The Municipal Strategic Plan for Culture for the Municipality of Leiria covers the decade between 2020 and 2030 and is the result of a multi-stage process involving the participation of citizens. The plan is structured around five axes of strategic intervention: one community, multiple heritages; artistic and creative Leiria; Leiria, a laboratory of citizenship; openness and global dialogue; and diverse and collaborative territories.
Following a phase of diagnosis and data collection, the second volume of the plan focuses on drawing up the vision and strategic objectives for culture in Leiria, completed by the development of a plan of action for the next ten years. The strategy underlines the significance of Leiria’s unique cultural and natural heritage, including its industrial sector, in shaping the region’s identity and contemporary expressions. It also stresses the importance of promoting and preserving tangible and intangible heritage to reinforce cultural identity.
The Plan includes proposed solutions for some of the identified challenges, such as organisational improvements, capacity building, and coordination with public and private stakeholders. Execution of the Plan requires current and capital expenditures, involving regular municipal service operations and project implementation. The Plan also includes a financing strategy based on diversifying funding sources, including local, regional, national, and international cooperation. Partnerships with public and private entities are considered key to mobilising resources within each cooperation scale.
Overall, the document emphasises the importance of good governance, collaboration, and professionalisation in developing a diverse and sustainable cultural sector in Leiria.
