Between 2017 and 2019, KÉK – Contemporary Architecture Centre participated as a project partner in the international initiative DANUrB – DANube Urban Brand, which was implemented within the framework of the Danube Transnational Programme. The goal of the project was to strengthen the cultural identity of the Danube region through tourism and educational means, as well as to build a common, cross-border cultural network.
The DANUrB cultural network aimed to uncover the underutilised, hidden cultural and social resources of Danube settlements, building upon these to create a common “brand.” The overarching aim of the project was to establish the Danube Cultural Promenade – a spatial-cultural network that connects the communities along the Danube through thematic tours, a unified image, and development opportunities, contributing to the strengthening of tourism and the local economy.
Although the DANUrB primarily operated as a research project, numerous practical elements were realised during its three-year run: international research camps, workshops, pilot cultural events, and festivals were created with the active involvement of local communities and based on an ever-expanding international knowledge base.
More than 40 organisations from 7 countries participated in the project, including universities, research institutes, regional governments, civil cultural organisations, and tourism agencies. Together, they developed a sustainable cultural and tourism development strategy that demonstrates how a common Danube brand can bring about social and economic revitalisation for the region.
KÉK's role in the project was to map the local cultural and creative actors, civil initiatives, and economic projects along the Danube. Furthermore, it examined their points of connection, cooperation possibilities, and local integration – these formed the basis of an analytical material that resulted in maps, data visualisations, and ultimately a geolocated relational database. This database remained useful for urban development and community decision-making even after the project's conclusion.
