility in Major Events: Positioning culture at the heart of Tokyo’s 2025 Games](https://worldcitiescultureforum.com/wp-content/uploads/wp-mfa-exports/city-project/tokyos-2025-games-cultural-programme.md) — In 2025, as Tokyo hosts the World Athletics Championships and the Deaflympics, the city is integrating arts and culture into its global spotlight, using the moment to champion accessibility, inclusion, and long-term cultural legacy alongside sporting excellence.
- [How Toronto responded to the insolvency of Toronto Artscape Inc.](https://worldcitiescultureforum.com/wp-content/uploads/wp-mfa-exports/city-project/toronto-artscape-insolvency-response.md) — In 2023, the collapse of non-profit developer Artscape threatened 14 affordable cultural properties and nearly 400 tenancies. The City of Toronto responded with swift legal, operational, and financial action - securing a court ruling to protect 91% of tenancies from sale and providing emergency property management. Working with community partners, the City mobilised to save the remaining 9% of tenancies, enabling tenant-led ownership of key sites and backing Canada’s first cultural land trust. The intervention preserved critical infrastructure and created a new model for cultural resilience.
- [A New Era for Vienna’s City Museum](https://worldcitiescultureforum.com/wp-content/uploads/wp-mfa-exports/city-project/wien-museum-vienna.md) — Reopened in 2023 after a major city-funded renovation, the Wien Museum blends architectural preservation with bold expansion. A ‘floating’ concrete cube adds two new floors of exhibition space, while geothermal systems, solar panels, and inclusive design signal a commitment to sustainability and access. Operated by the Museums of the City of Vienna, the project drew on over a decade of public dialogue. Since reopening, the museum has become one of Vienna’s most popular cultural destinations, also earning the Austrian Eco-Label for sustainability
- [Foto Wien: Strengthening Vienna’s cultural infrastructure ](https://worldcitiescultureforum.com/wp-content/uploads/wp-mfa-exports/city-project/vienna-foto-arsenal-wien.md) — Foto Arsenal Wien is a publicly funded institution dedicated to contemporary photography and lens-based media. Following a EUR 3 million renovation of a historic building in the Arsenal complex, it offers exhibitions, workshops, and education programmes for all ages. With state-of-the-art facilities and up to 12 shows annually, it has quickly become a cornerstone of Vienna’s cultural infrastructure and a leading venue for photographic innovation and public engagement.
- [Cultural Infrastructure: Establishing a dedicated Pavilion of Dance in Warsaw ](https://worldcitiescultureforum.com/wp-content/uploads/wp-mfa-exports/city-project/warsaw-pavilion-of-dance.md) — Responding to a long-standing gap in infrastructure, the City of Warsaw is establishing the Pavilion of Dance and Other Performing Arts – a dedicated venue for contemporary dance and performance. Housed in the repurposed Pavilion on the Vistula – a former temporary Museum of Modern Art space – the initiative was shaped through deep consultation with the dance community and participatory architectural design. Set to launch a one-year pilot in 2025, the Pavilion marks a milestone in Warsaw’s cultural development, fostering visibility, creation, and connection for the performing arts.
- [Cultural Infrastructure: Warsaw’s award-winning new Museum of Modern Art ](https://worldcitiescultureforum.com/wp-content/uploads/wp-mfa-exports/city-project/warsaw-museum-of-modern-art.md) — In October 2024, after nearly 20 years as a nomadic institution, the Museum of Modern Art in Warsaw (MSN Warsaw) opened its first permanent home in the heart of the city, next to the Palace of Culture and Science. Designed by Thomas Phifer, the minimalist, light-filled building offers 4,500m² of exhibition space, a theatre, and public forums. Already drawing international acclaim and thousands of visitors, the museum is revitalising central Warsaw as a cultural hub and cementing the city’s status as a centre for contemporary art.
