Regaining a sense of belonging
Murcia Huerta Week
Murcia Huerta Week: Promoting, Raising Awareness, and Celebrating Local Heritage and Identity
Murcia Huerta Week is a vibrant annual event that brings the city and its historic Huerta together through culture, nature, and tradition. With immersive experiences like guided routes, hands-on workshops, and gastronomic showcases, it celebrates local heritage, fosters sustainability, and connects generations in a unique blend of tradition and innovation.
Spain
Local
Murcia
It addresses urban-rural linkages
It refers to other types of transformations (soft investment)
Yes
2024-10-13
No
No
No
As a representative of an organisation
Murcia Huerta Week is a cultural and educational event organized by the Municipality of Murcia to strengthen the connection between citizens and the Huerta, the city’s most emblematic cultural landscape. Through guided routes, workshops, forums, and gastronomic experiences, it promotes local heritage, sustainability, and social cohesion, ensuring the Huerta remains a vibrant space of tradition and innovation. The project integrates the values and working principles of the NEB by fostering sustainability, inclusion, and aesthetics. It promotes responsible water management by highlighting the historic acequias irrigation system and traditional farming techniques that support biodiversity and climate adaptation. Zero-kilometer food markets and showcookings encourage local, circular economies. Inclusion is at the heart of the event, with activities designed to be free and accessible to all, including people with disabilities and marginalized groups. Educational programs and intergenerational exchanges ensure knowledge transmission and active community participation. Aesthetics and cultural identity are enhanced through creative workshops, exhibitions, and immersive digital storytelling that bring Murcia’s Huerta to life, fostering a deep appreciation for its landscape and traditions. In the longer term, Murcia Huerta Week improves people’s and communities’ lives by strengthening their connection to cultural and natural heritage, fostering environmental awareness, revitalizing the local economy, and promoting civic engagement. The project also contributes to tackling specific challenges faced by the region, including climate change, urban expansion, and rural depopulation. By raising awareness of sustainable water use, encouraging urban-rural integration, and supporting local farmers and artisans, it provides a replicable and scalable model for sustainable territorial development, ensuring a resilient and culturally enriched future for Murcia’s Huerta and its people.
Sustainability
Heritage
Identity
Inclusion
Innovation
Murcia Huerta Week promotes sustainability from a holistic perspective, integrating agricultural practices, sustainable mobility, circular economy principles, and environmental education. Workshops on traditional irrigation techniques, composting, and organic farming raise awareness about efficient water management and soil conservation, reinforcing climate-resilient agricultural practices. Showcookings with zero-kilometer products highlight the importance of local, seasonal food, reducing waste and the carbon footprint of long supply chains while supporting the local economy.
Sustainable mobility is encouraged by inviting participants to use bicycles or public transport, minimizing CO₂ emissions and reducing urban congestion. The event also integrates eco-friendly infrastructure, using reusable materials, digital guides instead of printed brochures, and promoting waste reduction initiatives such as composting and recycling.
Educational programs target both schoolchildren and the wider community, fostering awareness of biodiversity, soil regeneration, and ecosystem preservation. By incorporating digital tools like augmented reality and immersive audiovisual content, sustainability education becomes more engaging and accessible.
Murcia Huerta Week stands as an exemplary model of how cultural and heritage-based initiatives can drive sustainability in urban and peri-urban areas. Its multidisciplinary and participatory approach fosters behavioral change by blending hands-on experiences with scientific knowledge, artistic expression, and policy engagement. The project proves that sustainability is most effective when deeply rooted in local identity and traditions, making it highly replicable in other European cities with agricultural landscapes. By promoting community ownership and engagement, Murcia Huerta Week ensures the Huerta remains an environmentally, socially, and economically sustainable space for future generations.
Sustainable mobility is encouraged by inviting participants to use bicycles or public transport, minimizing CO₂ emissions and reducing urban congestion. The event also integrates eco-friendly infrastructure, using reusable materials, digital guides instead of printed brochures, and promoting waste reduction initiatives such as composting and recycling.
