Venue: Lagerhuset, Heurlins Plats 1. Located close to Järntorget.

English – Göteborgs Litteraturhus

Göteborgs Litteraturhus (Gothenburg House of Literature) is a non-profit association and cultural venue, dedicated to literature in all its forms. They comprises around 80 member organisations that share its mission to promote literary culture through public programmes and events. Located in Lagerhuset it is part of a vibrant cultural ecosystem, housing publishers, magazines, translators, and other cultural actors.

How can cities collaborate within the city and between cities to strengthen freedom of expression? How do we handle when free expressions become uncomfortable? And when self-censorship and adaptations limit programming and institutional work?

During the site visit we will explore the initiative of strengthening freedom of expression within the network of UNESCO cities of literature and ICORN as well as local examples and those from other member cities regarding collaborations for freedom of expression.

Interventions from cities who responded to Eurocities' open call for contributions to the culture forum will also be included. More information on which cities will feature and the content of their presentations will follow.

Transportation: We will use public transportation (tram) to travel to the location.

Venue: Konstepidemins väg 6, Hus 13. Gröna Rummet.

Konstepidemin

Konstepidemin is an artist-run cultural center and studio association in Gothenburg. The area was formerly Gothenburg’s Epidemic Hospital but was transformed into an artist-run cultural center in 1987. It is one of Sweden’s largest workplaces for independent artists, hosting over 120 practitioners from various artistic disciplines, including visual artists, sculptors, writers, musicians, filmmakers, actors, and more.

How can cities strengthen the independent cultural sector and smaller actors through funding and infrastructure? How can cities offer support when cultural actors face external or internal pressure? During the site visit both Gothenburg and other members will share strategies and practices about challenges and opportunities for the independent cultural sector.

Interventions from cities who responded to Eurocities' open call for contributions to the culture forum will also be included. More information on which cities will feature and the content of their presentations will follow.

Transportation: We will use public transportation (tram) to travel to the location.

Venue: Bergsjöns Kulturhusväg 4 A

Om kulturhuset - Kulturhuset Bergsjön - Göteborgs Stad

Kulturhuset Bergsjön is the city’s most recently built cultural center located at Rymdtorget, one of the more deprived areas in Gothenburg. It opened in 2022 after a long process of dialogues and influence from residents and civil society. It offers a variety of activities such as art creation, music performances as well as a library with study rooms and space for group activities. It aims to be a welcoming place for everyone in Gothenburg, encouraging exploration and creativity.

How can the city work to increase inclusion, participation, and co-creation based on residents' cultural rights, in collaboration with civil society? What are the challenges and the success factors? During the site visit both Gothenburg and other members will share strategies and practices about providing more equal access to freedom of expression.

Interventions from cities who responded to Eurocities' open call for contributions to the culture forum will also be included. More information on which cities will feature and the content of their presentations will follow.

Transportation: We will use public transportation (tram) to travel to Kulturhuset Bergsjön.

Venue: Angereds Torg 13

Blå Stället

Blå Stället was built in 1979 as the first cultural center in a suburb in Sweden. The cultural center is a meeting place in the middle of Angered Centrum for everyone who is interested in some form of culture - music, dance, creativity, society, talk and much more. The premises also house a library, theater, and cinema. A lot of events are organised by initiatives from citizens, such as the Angered Book Fair.

How can children and young people be given tools, space and mandate to practice influence through art and culture in a segregated city? During the site visit both Gothenburg and other members will share strategies and practices about providing more equal access to freedom of expression for children and youth.

Interventions from cities who responded to Eurocities' open call for contributions to the culture forum will also be included. More information on which cities will feature and the content of their presentations will follow.

Transportation: We will use public transportation (tram) to travel to Kulturhuset Blå Stället.

Venue: Skjulet Fiskhamnsgatan 41, 414 51 Göteborg

Skjulet Fyra Sex is a member-run, non-profit cultural platform focused on local music gigs and live stage performances. It also hosts cinema screenings, release events, and other cultural activities. As an accessible space for emerging and underrepresented artists, Skjulet provides opportunities to create, perform, and grow within a supportive community. The third floor houses rehearsal spaces for bands, and Galleri Gamla Farsot has shared the space since 2023, run by members of the platform.

This site visit explores how cultural rights can be systematically embedded in cross-sectoral urban planning to ensure broad access to culture and a sustainable and diverse cultural sector. Gothenburg would like to highlight and share examples and methods for working with five defined cultural values to enhance opportunities for art and culture to expand as the city grows. We will also discuss how digital development offers new tools for urban planning through which we strive to make these cultural values visible. 

During the site visit both Gothenburg and other members will share strategies and practices about safeguarding cultural rights in urban planning. 

Interventions from cities who responded to Eurocities' open call for contributions to the culture forum will also be included. More information on which cities will feature and the content of their presentations will follow.

Transportation: We will use public transportation (tram) to travel to the location.

Venue: TBC

Göteborgs Konsthall - Konstupplevelser som förflyttar tankar och gränser

As part of Gothenburg’s strategic reimagining of its cultural infrastructure, the Gothenburg Kunsthalle is in the process of relocating from its central site to Slakthusområdet, a former meatpacking district on the city’s periphery. The project aims to cultivate new cultural epicentres within the city, rethinking key cultural spaces to build inclusion across a highly segregated urban landscape. During the site visit, participants will explore the area and view the Kunsthalle in its current construction phase, using the transformation as a starting point for broader discussions.

How can cities strengthen institutional capacity to host, support, and safeguard diverse cultural expressions? What methods help anchor public spaces and institutions through local insight and dialogue? During the site visit Gothenburg and other members share strategies and practices related to strengthening cultural institutions, cultivating local insight and safeguard diverse cultural expression.

Interventions from cities who responded to Eurocities' open call for contributions to the culture forum will also be included. More information on which cities will feature and the content of their presentations will follow.

Transportation: We will use public transportation (tram) to travel to the locations. The site visit will also include some walking.

Venue - Gothenburg City Library: Götaplatsen 3, 412 56 Göteborg

Interventions from cities who responded to Eurocities' open call for contributions to the culture forum will be included. More information on which cities will feature and the content of their presentations will follow as part of a detailed agenda of the session.

Venue - Gothenburg City Library: Götaplatsen 3, 412 56 Göteborg

Interventions from cities who responded to Eurocities' open call for contributions to the culture forum will also be included. More information on which cities will feature and the content of their presentations will follow as part of a detailed agenda of the session.

Venue: Gothenburg House of Literature: Heurlins Plats 1, 413 30 Göteborg

Interventions from cities who responded to Eurocities' open call for contributions to the culture forum will also be included. More information on which cities will feature and the content of their presentations will follow as part of a detailed agenda of the session.

Venue: Röhsska Museum: Vasagatan 39, 411 37 Göteborg

Interventions from cities who responded to Eurocities' open call for contributions to the culture forum will also be included. More information on which cities will feature and the content of their presentations will follow as part of a detailed agenda of the session.