- [Public Art: Inaugural Abu Dhabi Biennial explores relationship between public life and culture](https://worldcitiescultureforum.com/wp-content/uploads/wp-mfa-exports/city-project/public-art-abu-dhabi-biennial.md) — From November 2024 to April 2025, the inaugural Public Art Abu Dhabi Biennial “Place Matters” explored the evolving concept of public space in Abu Dhabi through the lens of four main factors: environment, community, urbanity, and indigeneity. Featuring over 70 site-specific art installations by UAE and international artists, this public art strategy transformed Abu Dhabi into an emirate-wide celebration of art, culture, and community, while encouraging cultural participation.
- [How Abu Dhabi is protecting culturally significant buildings](https://worldcitiescultureforum.com/wp-content/uploads/wp-mfa-exports/city-project/abu-dhabi-modern-heritage-conservation-initiative.md) — Launched in 2023, Abu Dhabi’s Modern Heritage initiative identifies, safeguards, and maintains sites that have shaped Abu Dhabi’s cultural identity in the last 50 years. These sites are safeguarded for future generations due to their architectural, historical, societal, or scientific importance. The first 64 buildings conserved include a school, sports centre, hotels, and markets that have become culturally significant landmarks, serving as paradigms of architectural design and urban planning.
- [Significantly expanding Abu Dhabi’s cultural infrastructure](https://worldcitiescultureforum.com/wp-content/uploads/wp-mfa-exports/city-project/saadiyat-cultural-district-abu-dhabi.md) — To solidify its role as a nexus of cultural innovation and attract 39.3 million visitors by 2030, Abu Dhabi has developed the Saadiyat Cultural District, which is home to world-class museums – including the Louvre Abu Dhabi and Guggenheim Abu Dhabi – cultural institutions, arts schools, and other facilities. In addition to significantly increasing the city’s cultural infrastructure, the district will promote cultural exchange, harness the power of creativity, and foster cultural diversity among visitors and residents alike.
- [Data-led cultural mapping in Amsterdam](https://worldcitiescultureforum.com/wp-content/uploads/wp-mfa-exports/city-project/cultural-infrastructure-data-led-cultural-mapping-in-amsterdam.md) — Amsterdam’s rapid population growth strained its cultural infrastructure, with unevenly distributed facilities and declining availability of affordable creative workspaces. In response, the City of Amsterdam mapped all cultural spaces to identify gaps and inform strategic investment. This data-driven approach led to targeted development across districts — such as a proposed music street, new exhibition spaces, and theatres — enhancing cultural infrastructure and increasing cultural participation citywide.
- [National Slavery Museum in Amsterdam: A Model for Cultural Reconciliation and Inclusive Cultural Policy](https://worldcitiescultureforum.com/wp-content/uploads/wp-mfa-exports/city-project/amsterdam-dutch-national-slavery-museum.md) — The City of Amsterdam has played a leading role in initiating a new National Slavery Museum which is due to open in 2030. The EUR 115 million project – jointly funded by the City of Amsterdam and the Dutch Ministry of Education, Culture & Science – aims to tell the whole Dutch slavery story, and involve grassroots communities to bring about reconciliation, social change, healing and recovery by facing, acknowledging and processing the past.
- [Creative Space: How Austin’s Cultural Trust has developed affordable art spaces ](https://worldcitiescultureforum.com/wp-content/uploads/wp-mfa-exports/city-project/rally-austin-cultural-trust-for-affordable-art-space-2.md) — Launched in 2020, Rally Austin (formerly AEDC) protects Austin’s cultural identity by creating affordable cultural spaces through public real estate tools. Its Cultural Trust supports venues in key districts, including The Hole in the Wall and The Broken Spoke. With USD 152 million in active projects, Rally Austin is pioneering a model of artist-led stewardship, ensuring long-term affordability and sustainability for the city’s creative infrastructure.
