This project researched issues related to cultural diversity in six European metropolises. The chosen cities were: Barcelona (Spain), Budapest (Hungary), Paris (France), Tallinn (Estonia), Rome (Italy) and Warsaw (Poland).

Multi- and inter-cultural processes are becoming more and more complex, opening up many questions such as: have contemporary European societies, in particular cultural leaders and managers in our major cities, developed a clear vision of the policy challenges of cultural diversity? To what extent are they exploiting the potential of our urban spaces in ways that can contribute to better multi- and inter-cultural cooperation? In what ways are they fostering culturally diverse artistic/cultural expression at local and international levels? How are the imperatives of returning to roots and local identities being recognised with the imperatives of cultural heterogeneity? What new elements does globalisation bring to the rhetoric and practice of active multiculturalism? What interdependencies are being developed between the European metropolises?

The research explored developments that took place at the beginning of the 21st century in six European cities, with a view to eliciting and analysing comparative empirical data focusing on different forms of artistic practice and involvement. Which forms have been validated, sustained and developed? As these cities have become increasingly plural in the cultural origins and affiliations of their populations, what significant cultural changes have occurred? In what ways have these cities been ‘laboratories’ for new fusions and interactions? What hybrid forms have emerged through the increasing coalescence of artistic grammars and vocabularies? What new forms are rejected and what traditional practices are being maintained? What forms provide the core exchanges between and among these cities?

In effect, the project seeks to explore inter-city interactions and cooperation in particular. In so doing, the research highlights the central issue of ‘cultural diversity’ in its various senses, principally ‘those ethnically-marked cultural differences associated with the international movement of peoples and, within national territories, the claims to difference associated with the protracted struggles of in situ minorities to maintain their identity.’ (Tony Bennett, Differing Diversities, 2001).

It pays particular attention to the cultural industries as the principal vector of contemporary cultural expression and addresses the ‘new cosmopolitanism’ in European cities, defined inter alia by the currently ongoing Changing City Spaces research project as the processes whereby new identities, as well as forms of cultural encounter and interaction, are being constructed. This includes new trans-national connections and dynamics of inclusion/exclusion, social integration/social fragmentation.

The research develops a set of recommendations aimed at increasing mobility of operators in the cultural sector – particularly those involved in the cultural industries and in developing multi- and inter-cultural synergies and dialogue.

Six cities have been chosen for this comparative analysis and research: Barcelona (Spain), Budapest (Hungary), Paris (France), Tallinn (Estonia), Rome (Italy) and Warsaw (Poland).

The research seeks out data and information regarding culturally-diverse artistic practice and cultural production in each participating city, as well as regarding cultural cooperation between cities. The researchers explore existing research, carry out field work on the ground and carry out their own analyses of cultural activities in their assigned city.

Six experts created extensive reports. These experts were based in and able to represent the key metropolises selected for this research. The reports provided a response to the following questions:

• What new artistic and cultural vocabularies and forms are being absorbed and/or developed in/by the cities (change rather than continuity)?What is being rejected (continuity rather than change)?
• In what measure are new cultural practices and emergent cultural industries culturally diverse and/or hybrid?
• How should one deal with dual cultural space: one for residents and the other for visitors?
• What are the recent trends in international cultural exchanges among European cities?
• What is the new face of the metropolises: local tradition vis-a-vis globalisation?
• How do localism and multiculturalism relate to each other?
• What levels of inter-cultural synergy exist and what policies are provided to increase inter-cultural dialogue?

The research focused on cultural policy-makers; civic initiatives promoters and personnel from key cultural industries and new urban cultural spaces.

The country reports were presented at the CIRCLE Round Table co-organised by the Warsaw Research Institute (WRI) and the Pro Cultura Foundation. The title of the Conference was “Metropolis of Europe. Urban Cultural Life and Inter-city Cultural Interactions for Cultural Diversity in Europe”. CIRCLE together with the WRI Pro Cultura helped to discuss the findings and build conclusions and recommendations in consultation with leading experts in the field. The CIRCLE Round Table is a unique event in which the idea of a round table is physically maintained with everyone of equal status around the table. The event was organised to encourage debate and a deepening of ideas amongst at least 20 leading experts from across Europe.

After the conference, Pro Cultura began preparation for the production of a book, which is the crown-jewel of the research. This 14th CIRCLE publication entitled “Metropolises of Europe. Diversity in Urban Cultural Life” is edited by Dorota Ilczuk and Yudhishthir Raj Isar. For more information on the book and how to order, click here.

This project was co-financed by the European Commission, Directorate-General for Education and Culture, City of Warsaw, City of Rome, Province of Rome, Budapest Observatory and CIRCLE.