Pending between the reality of evaluation and the magic of dreams, analysis of assessment methodologies for European Capitals of Culture

This essay explores the evaluation methodologies applied to the European Capitals of Culture (ECoC) initiative, highlighting the tension between economic rationality and the intangible value of cultural processes. Moving beyond conventional cost-benefit analysis, Prestamburgo argues for multidimensional and long-term assessment models that incorporate environmental, social, and cultural impacts. The ECoC is presented as a complex territorial device capable of generating both measurable and symbolic transformations, requiring tools of evaluation that can account for positive externalities and collective benefits. The text positions the ECoC within a broader European project of shared identity, sustainability, and democratic participation, proposing an integrated approach to decision-making and urban policy rooted in culture-led regeneration.