- [Barcelona's Creative Factories Fàbriques de Creació](https://worldcitiescultureforum.com/wp-content/uploads/wp-mfa-exports/city-project/barcelona-fabriques-de-creacio-creative-factories.md) — The Fàbriques de Creació (Creative Factories) programme is a pioneering initiative of the Barcelona City Council’s Department of Culture (ICUB). Since 2007, it has transformed over 11 disused industrial buildings into 30,000 m² of inclusive, affordable and multidisciplinary spaces for artistic creation, research, production, and public presentation
- [Art Everywhere: Cologne’s advertising pillars turned into open-air art museum](https://worldcitiescultureforum.com/wp-content/uploads/wp-mfa-exports/city-project/art-on-cologne-advertising-pillars.md)
- [How Cologne used culture to revive Neumarkt Square](https://worldcitiescultureforum.com/wp-content/uploads/wp-mfa-exports/city-project/cologne-cultural-activation-of-neumarkt-square.md) — Once Cologne’s historic Neumarkt square was better known for decline than community. In 2023, the city launched Take a Seat—a cultural programme combining temporary architecture, performances, and community co-creation—to reclaim the square as a safe, vibrant civic space. Over two summer months, Neumarkt was transformed into a hub of cultural life, offering a model for how cities can use culture to spark urban renewal.
- [How Dublin used culture to strategically boost its nightlife ](https://worldcitiescultureforum.com/wp-content/uploads/wp-mfa-exports/city-project/dublin-night-time-economy-strategy-2.md) — In 2024, Dublin launched a new Night-Time Economy Strategy to reimagine nightlife as a key pillar of civic and cultural life. Led by the city’s first Night-Time Economy Adviser, the plan expands late-night cultural programming, enhances transport, and improves safety. With flagship events like Dublin By Night Fest and St. Patrick’s After Dark, the strategy promotes inclusive and vibrant after-dark engagement while piloting welfare services and safer city experiences.
- [One Dublin, One Book brings the city together through literature](https://worldcitiescultureforum.com/wp-content/uploads/wp-mfa-exports/city-project/one-dublin-one-book-2.md) — Every April since 2005, Dublin residents have been encouraged to read the same book either written by a Dubliner or connected with the capital city, through the One Dublin, One Book campaign. To mark the 20th year of this mass cultural participation event, Dublin City Council and Dublin UNESCO City of Literature commissioned an anthology of 22 poets and writers to capture Dublin in the first quarter of the century.
- [Delivering sustainable artist workspaces in Dublin](https://worldcitiescultureforum.com/wp-content/uploads/wp-mfa-exports/city-project/dublin-space-to-create-artist-workspaces-2.md) — Dublin City Council’s Space to Create programme responds to a critical shortage of artist workspaces by refurbishing vacant buildings into long-term, affordable studios. With €9.5 million in funding from the City Council, the Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media, and philanthropy, the initiative will deliver 40 workspaces by 2027. The first site at Artane Place highlights a model of cultural infrastructure driven by local engagement, sustainability, and inclusive cultural policy.
- [Cultural Participation: How the London Borough of Culture made art accessible to all ](https://worldcitiescultureforum.com/wp-content/uploads/wp-mfa-exports/city-project/waltham-forest-london-borough-of-culture.md) — The Mayor’s London Borough of Culture programme offers a borough of the capital £1.35 million to stage a year of cultural initiatives and better integrate culture in their borough. Waltham Forest was the first ever London Borough of Culture in 2019. After 1,000 events that attracted 500,000 people and £4.1 million locally, the borough has created a new Creative Enterprise Zone for artists and a new Cultural Quarter for visitors.
- [Tourism Tax: Edinburgh is introducing the UK’s first Visitor Levy](https://worldcitiescultureforum.com/wp-content/uploads/wp-mfa-exports/city-project/edinburgh-visitor-levy.md) — From July 2026, Edinburgh will introduce the UK’s first Visitor Levy, generating sustainable funding for culture, heritage, infrastructure, and community wellbeing while promoting responsible tourism and strengthening the city’s global cultural leadership.
- [How London’s Creative Enterprise Zones are supporting artists](https://worldcitiescultureforum.com/wp-content/uploads/wp-mfa-exports/city-project/creative-enterprise-zones-london-cultural-policy.md) — Launched in 2017 by the Mayor of London, Creative Enterprise Zones (CEZs) safeguard affordable creative workspaces, foster cultural infrastructure, and expand access to creative careers. With 12 zones across 13 boroughs, the programme has supported over 1,000 training placements and helped grow creative businesses despite economic pressures. By embedding equity, sustainability, and economic strategy into cultural policy, Creative Enterprise Zones are shaping a more inclusive and resilient future for London’s creative economy.
