CYCLE UP!

The full name of the CYCLE UP! project is “Harness the Power of Artistic Creative Expression to Promote the Bicycle as a Carbon-Neutral, Sustainable, and Safe Means of Transport.” This project brings together art, culture, and sustainable transportation, positioning the bicycle as its central focus. CYCLE UP! approaches sustainability as an essential, cross-cutting theme and, in collaboration with the artistic community, aims to elevate green mobility and cycling as artistic subjects across various genres, including theater, installations, and action art. The partner organizations also explore how artistic processes can become more environmentally friendly, asking: How can art be conceived in a local, participatory, and therefore sustainable way?

The project engages three primary target groups:

CYCLE UP! for Artists

In collaboration with artists, CYCLE UP! seeks to integrate sustainability and sustainable mobility into both artistic practices and art themes. Key initiatives include artist residency programs across five European countries, offering participants from diverse genres the chance to create works focused on sustainable transport and European mobility. An external curatorial team provides artistic guidance for the residency program.

CYCLE UP! for Citizens

The general public is the project’s largest target group. CYCLE UP! aims to enhance the appeal of cycling as a regular mode of transportation. To achieve this, project members organize a participatory program, artistic interventions, and community activities centered on cycling. These activities might include creative bicycle workshops or public events where participants can develop their own bicycle-themed artworks, fostering engagement with the themes of cycling and sustainable mobility.

CYCLE UP! for Decision-Makers

The project also aims to raise awareness of cyclists' needs and the role of culture in promoting behavior change. Urban planners and transportation decision-makers will participate throughout the project in workshops and conferences, helping to integrate cultural perspectives into urban space and transportation planning.