The municipality of Genalguacil in Málaga hosted the Forum for Local Governance and Cultural Management, featuring the University of Cádiz. This international meeting brought together public officials, technical staff, cultural agents, and representatives from the PACESETTERS ecosystem to reflect on the roles of culture, creativity, and sustainability in transforming Andalusian territories.
Gonzalo Sánchez Gardey, Vice-Rector for Sustainability and Culture at the University of Cádiz, participated in a round table titled ‘Public Innovation: The Role of Culture, Creativity, and Heritage’. Other panellists included Teresa Riesgo Alcaide, Secretary General of Innovation at the Ministry of Science, Innovation and Universities of Spain, and Estrella Díaz Sánchez, Director General of Tourism and Hospitality Regulation at the Andalusian Government. The session was moderated by Manuel López Mestanza, Vice President of Culture for Málaga, with Joe Lockwood from the Norwegian University of Science and Technology facilitating the discussion.
Sánchez emphasised the mutual learning opportunities between universities and rural innovation, highlighting the university's contributions in knowledge, methodologies, and community creation management. He stressed the importance of creating hybrid spaces for diverse individuals and institutions in rural areas, ensuring that something remains for the local community after external participants leave. He stated, “It is necessary to create hybrid spaces where we meet different people and institutions in rural areas, but something should remain for those who stay.”
The Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU), the project leader, organised the forum in collaboration with the Andalusian Federation of Municipalities and Provinces (FAMP) and the Genalguacil Pueblo Museo Foundation, with support from the University of Cádiz, the Andalusian Government, the Provincial Council of Málaga, and the INNPULSO Network of the Ministry of Science, Innovation and Universities.
Over two days, the programme addressed how culture and creativity can serve as engines for local governance, territorial cohesion, and sustainable development. The event was part of the PACESETTERS project, funded by Horizon Europe, which promotes new governance models based on community innovation, ecological transition, and citizen participation.
The main outcome of the forum will be the creation of the Decalogue of Genalguacil, a strategic document that will be submitted to the Co-Decision Committee of the Smart Specialisation Strategy of Andalusia (S4 Andalucía), reinforcing the connection between culture, innovation, and intelligent territorial development.
