In April T2050 was part of the TEH 101 Conference in Marseille. The Co-PED project hosted the workshop “The Role and Potential of Cultural Centres in a Just Energy Transition”, bringing together cultural practitioners, researchers, and community organisers to explore how cultural and social centres can actively contribute to a community-led and socially just energy transition.
The workshop explored three interconnected themes: community engagement, financial models, and governance structures for local energy initiatives. It highlighted the unique role cultural centres can play as trusted local spaces that connect complex energy issues with everyday experiences. Through collaborative discussions and shared examples, participants explored how cultural organisations can foster dialogue, strengthen local resilience, and support citizens in turning from consumers to active participants in shaping local energy futures.
Key Takeaways
- The Energy topic often becomes visible only in moments of crisis. Therefore energy transitions need inclusive, bottom-up approaches that actively involve local communities in decision-making processes.
- Renewable energy projects and energy communities can help cultural centres reduce operational costs, create new revenue streams, and attract social and impact investment to strengthen long-term resilience.
- Cooperative financing models, crowdfunding, and local partnerships offer promising pathways for locally rooted energy initiatives.
- Trust and long-term participation can be reached through transparent governance, shared responsibilities and fair distribution of benefits. Legal forms can help by giving it a framework.
- Artistic and cultural practices — including storytelling, film, public discussions, and participatory interventions — can make energy transitions more visible, emotional, and tangible.
Examples such as Walking Fire Rotterdam and Climate Biennale Vienna illustrated how creative approaches can inspire engagement and open up new conversations around sustainability, participation, and local energy futures.
Overall, the workshop reaffirmed that a just energy transition is not only a technical or economic challenge, but also a cultural and social process that depends on participation, collaboration, and shared imagination.