- [Art for All: Amateurs and established artists participate in annual Brussels Carte de Visite art exhibition  ](https://worldcitiescultureforum.com/wp-content/uploads/wp-mfa-exports/city-project/brussels-carte-de-visite-artopenkunst-art-exhibition-2.md) — Launched in 2014, Brussels' collaborative, free and participatory art exhibition Carte de Visite | ArtOpenkunst has been showcasing hundreds of amateur and established artists every year. It has made art creation, exhibition and appreciation accessible to all. Since 2020, artists have competed for the Prix de la CENTRALE to exhibit their work together at CENTRALE, one of Brussels’ most important venues for international and local contemporary art.
- [How NYC Create in Place is protecting cultural space through cross-agency collaboration](https://worldcitiescultureforum.com/wp-content/uploads/wp-mfa-exports/city-project/nyc-create-in-place-cultural-space-support.md) — NYC Create in Place is a cross-agency initiative launched in 2024 to address the affordability crisis threatening the city’s cultural and creative sectors. Led by the NYC Department of Cultural Affairs, the programme supports organisations at risk of losing space or seeking to expand. Through casework, a resource hub, and interagency collaboration, the initiative has reached over 30 organisations, safeguarding and strengthening New York’s creative infrastructure.
- [How are cultural spaces in cities tackling the loneliness epidemic?    ](https://worldcitiescultureforum.com/wp-content/uploads/wp-mfa-exports/post/loneliness-in-cities.md) — From libraries reimagined as “people’s homes,” to outdoor reading plazas in Seoul and community gardens in New York, cities are finding creative ways to transform public spaces into places of connection. These cultural spaces aren’t just venues for books, art, or history—they are lifelines for belonging, wellbeing, and social bonds in an increasingly isolated urban world.
- [WORLD CITIES TO TACKLE CREATIVE SPACE CRISIS AT INAUGURAL CREATIVE LAND TRUST SUMMIT ](https://worldcitiescultureforum.com/wp-content/uploads/wp-mfa-exports/post/creative-land-trust-summit.md) — From 27-30 May 2025, cultural city leaders, funders, and developers from over 15 cities - including London, Sydney, Calgary, Helsinki, Austin - will be attending the inaugural Creative Land Trust Summit in San Francisco, where this model has been pioneered. 
- [A lesson in conservation: heritage experts restore Jakarta’s treasured monument ](https://worldcitiescultureforum.com/wp-content/uploads/wp-mfa-exports/city-project/a-lesson-in-conservation-heritage-experts-restore-jakartas-treasured-monument.md)
- [Sydney launches cultural strategy with plans for a new Creative Land Trust to boost affordable artist workspace](https://worldcitiescultureforum.com/wp-content/uploads/wp-mfa-exports/post/sydney-launches-cultural-strategy-with-plans-for-a-new-creative-land-trust-to-boost-affordable-artist-workspace.md) — Lord Mayor of Sydney, Clover Moore AO, has unveiled a new cultural strategy aimed at nurturing and expanding the city’s cultural life and workforce over the next decade. At the heart of this initiative is the establishment of a Creative Land Trust, designed to acquire and develop affordable workspace for Sydney’s artists, makers, musicians and performers. The Creative Land Trust model, first pioneered by San Francisco, is increasingly being used by creative cities to address the need for more creative workspaces. 
- [Kyiv’s cultural resistance: Culture inspiring hope, resilience and recovery](https://worldcitiescultureforum.com/wp-content/uploads/wp-mfa-exports/post/kyivs-cultural-resistance-culture-inspiring-hope-resilience-and-recovery.md) — Two years since Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, we explore the role of the ‘cultural front’ in protecting heritage, documenting the war and providing hope for the future
- [How the world's oldest transport network is changing to embrace cultural diversity in London](https://worldcitiescultureforum.com/wp-content/uploads/wp-mfa-exports/city-project/how-the-worlds-oldest-transport-network-is-changing-to-embrace-cultural-diversity.md) — London has updated its famous transport map to reflect it's rich cultural diversity after engaging with communities.
