L’Aquila, September 4, 2025 – To promote the artistic and creative talents of the L’Aquila region and project them onto the international stage: this is the goal of the project “Ecosystem of Cultural and Creative Enterprises and Internationalization: Twinning with Bourges, European Capital of Culture 2028,” approved by the City Council.

The initiative, led by the City of L’Aquila, is funded with 2.5 million euros as part of the RESTART 2 investment program—Priority E: Research and Technological Innovation—recently approved by CIPESS.
The project aims to develop and consolidate an ecosystem of cultural and creative industries (CCI), defined as an interconnected system comprising companies, professionals, institutions, infrastructure, and resources engaged in the production and dissemination of cultural goods and services.
Key actions include mapping the CCI entities already present in the region; creating a dedicated digital platform; launching incubation and acceleration programs for startups and new creative enterprises; and supporting internationalization through strategic partnerships and cross-border projects.

A key feature of the initiative is the twinning with Bourges, a French city in the interior of the country, similar in size to the capital of Abruzzo, which will be the European Capital of Culture in 2028, along with Budweis/České Budějovice (Czech Republic) and Skopje (North Macedonia).

The partnership with Bourges strengthens L’Aquila’s journey as the 2026 Italian Capital of Culture, laying the groundwork for a long-term European dialogue based on creativity and innovation.

“Throughout 2026, the year in which L’Aquila will serve as the Italian Capital of Culture, this project will become a driving force behind national and international events, an opportunity to engage with diverse experiences, and a springboard for L’Aquila’s cultural and creative ecosystem,” said Mayor Pierluigi Biondi – “The twinning with Bourges represents a strategic opportunity to position L’Aquila on the European cultural scene, strengthening our development model and creating new connections and opportunities for businesses and cultural professionals.”

With this initiative, L’Aquila is positioning itself to become a European hub for the cultural and creative industries, capable of combining reconstruction, innovation, and international cooperation.