Debrecen4U
March 19, 2026
Cultural Representatives Discussed the Future with Guests from Debrecen’s Sister City
The Debrecen Cultural Forum provides an opportunity for the city’s cultural stakeholders to meet, while also offering space for joint thinking. A delegation from Debrecen’s sister city, Brno, also took part in the cultural programme held at the Csokonai Fórum.
On 18 March, the Debrecen Cultural Forum was held for the third time, once again creating an opportunity for the city’s cultural stakeholders to reflect on Debrecen’s cultural ecosystem together. The focus of the event was on the use of creative spaces, the city’s cultural life and strategy, and the collaborations that shape Debrecen’s cultural identity in the long term.
The aim of the forum was, once again, to bring together the experiences of various institutions, cultural professionals, creative communities, and the general public in a shared space. Participants not only shared their insights with one another but also drew inspiration for future collaborations, thereby strengthening the city’s cultural network. The program was moderated by Kata Anna Váró. The event was made particularly significant by the fact that Debrecen’s sister city, Brno, was also represented at the forum. The organizers emphasized that Brno’s experiences and initiatives served as an important inspiration for the creation of the Cultural Forum as a shared platform for discussion.
At the event, Veronika Majíčková, Head of the Strategy and Development Division of the Department of Culture of the Municipality of Brno, Lukáš Pavlica, Cooperation Coordinator of the same department, and Simona Augustín, member of the collective leadership of the CO.LABS cultural centre and financial manager of its development project, were welcomed.
In the Forum’s first presentation, Deputy Mayor István Puskás introduced the city’s publication “Debrecen Masina”, which interprets the city’s cultural life in an unconventional way—as a “user’s manual.” The Deputy Mayor emphasized that the volume describes a metaphorical system in which Debrecen’s cultural life appears as a machine (Debrecen ex machina), whose operation is ensured by the active participation of the community. During the presentation, he emphasized that the components of the “machine” are the city’s cultural actors themselves—institutions, creators, organizers, and audiences—who are connected to one another in various roles. The system is open and flexible: anyone can join in its operation, and new configurations are constantly emerging through collaboration.
He also noted that the model is based on sustainable operation, continuous feedback, and organic development. Through various “modes of operation,” the publication illustrates how the city’s cultural life manifests itself in practice—whether through festivals, community platforms, or dialogue-based initiatives. Overall, the publication provides an innovative conceptual framework for interpreting Debrecen’s cultural life. The metaphor of the “machine” simultaneously highlights the system’s complexity and operability, while emphasizing the role of the community: that the city’s cultural life is not a fixed structure, but a constantly evolving, collectively operated process. The deputy mayor emphasized that the publication’s release was preceded by a series of meetings and collaborative discussions with the city’s cultural players.
In the Forum’s second presentation, participants learned about the operations of the CO.LABS cultural center in Brno. In her presentation, Simona Augustín described CO.LABS as an open, independent cultural platform built specifically on collaboration, which actively supports the development of the region’s cultural sector. She emphasized that the center’s core principles are interdisciplinarity, accessibility, knowledge sharing, and community collaboration, while paying special attention to supporting young and emerging artists and building local and international partnerships.
She emphasised that CO.LABS has undergone significant infrastructure development in recent years: by 2025, a comprehensive renovation will result in a multifunctional cultural space spanning over 3,000 square metres. The new center not only includes performance halls, workshops, and studios, but also serves community, creative, and residency functions, thus functioning simultaneously as a workspace, a meeting place, and a venue for cultural events. One of CO.LABS’s most important tasks is providing comprehensive support to creators: they not only provide infrastructure but also mentoring, production and financial assistance, as well as opportunities for international networking.
The center’s programs—such as residencies, initiatives supporting young talent, and projects addressing the situation of women artists—all serve the goal of creating a sustainable and collaborative cultural environment. She concluded her presentation by noting that CO.LABS can be understood as a constantly evolving, living system that both responds to and shapes community needs. Their plans for the future—the realization of hundreds of events, residencies, and community programs—demonstrate that the center intends to play a defining role in the region’s cultural life in the long term.
The third presentation showcased some of the results of the Re:Shape the City international hackathon, organized by the University of Debrecen and the City of Debrecen. As part of the initiative, 16 teams—comprising nearly fifty university students—worked on reimagining the city’s community and cultural spaces. At the presentation, the winning team, weSParK (Ahmed Alyousify, Dinh Thuy Hien, Ali Tantawy, and Yara Elkamshoushy), introduced their innovative concept, which was based on an app that combines community building with urban experiences.
The proposed app combines physical activity with cultural exploration. The core idea is that users can discover the city’s cultural treasures while on the move—for example, while walking or exploring the city—making the experience both educational and engaging. The app’s functionality is based on a playful, gamified logic: it offers routes across various categories (such as poets, monuments, historical sites, and restaurants), along which checkpoints appear. The system tracks users’ progress and awards rewards—such as badges or “medals”—for achievements, which motivates further exploration.
The target audience is exceptionally broad: essentially anyone open to getting to know the city and its cultural layers better. This is a key strength, as it can appeal to locals, young people, and tourists alike, and can even be used as a medium for educational purposes.
Following the presentations, the programme continued with a second session focusing on the use of creative spaces. During the panel discussion, different institutional and professional perspectives were brought together: Miklós Péter Balogh, Director of Rocksuli, Leonárd Petró, Communications and Public Relations Officer at the University and National Library of the University of Debrecen, and Balázs Horváth, Head of KraftLab, shared their experiences and thoughts on the topic.
Leonárd Petró highlighted that students at the University of Debrecen’s library feel most at home when the library functions not only as a place for study, but also as a community space. An open, inclusive environment that offers opportunities for learning, meeting and relaxation significantly contributes to students’ ability to connect with both the city and each other. Accordingly, the use of space must be continuously adapted to community needs, whether in terms of programmes, services or even the physical environment.
Miklós Péter Balogh explained, through the example of Rocksuli, that a well-functioning creative space can engage multiple generations. At the institution, different age groups—from young people to adults—come together, which not only makes the community more diverse but also creates new opportunities for learning and collaboration. This kind of openness and flexibility is key to ensuring that a space remains relevant in the long term.
Balázs Horváth, using the example of KraftLab, spoke about how one of the most important characteristics of contemporary community spaces is continuous renewal and the possibility of experimentation. The Telekom Kraft creative space in Debrecen operates as an open workshop where young people can test their ideas without risk, whether in music production, video creation, podcasting or digital development. The available tools and supportive environment make it possible for ideas not only to exist, but to be realised.
Throughout the discussion, the role of innovation was repeatedly emphasised. Participants agreed that community and cultural spaces must continuously respond to changing needs: they must experiment with new formats, pay attention to feedback, and remain open to innovation. Only in this way can they become truly vibrant, popular and sustainable community venues capable of engaging and retaining their audiences in the long term. The forum also provided insight into what new community spaces Debrecen may need, as the audience actively joined the discussion. Feedback from participants clearly pointed in one direction: most highlighted the lack of green, outdoor community spaces.
Several contributors emphasised the need for open, nature-oriented locations that not only serve recreational purposes but can also function as community meeting points and venues for cultural events. Parks, community gardens, temporarily activated urban spaces or even smaller outdoor event venues could all contribute to making urban life more liveable and diverse. These suggestions clearly show that audiences in Debrecen are increasingly seeking spaces where culture, community interaction and the experience of nature come together, and where participation is not necessarily tied to institutional frameworks.
Source and photo credit: debrecen.hu