- [Is the power shift in cultural education driven by cities? ](https://worldcitiescultureforum.com/wp-content/uploads/wp-mfa-exports/post/is-the-power-shift-in-cultural-education-driven-by-cities.md) — Statistics from NASA reveal that 98% of 5-year-old children fall into the "genius category of imagination." However, this number drops to 12% for 15-year-olds and further decreases to 2% for adults. It's disheartening that many schools don’t focus enough on developing curiosity and creativity.
- [Innovative museums set to open globally in 2024](https://worldcitiescultureforum.com/wp-content/uploads/wp-mfa-exports/post/innovative-museums-set-to-open-globally-in-2024.md)
- [Nanjing blends culture, business and tourism in its theatre revival](https://worldcitiescultureforum.com/wp-content/uploads/wp-mfa-exports/city-project/nanjing-blends-culture-business-and-tourism-in-its-theatre-revival.md) — Nanjing aims to strengthen its cultural landscape by creating and renovating not-for-profit studio theater spaces across the city. The objective is to build a stronger theater brand, encourage cultural integration, and promote the synergy of culture, business, and tourism.
- [From market to melting pot: how Brunnenpassage builds community through street culture](https://worldcitiescultureforum.com/wp-content/uploads/wp-mfa-exports/city-project/vienna-brunnenpassage.md) — Located in one of Vienna’s busiest street markets, Brunnenpassage stages around 400 events and 100 projects a year that are geared towards acclimatising newcomers to the city.
- [How a technology museum will elevate Bengalaru's innovation story](https://worldcitiescultureforum.com/wp-content/uploads/wp-mfa-exports/city-project/bengaluru-museum-of-innovation-startup-technology-mist-upcomingbengaluru.md) — Bengaluru, as a leading tech hub, is the location for a museum that honours India's tech pioneers.
The museum will showcase the rich history of Indian technology, solidifying Bengaluru's position as an
industry leader.
- [How old cinemas in Kyiv are being transformed into vibrant cultural hubs](https://worldcitiescultureforum.com/wp-content/uploads/wp-mfa-exports/city-project/kyiv-cultural-cluster.md) — The goal of the Kyiv Cultural Cluster is to transform the network of city cinemas into creative environments.
- [Leaving no on behind: Kyiv's path to accessible cultural institutions](https://worldcitiescultureforum.com/wp-content/uploads/wp-mfa-exports/city-project/nclusivity-of-cultural-institutions-a-space-of-equal-opportunities.md) — The issue of inclusive space is equally important for every society. However, for Ukraine, it has become acutely important due to the full-scale war, as the percentage of people with disabilities in the country is constantly growing.
- [Inclusivity at its core: unveiling the purpose of Melbourne's warehouse residency](https://worldcitiescultureforum.com/wp-content/uploads/wp-mfa-exports/city-project/the-warehouse-residency.md) — To address the gap in artistic development and residency opportunities that are designed for the needs of artists with disabilities, contemporary performance space Art House has introduced the Warehouse Residency.
- [From vandalism to legitimate art: Lisbon's inspiring transformation](https://worldcitiescultureforum.com/wp-content/uploads/wp-mfa-exports/city-project/lisbon-urban-art-gallery.md) — Urban Art Gallery aims to continue to expand street art’s reach throughout the city, giving street artists more spaces to work.
- [İstanbul's historical gem: Beyoğlu culture route raises awareness of city heritage](https://worldcitiescultureforum.com/wp-content/uploads/wp-mfa-exports/city-project/istanbul-beyoglu-culture-route.md) — The Beyoğlu Culture Route, developed by the Ministry of Culture and Tourism, is a major project that aims to highlight and share Turkey’s tangible and intangible cultural heritage with future generations.
