European Capitals of Culture Accept Challenge From Aarhus 2017

The sustainability operators for Aarhus 2017 have just visited Matera in Italy to help select a project for participation in The 2017 Samsø Award in June.

When representatives from the European Capitals of Culture visited Aarhus in the summer of 2016, the sustainability operators for Aarhus 2017 welcomed them with a challenge in hand: Bring the Aarhus Sustainability Model (ASM) back home and choose one or more projects to compete for The 2017 Samsø Award.

Numerous Capitals of Culture have since accepted that challenge, and Worldperfect and Samsø Energy Academy have just participated in the selection of competitors from Matera in Southern Italy. Matera will take over as Capital of Culture in 2019.

"It is remarkable, how much they want to embrace sustainability. And not only have they presented 12 very cool projects to us, they have also understood the importance of adapting ASM to local circumstances. The future looks bright for Aarhus 2017's sustainability legacy." says Søren Stochholm of Worldperfect.

Chosen amongst the 12 candidates, by everyone attending the event, was a project combining sustainability and festival; taking the concept of "treehugger" to the next level.

"It was hard to pick a favourite, as the richness of ideas in the projects was impressive; spanning from an outdoor cinema in nature and slow tourism to establishing networks for energy renovations and innovative plastic collection." says Peter Christensen of Samsø Energy Academy.

The Matera project will participate in Samsø Award along with candidates from Leeuwarden 2018, Aarhus 2017, and other international projects. The 2017 Samsø Award will be handed out during the Samsø Sustainability Festival on the island in early June.