Educational programs target both schoolchildren and the wider community, fostering awareness of biodiversity, soil regeneration, and ecosystem preservation. By incorporating digital tools like augmented reality and immersive audiovisual content, sustainability education becomes more engaging and accessible.
Murcia Huerta Week stands as an exemplary model of how cultural and heritage-based initiatives can drive sustainability in urban and peri-urban areas. Its multidisciplinary and participatory approach fosters behavioral change by blending hands-on experiences with scientific knowledge, artistic expression, and policy engagement. The project proves that sustainability is most effective when deeply rooted in local identity and traditions, making it highly replicable in other European cities with agricultural landscapes. By promoting community ownership and engagement, Murcia Huerta Week ensures the Huerta remains an environmentally, socially, and economically sustainable space for future generations.
Murcia Huerta Week offers a rich cultural and aesthetic experience, blending tradition and creativity. Guided tours allow participants to discover the beauty of the Huerta landscape, with its centuries-old irrigation channels, blooming orchards, and fruit trees. Ceramic and painting workshops reflect this rural aesthetic, while artistic activities incorporate visual elements inspired by the Huerta.
The showcookings provide a full sensory experience, where taste and smell evoke the region’s culinary tradition, enhanced by modern presentations that showcase local creativity. Exhibition spaces, designed for all ages, reinforce the sense of belonging and create a bridge between generations.
This approach combines traditional elements with cultural innovation, making Murcia Huerta Week an immersive event that celebrates local identity and enriches community life.
Murcia Huerta Week stands as an exemplary model of how aesthetics and cultural richness can enhance community engagement, ensuring that people not only see the Huerta as a historical landscape but as a living space of creativity, sustainability, and identity. Its immersive, participatory approach makes it a replicable initiative for other European regions seeking to strengthen cultural heritage through design, storytelling, and artistic innovation.
The showcookings provide a full sensory experience, where taste and smell evoke the region’s culinary tradition, enhanced by modern presentations that showcase local creativity. Exhibition spaces, designed for all ages, reinforce the sense of belonging and create a bridge between generations.
This approach combines traditional elements with cultural innovation, making Murcia Huerta Week an immersive event that celebrates local identity and enriches community life.
Murcia Huerta Week stands as an exemplary model of how aesthetics and cultural richness can enhance community engagement, ensuring that people not only see the Huerta as a historical landscape but as a living space of creativity, sustainability, and identity. Its immersive, participatory approach makes it a replicable initiative for other European regions seeking to strengthen cultural heritage through design, storytelling, and artistic innovation.
Murcia Huerta Week is a model of inclusion, ensuring that all activities are accessible, affordable, and designed for diverse audiences. The project integrates universal accessibility principles, adapting workshops and guided tours for people with reduced mobility and providing sign language interpreters whenever possible. By making the event free of charge, it guarantees that families, young people, elderly citizens, and vulnerable groups can fully participate, removing financial barriers to cultural engagement.
The project also fosters inclusive governance, involving neighborhood associations, farmer collectives, and cultural groups in the event’s design. This participatory approach ensures that all sectors of society are represented and that the program reflects local needs and interests. The event uses clear and visually friendly communication, including accessible signage and digital materials, to enhance engagement for all audiences.
Murcia Huerta Week stands as an exemplary model of how inclusive cultural initiatives can strengthen community bonds. It creates a space where tradition, culture, and sustainability merge to build a more cohesive and equitable society. By integrating design-for-all principles, participatory governance, and universal accessibility, the project sets a benchmark for replicable and scalable models of inclusive urban-rural engagement across Europe.
The project also fosters inclusive governance, involving neighborhood associations, farmer collectives, and cultural groups in the event’s design. This participatory approach ensures that all sectors of society are represented and that the program reflects local needs and interests. The event uses clear and visually friendly communication, including accessible signage and digital materials, to enhance engagement for all audiences.
Murcia Huerta Week stands as an exemplary model of how inclusive cultural initiatives can strengthen community bonds. It creates a space where tradition, culture, and sustainability merge to build a more cohesive and equitable society. By integrating design-for-all principles, participatory governance, and universal accessibility, the project sets a benchmark for replicable and scalable models of inclusive urban-rural engagement across Europe.