- [São Paulo's journey from street art vandalism to world capital in mural painting](https://worldcitiescultureforum.com/wp-content/uploads/wp-mfa-exports/city-project/sao-paulo-museu-de-arte-de-rua-de-sao-paulo.md) — The Street Art Museum project was launched in 2019, and provides a framework for organising the distribution of new murals across buildings in the city. The project takes place across five regions within the city, and gathers work from a range of artists working in graffiti, stencils and photography
- [Public art with purpose: Toronto's art strategy takes inclusivity to the streets](https://worldcitiescultureforum.com/wp-content/uploads/wp-mfa-exports/city-project/toronto-public-art-strategy.md) — Toronto has more than 1,500 works of public art, which have been integral to community development, civic engagement, and urban design. Yet, despite the strengths of the collection, issues exist with gaps in representation, geographic distribution of the works, and its accessibility to the public, including the need for better interpretation.
- [Museums reconnect Barcelona's elderly community with cultural treasures](https://worldcitiescultureforum.com/wp-content/uploads/wp-mfa-exports/city-project/el-museu-sapropra-museum-approaches.md) — To tackle feelings of loneliness and isolation felt by older people living in Barcelona's nursing homes, a programme is facilitating access to cultural experiences for vulnerable people.
- [Dublin's international literary award: how a global network of 400 libraries contributes](https://worldcitiescultureforum.com/wp-content/uploads/wp-mfa-exports/city-project/dublin-literary-award-establishing-an-international-network.md) — Dublin's Literary Award is enabling global participation, not just for authors and audiences but for libraries too.
- [Why Brussels is redefining urban art as an expression of freedom and inclusivity](https://worldcitiescultureforum.com/wp-content/uploads/wp-mfa-exports/city-project/urban-and-public-art-in-brussels.md) — A pioneering approach to enabling a lively street art scene, ranging from music to contemporary sculpture, festivals, events, performance art and graffiti.
- [INFRASTRUCTURE](https://worldcitiescultureforum.com/wp-content/uploads/wp-mfa-exports/city/infrastructure.md)
- [INFRASTRUCTURE](https://worldcitiescultureforum.com/wp-content/uploads/wp-mfa-exports/city/infrastructure.md) — There are a number of new infrastructure projects underway, such as the new centrally located site of the Museum of Modern Art (MSN), a large drama theatre, TR Warszawa and the Sinfonia Varsovia Orchestra.
- [INFRASTRUCTURE](https://worldcitiescultureforum.com/wp-content/uploads/wp-mfa-exports/city/infrastructure.md) — A new Waterfront Public Art Trail is being planned in Toronto’s transformed Port Lands, thanks to a $25 million donation from the Pierre Lassonde Family Foundation.
- [INFRASTRUCTURE](https://worldcitiescultureforum.com/wp-content/uploads/wp-mfa-exports/city/infrastructure.md) — Taipei Music Centre opened in 2020 as the country’s home for Chinese language pop music. It includes a concert hall which holds up to 5000 people, and a creative hub to cultivate local talent.
- [Toronto's monumental shift: Dundas Street renaming sparks global conversation](https://worldcitiescultureforum.com/wp-content/uploads/wp-mfa-exports/city-project/renaming-dundas-street.md) — Reconsidering statues and street names in the public realm and ensuring that the most impacted community voices are heard.
- [Celebrating Lagos: John Randle Centre pays tribute to Yoruba legacy](https://worldcitiescultureforum.com/wp-content/uploads/wp-mfa-exports/city-project/john-randle-centre-for-yoruba-history-and-culture.md) — Arts and culture venues in Lagos have historically been elitist. A newly restored cultural space is championing culture for all as it regenerates a major new history and leisure venue.
- [Herzog & de Meuron elevated Hamburg's Elbphilharmonie to global prominence](https://worldcitiescultureforum.com/wp-content/uploads/wp-mfa-exports/city-project/elbphilharmonie-hamburg.md) — How Hamburg created landmark concert hall The Elbphilhamonie within an existing heritage building, creating a new iconic focal point for the city's cultural scene.
