Capacity building workshop
The Marseille Capacity Building Workshop hosted by La Friche la Belle de Mai recently turned the city into a living lab for “Territories in Transition.” Bringing together European artists, cultural actors, and local partners, the gathering explored how cultural venues and artists act as vital catalysts for ecological resilience and community-led change.
Highlights included a “sensitive walk” through the Belle de Mai neighborhood with the SAFI collective to discover urban biodiversity, visits to the community-led Jardins des Rails at La Friche and the creative ecosystem of Couvent Levat, previews of upcoming works by resident artists Lizzie Reid and Swati Devichi, and an in-depth exploration of Mucem’s “Ferdinandera, l’île éphémère” exhibition and its Migration Garden.
Through panels featuring local experts, the dialogue emphasised a clear message: the ecological transition isn’t just technical: it’s cultural. From collective walking to urban gardening, the Marseille gathering reaffirmed that art is the bridge between policy and people.
Thank you all for bringing your energy, ideas, and creativity – you made these days truly inspiring.
Next stop for the Capacity Building series: Barcelona!
We can’t wait to keep this journey of collaboration and learning going.
Co-funded by the European Union, MATCH connects five cultural organisations based in the Mediterranean: Mapa das Ideias (PT), D6:EU (CY), La Friche la Belle de Mai (FR), BJCEM (BE) and the National Technical University of Athens (GR), each of us working in collaboration with local arts and community garden partners: La Escocesa (ES), K2 Contemporary Art Centre (TR), Gardens of the Future (CY), Delta Pi (GR) and Duncan Dance Research Centre (GR).
