Locop - Local Operators' Platform

LOCOP is an initiative to evaluate the European Capitals of Culture (ECOC) programmes and to study the follow-up processes in the particular cities from the perspective of local cultural operators. It is also a platform for knowledge production, for distribution and evaluation of good governance models and a framework for research and case studies on project implementation. LOCOP was established to support the sustainability of local cultural projects and initiatives established in the ECOC period or previous ones that were integrated in the programme. This project serves as a platform for experience-sharing and aims at supporting local operators in future ECOC cities. The symposium is constructed to create a network for former, present and future local operators in order to spark new cooperation and projects on an international scale. Furthermore we see the network as a tool for advocacy – the joint voices of these local operators can have much more impact compared to individual efforts that are often ignored. We wish to develop constructive proposals for more positive results of future ECOC programmes, rather than collecting complaints and negative feedback – that already dominates our research.