The Festival for a Better Future is a project led by ELFAC, within its European Network of Family Friendly Municipalities, and funded by the European Commission’s CERV (Citizens, Equality, Rights and Values) program. The aim is to highlight the role of the family in tackling Europe’s main challenges.

Themes such as “The Europe we want”, “Welcoming cities for a caring EU”, “Greener cities, greener EU” and “Inclusive growth” are the central themes of each of the four events, one for each partner municipality of the project: Alghero (Italy), Bacau (Romania), Creixell (Spain) and Gdynia (Poland).

Each event consists in a conference with experts in the topic, a workshop of good practices of municipalities, and a discussion of young people with a final manifesto. Also includes a “feast” event, like a concert, activitities for families and children, workshops in museums or cultural centers, excursions, etc…

Fully linked to our EVENT 3, the project is supporting the EU Green Deal by engaging citizens and municipalities in a greater reflection and action for the constructions of green cities. Through workshops and discussions, we provide a platform for participants to reflect on and act toward the development of sustainable urban areas with accessible green spaces. By facilitating dialogue, sharing best practices, and exchanging ideas, we empower municipalities and citizens to prioritize the integration of green infrastructure, ensuring improved health, well-being, and environmental quality in their communities.

PROGRAM

BETTER FUTURE FESTIVAL – GREENER CITIES, GREENER EU

16-18.05.2025, Gdynia – Poland

Day 1. 16.05. Friday

11:00 – Alghero group – Climate Fresk – workshop leads by Marta Jarosińska from Department of Environment of the city of Gdynia in CN Experyment

14:00 – Physics of new technologies – workshop leads by CN Experyment

https://experyment.gdynia.pl/en/

20:00 – Dinner at  Vinegre (vinegre.pl)

https://maps.app.goo.gl/snwRJDaaPvvfdh8V7

Day 2. 17.05. Saturday

9:00 – Participant registration and welcome coffee at Konsulat Kultury

10:00  – Conference opening

• Katarzyna Korzeniewska – Director, Gdynia Culture Centre
• Maciej Zielonka – Vice-President City of Gdynia
• Maria Regina Florio – Coordinator of the Network of Family-Friendly Municipalities
• Raul Sanchez – Secretary General, ELFAC

10:30 – Exchange of Good Municipal Practices:

• Bacau: Lucian-Ionut Andrei, city council of Bacau
• Creixell: Montserrat Muñoz, mayor of Creixell
• Alghero: Mauro Ledda, ofiice for family policies of the municipality of Alghero
• Gdynia: Marta Jasińska from Department of Environment of the city of Gdynia and Anna Sowa from CN Experyment

11:30 – Conclusions

11:30 – Youth debate/workshop – Greener today for the better future – manifest

12:30 – Lunch provided by Konsulat Kultury

14:00 – Guided tour of the city (in english) led by Agnieszka Drączkowska-Gradzik

16:00 – Free time

18:00 – Museums night & Better Future Festival in Konsulat Kultury

1. Concert:

• DJ set Coastline Northern Cuts (Tomek Hoax & Marcin Szulc)
• Dawki
• Daltonists

1. LARP game from Sirius Game Studio: “Ghosts of the Past”

The history of the Cultural Consulate – the former Swedish Seaman’s House – is rich in stories of unique people and events. In our game, three ghosts, from different historical periods, are unable to leave the building without completing their earthly affairs. Listen to their stories, help them in their dilemmas and free the Ghosts of the Past. For every help you give, you will receive one layer of the image of Gdynia on a postcard. What does it hide? You’ll find out only when you collect them all. No age restrictions.

1. “Visibility. Proximity. Presence”

Video art and anime – presentation of four artists: Iwona Zając, Agnieszka Babinska, Dajana Desi Borowiec and Jacob Baal

Three projects – three different visual languages. Poetic performance, intimate dream registration and expressive animation come together to talk about the hidden, the transient, the deeply personal.

Parallel events:

12:30 – Nature walk for families led by Salcia Hałas: “Urban green guerrillas – or plants ready for anything”

Day 3. 18.05. Sunday

10:15 – CN Experyment – a guided tour of the “CLEVERFOOD for everyone exhibition”, starting at 10:15am. The guided tour will take no more than 30-45 minutes. After that, we can offer a guided tour of the permanent exhibition, either partial or complete (1-2 h).

Parallel event:

9:00 – Nature walk for families led by Katarzyna Rosińska: “Bird Sunday – an attentive ornithological walk”.