Murcia Huerta Week is a citizen-driven initiative, where the local community is actively involved in every stage of the event, from planning to implementation. Neighborhood groups, farmer associations, and local artisans play a central role by proposing guided routes, workshops, and exhibitions, ensuring that the event reflects the diverse perspectives, needs, and traditions of the community. This participatory model transforms citizens from passive attendees into active contributors, fostering a sense of ownership and long-term engagement.
Co-created workshops, such as "Paint Your Huerta" or "Ancestral Cooking", facilitate intergenerational knowledge exchange, where elders share traditional farming and culinary techniques with younger generations. These activities strengthen local identity while promoting the preservation of cultural and agricultural heritage. Additionally, community meetings are held before each edition to gather insights and ideas, which are then integrated into the event’s programming, ensuring that each year’s themes and activities respond to citizens' interests and evolving challenges.
The impact of this deep civic engagement has been significant. The active participation of citizens has fostered a stronger commitment to the conservation of the Huerta’s landscape, increased environmental awareness, and reinforced social cohesion. By giving a voice to local stakeholders, Murcia Huerta Week has become an event truly rooted in the community, demonstrating how bottom-up governance and co-creation can enhance cultural initiatives and ensure long-lasting social and environmental benefits.
Co-created workshops, such as "Paint Your Huerta" or "Ancestral Cooking", facilitate intergenerational knowledge exchange, where elders share traditional farming and culinary techniques with younger generations. These activities strengthen local identity while promoting the preservation of cultural and agricultural heritage. Additionally, community meetings are held before each edition to gather insights and ideas, which are then integrated into the event’s programming, ensuring that each year’s themes and activities respond to citizens' interests and evolving challenges.
The impact of this deep civic engagement has been significant. The active participation of citizens has fostered a stronger commitment to the conservation of the Huerta’s landscape, increased environmental awareness, and reinforced social cohesion. By giving a voice to local stakeholders, Murcia Huerta Week has become an event truly rooted in the community, demonstrating how bottom-up governance and co-creation can enhance cultural initiatives and ensure long-lasting social and environmental benefits.
The Municipality of Murcia plays a key leadership role in the design and implementation of Murcia Huerta Week, working in close collaboration with multiple local, regional, national, and European stakeholders. Their involvement has been essential in enriching the event’s scope, ensuring its alignment with broader sustainability, cultural, and policy frameworks.
At the local level, the project is deeply rooted in community engagement, with cultural associations, schools, and local farmers actively participating in the planning and execution. They contribute valuable knowledge and resources, shaping the program through co-created activities such as workshops, guided tours, and educational initiatives. This grassroots involvement strengthens social cohesion, preserves local heritage, and enhances public ownership of the event.
At the regional level, the Region of Murcia supports the event’s promotion and visibility, integrating it into its tourism and cultural agenda. Regional media provide extensive coverage, amplifying its impact and encouraging wider participation. This engagement reinforces the Huerta’s identity as a key cultural and environmental asset within Murcia’s broader development strategy.
At the national and European levels, although the project does not receive EU funding, it is aligned with the priorities of the European Green Deal and the New European Bauhaus, emphasizing sustainability, cultural identity, and inclusion. Collaboration with other cities in Spain and across Europe facilitates the exchange of best practices, enriching the Murcia Huerta Week model and expanding its transferability to other regions with agricultural and peri-urban landscapes.
The added value of this multi-level engagement is reflected in the project’s ability to integrate local knowledge with broader policy objectives, ensuring a sustainable, inclusive, and culturally significant initiative that continues to grow and inspire beyond Murcia.
At the local level, the project is deeply rooted in community engagement, with cultural associations, schools, and local farmers actively participating in the planning and execution. They contribute valuable knowledge and resources, shaping the program through co-created activities such as workshops, guided tours, and educational initiatives. This grassroots involvement strengthens social cohesion, preserves local heritage, and enhances public ownership of the event.
At the regional level, the Region of Murcia supports the event’s promotion and visibility, integrating it into its tourism and cultural agenda. Regional media provide extensive coverage, amplifying its impact and encouraging wider participation. This engagement reinforces the Huerta’s identity as a key cultural and environmental asset within Murcia’s broader development strategy.
