Oviedo 2031 Brings Amabilidá to Brussels and Strengthens Its Cultural Ties with Europe

Oviedo’s bid for European Capital of Culture 2031 held an event in Brussels on 5 November, bringing together members of the Asturian community living in Belgium to introduce its cultural project and strengthen ties between Asturias and Europe.

The event took place at La Tricoterie, a former furniture factory transformed into a cultural venue. This example of industrial heritage regeneration reflects one of the main ambitions of Oviedo 2031: transforming the Fábrica de Armas de La Vega into a space dedicated to culture, creativity and community life.

During the event, the team presented the main elements of its proposal, whose final Bid Book had been submitted to the Spanish Ministry of Culture on 3 November under the motto Amabilidá. Choose Utopia. The project sees culture as a means of strengthening social cohesion, fostering European cooperation and addressing future challenges through participation, dialogue and collective creativity.

The event featured Zoe López Mediero and Paula Mota García, Co-Artistic Directors of Oviedo 2031, and Antonia Blau, Head of European Dimension, who discussed the bid’s international outlook, its connections with other European cities and cultural organisations, and the role of culture as a driver of social transformation.

One of the highlights was the screening of an excerpt from La revuelta y la nieve, by Gijón-born artist Dionisio González. This audiovisual essay explores Asturias’ mining heritage and the social and labour transformations of its former mining communities, while reflecting on the opportunities that former industrial sites offer for new uses linked to technology, innovation and culture.

The discussion also explored the meaning of Amabilidá, the central concept of the bid, which promotes an approach to living together based on listening, care and collaboration. The motto Choose Utopia extends this vision to Europe, inviting people to imagine better futures and build them collectively through culture.

The event was organised in collaboration with La Nueva España, which took the opportunity to present Asturias Exterior, a digital platform designed to connect Asturian communities around the world, share their stories and maintain strong links with their homeland. The presentation was delivered by Eduardo Lagar, who leads the project.

The programme also included a question-and-answer session, giving attendees the opportunity to learn more about the bid and exchange views with the Oviedo 2031 team. The evening concluded with an informal reception accompanied by music from BPM Express, encouraging conversation and connections between the Asturian community in Belgium and representatives of Oviedo 2031.

With this initiative, Oviedo 2031 continues to strengthen its European dimension and build bridges between Asturias and Asturian communities abroad, as the selection process for European Capital of Culture 2031 enters its final stage.