10 Jul '17

EU praises Leuven for culture and creativity

Summary

A new study by the European Commission has singled out Leuven as a shining example of how culture and creativity can improve quality of life

 

Model city

Leuven is a model city for creativity and culture, according to a report by the European Commission. The Commission’s first Cultural and Creative Cities Monitor examined how the cultural and creative side of a number of European cities contributes to social development, economic growth and job creation.

Based on 29 indicators in nine areas, the report shows how culture and creativity can be used to improve citizens’ quality of life. The idea is that policymakers and the relevant sectors can learn from cities with a similar profile.

The Commission developed a profile of the ideal European city, mixing the characteristics of eight cities. Leuven is considered a prime example for “human capital and education”. Other cities contributing to this ideal city model are Paris, Cork, Glasgow, Utrecht, Eindhoven, Copenhagen and Umeå.

There are also good scores for the Brussels-Capital Region and Ghent. Brussels has the second-best score in the field of “new jobs in creative sectors” for cities with more than 1 million inhabitants.

Among cities with 250,000 to 500,000 inhabitants, Ghent came second in the domain of “cultural vibrancy”, in particular thanks to its large number of theatres and other cultural venues. The city was also praised for its medieval architecture and its lively cultural scene.

Photo: Milo-Profi/Visit Flanders

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