At the national and European levels, although the project does not receive EU funding, it is aligned with the priorities of the European Green Deal and the New European Bauhaus, emphasizing sustainability, cultural identity, and inclusion. Collaboration with other cities in Spain and across Europe facilitates the exchange of best practices, enriching the Murcia Huerta Week model and expanding its transferability to other regions with agricultural and peri-urban landscapes.
The added value of this multi-level engagement is reflected in the project’s ability to integrate local knowledge with broader policy objectives, ensuring a sustainable, inclusive, and culturally significant initiative that continues to grow and inspire beyond Murcia.
Murcia Huerta Week is a multidisciplinary project that brings together various fields of knowledge and expertise to offer a holistic perspective on the Huerta’s heritage. The event integrates history, agroecology, environmental science, gastronomy, art, design, education, and social participation, creating a dynamic platform where different disciplines interact to enhance cultural and environmental awareness. History and heritage are reflected in interpretative routes and exhibitions that explore the evolution of the Huerta’s landscape, water management systems, and traditional architecture. Agroecology and environmental science are incorporated through workshops on organic farming, biodiversity conservation, and sustainable water use, fostering knowledge exchange between traditional farmers and scientific experts. Gastronomy and nutrition take center stage in showcookings featuring zero-kilometer products, where chefs and food experts demonstrate how local and seasonal ingredients support both sustainability and cultural continuity. Art and design enhance the event through exhibitions, creative workshops, and immersive experiences inspired by the Huerta’s natural and built environment, bridging tradition with contemporary artistic expression. Education and social participation are fundamental, with school programs, public talks, and community forums ensuring broad engagement. Experts from cultural institutions, universities, and local organizations work together with residents to co-create activities, ensuring that the project remains rooted in collective knowledge and local identity. The interaction between these disciplines multiplies the project’s impact, creating an inclusive and engaging learning environment where participants experience the Huerta from multiple perspectives. This cross-disciplinary collaboration enriches the event, fosters new approaches to sustainability and cultural preservation, and makes it a replicable model for other regions.
The innovative character of Murcia Huerta Week lies in its ability to merge tradition and innovation, creating a dynamic event that goes beyond conventional cultural and environmental awareness initiatives. Unlike mainstream actions focused solely on agricultural heritage preservation, this event reinterprets the Huerta through a contemporary lens, addressing a new theme each year to explore fresh approaches to engagement and participation.
While many rural heritage initiatives focus on passive conservation, Murcia Huerta Week actively involves citizens through co-creation and hands-on participation. Rather than simply attending lectures or exhibitions, participants engage directly in interactive workshops, guided tours, and immersive gastronomic experiences, making the Huerta a living, evolving space. The use of digital tools, such as augmented reality and immersive audiovisual content, further distinguishes the event, offering innovative educational experiences that broaden knowledge about the Huerta in an engaging and accessible way.
Another key innovation is its inclusive and intergenerational approach. Unlike many heritage initiatives that target specific groups, Murcia Huerta Week ensures accessibility for all, addressing physical, economic, and cultural inclusion. By integrating art, gastronomy, urbanism, and sustainability, the project provides a multidimensional perspective of the territory, allowing participants to explore new ways of connecting tradition with contemporary challenges.
Murcia Huerta Week sets itself apart from traditional heritage conservation efforts by transforming the Huerta into a participatory and experiential space, adapting historical knowledge to modern realities. This replicable model offers an innovative way to engage communities, enrich cultural heritage, and promote sustainability, demonstrating how agricultural landscapes can be reimagined as spaces of learning, creativity, and resilience.
While many rural heritage initiatives focus on passive conservation, Murcia Huerta Week actively involves citizens through co-creation and hands-on participation. Rather than simply attending lectures or exhibitions, participants engage directly in interactive workshops, guided tours, and immersive gastronomic experiences, making the Huerta a living, evolving space. The use of digital tools, such as augmented reality and immersive audiovisual content, further distinguishes the event, offering innovative educational experiences that broaden knowledge about the Huerta in an engaging and accessible way.
