The European Cultural Parliament, ECP, will meet for its 22nd Session in Oulu on 15-17 August
On 15 – 17 August the European Cultural Parliament, ECP, will meet for its 22nd Session in Oulu, upon the invitation of the City of Oulu. The session will be held at the City Hall.
About 60 outstanding cultural personalities from 24 countries will participate. Theme of the session will be the same as the theme of Oulu for its year as European Capital of Culture 2026 – “Cultural Climate Change in Europe”. This theme will inspire ECP Members to discuss important issues like the consequences of Climate change for Arts & Culture and the possible role of Culture in the fight against climate change. Members are also deeply concerned about the consequences for Arts & Culture of the ongoing Russian war against Ukraine and the Israel – Hamas war.
The European Cultural Parliament was founded under the patronage of the Council of Europe, Strasbourg but is a volunteer-run and independent platform. Its first session was held in Bruges, Belgium in 2002. Since then it has had sessions in different European cities, from Lisbon and Liverpool in the West to Dilijan (Armenia) in the East, from Athens in the south to this year´s host Oulu in the north.
The founders of the ECP (including Minister Pär Stenbäck, Finland and Ambassador Karl-Erik Norrman, Sweden) wanted to create a network/forum for distinguished European cultural personalities to discuss and make proposals for Europe from a cultural/philosophical/” soft power” perspective – to create an additional dimension to that of Brussels on European issues. This approach is partly based on the famous Jacques Delors idea that “Europe has a soul”. Well-known artists, authors, actors, musicians, philosophers, architects, historians and other cultural personalities are Members of the Parliament.
At the coming Oulu Session Ms Suvi Lindén and Mr Weikko Kotila will be welcomed as new “Senators” of the ECP and Ms Maija Kuusisto and Virpi Räisänen will be welcomed as new Members.
More on the ECP at our Website: www.kulturparlament.com