From 6 to 8 May 2026, the city of Larnaka, European Capital of Culture 2030, hosted the 16th conference of Culture Next, European network that brings together cities that have applied for or already held the title of European Capital of Culture. Matera Basilicata 2019 Foundation has been a partner of this network since its inception.

During the conference, dedicated to the theme “Culture for CCS – Empowering the Cultural & Creative Sectors,” Director Rita Orlando moderated the session on the Mediterranean Cultural Cities Network (MCCN) – “Bridging Shores, Building Futures,” promoted by the Foundation as part of the Matera 2026 Mediterranean Capital of Culture and Dialogue initiative.
The panel discussed how the cities can play a key role in international cultural cooperation and in building permanent networks across the Mediterranean, capable of generating lasting collaborations. The discussion included Stefano Dotto, Senior Expert of the European Commission’s Directorate-General for the Middle East, the Mediterranean and the Gulf; Genci Kojdheli, Director-General for Strategic Planning at the Municipality of Tirana; and Agnès Ruiz Clarasó, Policy Officer and Focal Point for Culture at the United Cities and Local Governments (UCLG) network.

At the heart of the discussion is the vision of Matera through the Mediterranean Capital project “Terre Immerse,” which aims to build a system of cooperation between local institutions, artists, cultural operators, and citizens of the Euro-Mediterranean area.
Matera’s positioning plays a key role in the contemporary international landscape: after being the European Capital of Culture in 2019, this year the city is the Mediterranean Capital of Culture and Dialogue, becoming a point of reference among European and Mediterranean cultural networks.
This journey involves cities such as Valletta, Paphos, Eleusis, Évora, Tirana, and Alexandria, Mediterranean cities that have undergone or are undergoing experiences similar to those of Matera.

“The Larnaka conference confirmed that our idea of ​​a structured network of cultural partners in the Euro-Mediterranean region is now finding increasingly authoritative stakeholders at the European and international levels,” said Rita Orlando, Director of the Matera Basilicata 2019 Foundation. “It was part of Matera’s vision for its candidacy as Mediterranean Capital of Culture and Dialogue 2026 and it is now becoming an actual programme. We are working on a long-term strategy for cooperation between cultural institutions in cities sharing the same challenges, which will bring together shared suggestions and visions in the Manifesto of Euro-Mediterranean Citizenship. This goal is particularly relevant today, May 9, the anniversary of the 1950 Schuman Declaration and the date chosen to celebrate Europe Day each year.”