Monitoring and assessing the impact of the ECoC status and the implementation of the relevant program on the city in cultural, social, economic, and other dimensions is an important component of the application for the ECoC competition. An academic consortium led by researchers from Lviv Polytechnic National University is working on developing such an evaluation model for Lviv as a candidate for the title of European Capital of Culture.
The working group includes anthropologists, cultural studies experts, sociologists, research analysts, cultural managers, machine learning and artificial intelligence engineers, representatives of the public sector; some of them are already working, others will join later. The head of the consortium is the rector of Lviv Polytechnic National University, Professor Natalya Shakhovska. The group consists of Oleh Basystiuk and Zoryana Rybchak (Lviv Polytechnic), Zoriana Rybchynska (Ukrainian Catholic University), Maksym Terletsky (City Institute), Yuliia Khomchyn and Vasyl Tkachuk (Cultural Strategy Institute), Mariana Malachivska (Fama research company), Mariana Kuzemska (CEDOS), Oksana Kuzenko (Gorgan Creative Group), Natalia Otrishchenko (Center for Urban History), and Bohdana Brylynska (Ukrainian Association of Cultural Studies Lviv).
During the first meetings, participants discussed such issues as the concept and features of Lviv’s application for the competition, the importance of impact assessment, the evaluation model for ECoC cities, and the next steps in developing such a model for Lviv 2030.
The analysis of the experience of the ECoC cities shows a long-term positive economic effect in culture and creative industries, as well as in the services and tourism sectors. At the same time, it is about sustainable development of the city through a combination of investments in “soft” and “hard” infrastructure and engagement of residents. The dynamics are most noticeable in the run-up to and in the year of the ECoC status, and are generally tangible during the 10th anniversary (before and after the title).