Here we’ll share updates, activities, and highlights of the STARTUP project as it unfolds. From news of consortium meetings and announcing new research outputs to documenting our creative trials across Europe and providing bite-size insights into our key concepts and terminology, this is where to keep up with all things STARTUP.
‘Inclusive Urbanism’ is one of the ethical cornerstones of STARTUP and a key component of our project’s lexicon of understanding. We have included a full definition of the term – alongside many others, each defined by project partners – on our website’s new Glossary! Find it by clicking on the ‘About’ section overhead.
With the promise of our first Living Lab creative trials kicking off soon, as well as a consortium meeting in Slovakia on the horizon, it’s almost time for a new edition of the STARTUP Newsletter!
Our newsletter is the best way to stay up to date with our project’s progress; being a subscriber means you can take a closer look at our creative trials, have direct access to our research outputs, and be the first to know about any events and opportunities! It also supports us in knowing who our audience is and what you’re most interested in.
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We’re pleased to introduce Konstfrämjandet Småland as one of STARTUP’s creative partners.
We are pleased to announce our participation in the 2026 edition of the New European Bauhaus (NEB) Festival! Taking place from 9–13 June in Brussels.
From street art to gendered urban archives and arts-led investment strategies, today’s cultural initiatives demonstrate how creativity is reshaping the fabric of cities with great power. While we are gearing up behind the scenes to share our own research outputs soon, STARTUP has shared recommended readings and resources across our platforms last year, highlight the growing influence of cultural practice, creative intervention, and community-led placemaking in redefining urban regeneration for the twenty-first century. This recap provides a concise overview of all eight selected pieces, concluding with a reflective discussion that highlights key insights and their relevance to STARTUP’s mission.
We’re excited to unveil the new STARTUP website, designed to make our project’s research, tools and resources easier to explore, understand and use.
The site provides a clear overview of STARTUP’s mission as a Horizon Europe project advancing creative placemaking and culture-based urban innovation across Europe.
Some of what’s new includes:
• Glossary of terms – A dedicated section explaining key concepts that shape the project’s methodology and framework, making our language more transparent and accessible.
• Access to the mapping platform – Explore the interactive map developed through our extensive autumn 2025 mapping process, identifying local cultural institutions, organisations and activities relevant to STARTUP’s research. The map highlights the cultural layer of urban ecosystems that will inform further empirical research and case study selection.
The website also centralises project updates, partner information, deliverables and resources in one accessible space.
New updates will be added every week, so keep checking back as the project evolves.
Explore it here: https://horizon-startup.eu/
The STARTUP consortium gathered in Dortmund for a three-day workshop hosted at Union Gewerbehof and ILS, combining progress updates, hands-on collaboration, and field visits to local initiatives, while strengthening connections across the partnership.
Workshop at Stockholm University for all project partners especially focusing on testing and training mapping tools and starting the detailed planning of mapping (WP2), and planning the empirical fieldwork (WP3), in the respective cities. The consortium also made a study visit to Hökarängen led by Konstfrämjandet and a guided tour at Konsthall C (art space). The meeting ended with a guided tour at art space Accelerator.
The project officially started with a kick-off meeting in Rome, bringing together all partners to align on objectives, roles, and the overall project timeline.