Learning from ECoC. Towards a handbook of good practices for European Capitals of Culture

This essay proposes a practical and conceptual framework for transforming the European Capital of Culture (ECoC) programme into a long-term tool for urban, social, and cultural regeneration. Based on two years of interdisciplinary research by the RRR Lab and 40 case studies, the authors develop a “Decalogue of Good Practices” aimed at guiding cities through the planning, implementation, and legacy phases of an ECoC. The essay identifies four main design approaches (from symbolic capitals to cross-border cooperation) and three operational modes (ephemeral events, reuse of heritage, new infrastructure), emphasizing the importance of interscalar vision and extended timelines. It argues that ECoCs are no longer events, but complex urban projects that require strategic governance, community engagement, and integration with EU agendas. Ultimately, the essay positions ECoCs as transformative platforms where culture becomes a civic infrastructure and architecture a language for building shared European futures.