Hosting this edition of the ENCATC Academy in Bilbao, in the heart of the Basque Country, provides a unique and compelling framework for exploring sustainability in cultural management and policy. 

Over the past three decades, Bilbao has become an international reference for urban, cultural, and social transformation, evolving from an industrial city into a dynamic hub of innovation, creativity, and sustainability-driven development. Its commitment to regeneration through culture, strong public governance, and integrated sustainability strategies makes it an ideal living laboratory for the Academy’s mission. Bilbao is deeply aligned with global sustainability agendas. As the hosting city of the Local 2030 Coalition, Bilbao champions the localisation of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), integrating cultural participation, social inclusion, and ecological responsibility across its policies and institutions. This alignment reinforces the Academy’s focus on the triple transformation—green, social, and digital—while offering participants a tangible example of how cities can harness culture as a driver of systemic change. 

The city’s robust cultural ecosystem further enriches this edition. Its infrastructures represent diverse approaches to sustainability, innovation, and community engagement, which participants will explore through a series of study visits: 

• Arriaga Theatre, a historic institution integrating sustainability into its organisational strategy; 
• Harrobia, a pioneering performing arts centre supporting creation, experimentation, and ecological awareness
• Guggenheim Museum Bilbao, a global icon of cultural-led regeneration and a key actor in advancing sustainable museum practices
• Azkuna Zentroa is a landmark cultural centre that illustrates Bilbao’s vision of culture as a driver for innovation, participation, and sustainability
• La Perrera, a creative hub nurturing local talent, artistic experimentation, and socially engaged cultural practices

These visits, together with a programme enriched by experts and practitioners from Euskadi, will allow participants to engage directly with local perspectives, insights, and case studies reflecting the Basque Country’s leadership in sustainable cultural development. Their contributions will ground the Academy in a strong regional context while providing relevant, transferable knowledge for professionals working in diverse cultural and policy environments. Through this strategic location, the 2026 ENCATC Academy offers not only a learning experience but also an immersion into one of Europe’s most emblematic examples of cultural transformation, making Bilbao an essential partner in advancing sustainability across the cultural and creative sectors.

1. Encouraging Action at the Organisational Level:
   The Academy motivates participants to translate knowledge into action, enabling them to adopt sustainable practices and policies within their organisations. It aims to align participants’ efforts with evolving environmental demands while enhancing their operational sustainability.
2. Capacity Building for Emerging Challenges:
   Participants gain the tools, expertise, and confidence to anticipate and tackle emerging challenges in the green transition, ensuring that their organisations are resilient and future-ready.
3. Knowledge Sharing and Networking:
   The Academy is a platform for consistently exchanging best practices, policy insights, and success stories, fostering collaboration across sectors. It provides invaluable networking opportunities, enabling participants to build partnerships and expand their professional networks.
4. Policy Development and Practical Tools:
   Participants can access the latest resources and practical tools by linking the Academy to relevant publications, toolkits, policy reports, and projects. Guest speakers—renowned experts and practitioners—provide essential insights and actionable advice that participants can immediately apply in their work.
5. Leadership in the Green Transition:
   Through engaging lectures, study visits, and hands-on workshops, the Academy positions participants and their organisations as leaders in the cultural sector’s green transformation, contributing to broader systemic change.

1. The ENCATC Academy is designed to be dynamic and multi-dimensional, offering participants a comprehensive learning experience through:

• Lectures and Case Studies: Delivered by experts and practitioners, these sessions highlight both theoretical foundations and practical applications of sustainable cultural management
• Study Visits: Immersive experiences that showcase real-world examples of sustainable practices in action
• Practical Workshops: Collaborative exercises that equip participants with actionable strategies tailored to their organisational needs
• Networking Forums: Dedicated spaces for forging partnerships, exchanging ideas, and fostering cross-sectoral collaboration

• Sustainable Management Practices: Training professionals to implement green, innovative strategies at the organisational level
• Policy Advocacy and Development: Equipping policymakers with insights and tools to integrate green objectives into cultural policy frameworks
• Digital and Green Synergies: Exploring how digital technologies can drive sustainable innovation in the CCS
• Climate Action Through Culture: Highlighting the CCS’s role in promoting global environmental awareness and action