- [Bruce Lee's former residence and the cultural revival of Yongqingfang district in Guangzhou](https://worldcitiescultureforum.com/wp-content/uploads/wp-mfa-exports/city-project/yongqingfang-micro-renovation-project.md) — The Yongqingfang district boasts a wealth of heritage but was gradually deteriorating. A unique development model is enabling micro-renovations  to preserve this historical neighbourhood.
- [The value of data: why cultural asset mapping is helping Austin become more inclusive](https://worldcitiescultureforum.com/wp-content/uploads/wp-mfa-exports/city-project/cultural-asset-mapping-project-camp.md) — Urban public policy design in the cultural context is becoming increasingly important in cities helping to bridge the gap between cultural assets and spatial distribution.
- [How the Louvre Abu Dhabi created an ingenious way to reach new audiences](https://worldcitiescultureforum.com/wp-content/uploads/wp-mfa-exports/city-project/louvre-abu-dhabi-highway-gallery.md) — As a new museum in the city with relatively limited domestic audiences, Louvre Abu Dhabi needed to find new ways to bring art to the people and increase footfall for the museum.
- [Protecting London's Cultural Fabric: A Deep Dive into the Culture at Risk Program](https://worldcitiescultureforum.com/wp-content/uploads/wp-mfa-exports/post/how-to-protect-culture-at-risk.md) — What happens when high rents, planning changes, and business rate increases put spaces for culture at risk? Learnings from our New York and London Leadership Exchange
- [Overview of Key Data](https://worldcitiescultureforum.com/wp-content/uploads/wp-mfa-exports/report/data-headlines-report-5th-edition.md) — Key data headlines from the 5th edition of the World Cities Culture Report, covering cultural infrastructure, events and participation in culture across cities.
- [The Power of Cultural Data](https://worldcitiescultureforum.com/wp-content/uploads/wp-mfa-exports/report/the-power-of-cultural-data.md) — Good data in cultural policy goes far beyond counting museums or visitors - it helps cities understand what communities value, set informed goals, and use resources effectively. From citizen engagement to emergency response, strong data strategies turn insight into action and embed culture at the heart of urban life.
- [Night-time Economy](https://worldcitiescultureforum.com/wp-content/uploads/wp-mfa-exports/report/night-time-economy.md) — From Melbourne to Montréal, cities are recognising that what happens after dark is an integral part of their identity, culture and economy.
- [Public Realm](https://worldcitiescultureforum.com/wp-content/uploads/wp-mfa-exports/report/inclusion-representation-public-realm.md) — Cities worldwide are reshaping monuments, murals and civic spaces to reflect diverse communities, promote cultural inclusion and decolonise public art
- [More Regional Trends](https://worldcitiescultureforum.com/wp-content/uploads/wp-mfa-exports/report/regional-cultural-policy-trends.md) — From Indigenous knowledge in Australasia to digital innovation in East Asia, cities are using culture to shape more inclusive, sustainable, and creative futures. Drawing on recent survey data and case study submissions from our cities, this section offers a snapshot of emerging cultural policy trends across regions.  While each region has its own distinctive priorities, common themes such as access to space, climate action, youth engagement, and equity, highlight the extent to which all major cities share similar challenges in defining tomorrow’s cultural landscape.
- [3rd Edition](https://worldcitiescultureforum.com/wp-content/uploads/wp-mfa-exports/report/world-cities-culture-report-2018-3rd-edition.md) — Exploring global cities' cultural impact on life through their policies, emphasising their pivotal role in shaping urban culture. Against a backdrop of a changing world order, increasingly divisive national politics and crises of national identity in countries around the globe, the World Cities Culture Report 2018 highlights a change in approach from local governments in world cities. Recognising that cultural investment over the last 20 years has sometimes unintentionally contributed to social pressures in global cities, the report finds that urban cultural policy is shifting towards more egalitarian and citizen-centred models.
- [1st Edition](https://worldcitiescultureforum.com/wp-content/uploads/wp-mfa-exports/report/world-cities-culture-report-2012-1st-edition.md) — The World Cities Culture Report 2012 explores how culture influences the future of cities by presenting unprecedented data on 12 global cities’ cultural life and policymaking.