A new cross-disciplinary report, titled Cultural Mobility Flows Report: Cities as Enablers of International Cultural Mobility, has been published by On the Move. The report provides a detailed look at the growing impact of city-led initiatives.
Local Schemes with Global Impact
The report grew out of a recent Cultural Mobility Webinar organised by On the Move in collaboration with HowlRound. It brings together insights from practitioners, policymakers, and advocates to explore how cities are successfully developing travel grants, multilateral exchange programmes, and artist residencies.
These local schemes create genuine opportunities for cultural professionals to expand their careers, build cross-border relationships, and strengthen long-term professional sustainability. However, the publication notes that these municipal efforts remain under-promoted and insufficiently recognised compared to the substantial impact they have on the sector.
The Role of Flagship Frameworks
The research pays special attention to successful initiatives implemented through flagship frameworks, such as the European Capitals of Culture programme. The report highlights how these titles act as massive mobility generators. For example, Kelly Diapouli, Artistic Director for Larnaka 2030, notes that because all Capital of Culture projects must have a European dimension, roughly 30% of their artistic programmes involve international artists, making it one of the largest mobility initiatives in the EU.
A review of recent data underscores the importance of these local frameworks. The report highlights key figures:
- Nearly 39% of these city-related open calls received funding from the European Union.
- Dozens of these opportunities were directly linked to major international networks, including 58 tied to UNESCO and 30 created specifically for Capitals of Culture.
Actionable Recommendations
The report concludes with concrete, actionable recommendations to improve the current landscape. The authors point towards necessary policy changes, new collaborative frameworks, and targeted funding initiatives. Crucially, the recommendations stress that nothing meaningful can happen in long-term cultural policy unless civil society is fully empowered, involved, and placed at the centre of the conversation. The ultimate goal is to support all cultural practitioners, paying particular attention to dismantling the structural barriers that restrict international mobility.