Experiences emerging in Trenčín during the preparation of the European Capital of Culture Trenčín 2026 project are gaining an increasingly strong international dimension. Most recently, they will become part of the development of the Creativity, Heritage and Placemaking Module (CHAMP), which has been selected within the Education Call 2025 of the EIT Culture & Creativity project.
The module will be developed by an international group of experts led by Service Management and Service Studies at Lund University in Sweden. Representatives from Trenčín will also take part in the team – the Trenčín 2026 project and the City of Trenčín will be represented in the module development by experts in the field of placemaking. Other partners in this consortium include the City of Helsingborg, Creative Insights Studio (Sweden) and Bloom Creative (Latvia). Over the coming months, we will work together to develop content that connects culture, heritage and the creation of high-quality public spaces.
Trenčín’s participation in this international educational project represents an important recognition of the work of many people who have contributed in recent years to transforming the city through culture. The experiences gained during the implementation of the European Capital of Culture Trenčín 2026 project will thus have the opportunity to be shared in a broader European context.
The CHAMP project focuses on how culture, creative approaches and work with public space can transform cities and communities. These themes have long been key for Trenčín. Many initiatives developed within Trenčín 2026 demonstrate that culture can serve as a strong catalyst for positive change.
In Trenčín, this can be seen on several levels. Cultural activities help strengthen local communities, support cooperation between people and build trust among neighbours. At the same time, they also bring visible changes to the urban environment – in streets, parks and public spaces that are gradually becoming lively places for meetings, creativity and shared experiences.
International cooperation on the CHAMP module therefore represents another step on a path that connects Trenčín with the European cultural and educational environment. It shows that experiences from our city can inspire other cities across Europe.
At the same time, the project confirms that culture is not only about artistic events. It is also a tool that can transform the way we think about cities, public space and collaboration between people. This is precisely the kind of change that the European Capital of Culture Trenčín 2026 project aims to support – both locally and across Europe.
Trenčín 2026 is financially supported by the City of Trenčín, the Trenčín Self-Governing Region and the Ministry of Culture of the Slovak Republic. The partner of Trenčín 2026 is the European Union.
