Networks and cities' news

“Gazdagréti Ünnepelő” - Preparing for the holidays together in Gazdagrét A Month of Community, Creativity, and Celebration in Újbuda

Between 28 November and 20 December 2025, Gazdagrét came alive with Gazdagréti Ünnepelő – preparing for the holidays together, a vibrant Testing Action within the RECUP project. What began as more than 40 ideas from the Local Action Group (ULG) grew into a full Advent Calendar of community‑driven programs—each one designed to reflect local needs, encourage participation, and strengthen neighbourhood bonds.

Voices from the stage: Interview with Alicia Piquer, deputy mayor of Rafelbunyol

The URBACT RECUP Network continues its journey across Europe, collecting stories, insights, and lived experiences from cities committed to strengthening local communities.

II Quarterly Network Journal: A Deep Dive into the RECUP Network’s Season of Experimentation

Across Europe, cities are asking themselves a fundamental question: what if culture were treated not as an “extra,” but as essential urban infrastructure?
Infrastructure that can fight loneliness. Creates connections.
This is the mission of the REinventing Culture in Urban Places (RECUP) network — and the latest Quarterly Journal captures an incredibly dynamic phase of that journey.

Over the past months, partner cities have moved into the Adapt phase, where ideas become experiments and evidence. What emerges is a picture of cities learning by doing, guided by shared tools, reflection, local creativity and transnational collaboration.

Highlights from the 3rd Core Network Meeting in Sandyford

Culture, Community & New Ideas in Motion

The third Core Network Meeting of the RECUP project took place on 19–20 November 2025 in the Sandyford Business District, Dublin. Hosted by Sandyford Business District (SBD), the two‑day gathering brought together representatives from all partner cities to exchange experiences, refine their Testing Actions, and advance work on their Integrated Investment Plans (IIP).

"Grad od riječi" Festival - Testing Action Implemented in Dubrovnik!

As part of the literary and cultural festival “Grad od riječi” (“City of word/s”), held in Dubrovnik from 2 to 4 October in the creative space of ex-factory TUP Gruž, the Dubrovnik Development Agency (DURA) implemented a testing action within the RECUP project.

I. RECUP Network Journal

The RECUP journey so far

Written by Elisa Filippi, URBACT Lead Expert, with the kind cooperation of all partners.