Another key innovation is its inclusive and intergenerational approach. Unlike many heritage initiatives that target specific groups, Murcia Huerta Week ensures accessibility for all, addressing physical, economic, and cultural inclusion. By integrating art, gastronomy, urbanism, and sustainability, the project provides a multidimensional perspective of the territory, allowing participants to explore new ways of connecting tradition with contemporary challenges.
Murcia Huerta Week sets itself apart from traditional heritage conservation efforts by transforming the Huerta into a participatory and experiential space, adapting historical knowledge to modern realities. This replicable model offers an innovative way to engage communities, enrich cultural heritage, and promote sustainability, demonstrating how agricultural landscapes can be reimagined as spaces of learning, creativity, and resilience.
The methodology of Murcia Huerta Week follows a structured and participatory process, ensuring that the event is not only inclusive and impactful but also continuously evolving to meet community needs:
1. Diagnosis: Identification of key themes related to heritage, sustainability, and local culture, adapting each edition to current environmental and social challenges.
2. Co-design: Active involvement of residents, associations, experts, and cultural institutions to propose activities and workshops, ensuring a diverse and multidisciplinary program that reflects the community’s voice.
3. Programming: Development of an engaging schedule that blends guided tours, artistic performances, hands-on workshops, educational forums, and immersive digital experiences, offering a holistic and interactive approach to the Huerta’s heritage.
4. Implementation: Creation of collaborative working teams that include volunteers, professionals, municipal staff, and local businesses, fostering shared responsibility and social cohesion.
5. Evaluation and Improvement: Collection of feedback through satisfaction surveys, social and environmental impact assessments, and participatory reviews, ensuring each edition builds upon the previous one with new insights and enhanced experiences.
This participatory and dynamic approach transforms Murcia Huerta Week into more than just a cultural event—it becomes a living laboratory where the past and future of the Huerta converge, promoting innovation, inclusion, and sustainability while strengthening community engagement year after year.
1. Diagnosis: Identification of key themes related to heritage, sustainability, and local culture, adapting each edition to current environmental and social challenges.
2. Co-design: Active involvement of residents, associations, experts, and cultural institutions to propose activities and workshops, ensuring a diverse and multidisciplinary program that reflects the community’s voice.
3. Programming: Development of an engaging schedule that blends guided tours, artistic performances, hands-on workshops, educational forums, and immersive digital experiences, offering a holistic and interactive approach to the Huerta’s heritage.
4. Implementation: Creation of collaborative working teams that include volunteers, professionals, municipal staff, and local businesses, fostering shared responsibility and social cohesion.
5. Evaluation and Improvement: Collection of feedback through satisfaction surveys, social and environmental impact assessments, and participatory reviews, ensuring each edition builds upon the previous one with new insights and enhanced experiences.
This participatory and dynamic approach transforms Murcia Huerta Week into more than just a cultural event—it becomes a living laboratory where the past and future of the Huerta converge, promoting innovation, inclusion, and sustainability while strengthening community engagement year after year.
The format and methodology of Murcia Huerta Week are highly replicable and can be transferred to other regions, beneficiary groups, and contexts with agricultural or cultural heritage. One of its key strengths is its low infrastructure investment requirement, as it leverages existing resources such as rural spaces, local knowledge, and community networks. This makes it particularly suitable for municipalities with limited budgets, allowing them to develop high-impact cultural and environmental programs without requiring large-scale funding.
The modular structure of the event ensures flexibility and adaptability, enabling different territories to customize content based on their unique identity. Workshops on gastronomy, traditional crafts, and sustainable farming, interpretative routes, and artistic activities can all be tailored to local characteristics, ensuring that each community can highlight its own landscape, traditions, and sustainability challenges.
A key replicable element is the participatory governance model, which involves schools, associations, local farmers, and artisans in co-designing activities. This bottom-up approach strengthens community engagement, fostering a deeper sense of belonging and ensuring that the event remains relevant and impactful across different social and cultural contexts.
The use of innovative digital tools, such as augmented reality and immersive audiovisual storytelling, also enhances knowledge transfer and can be adapted to educational and cultural initiatives in other cities.
The success of Murcia Huerta Week demonstrates its scalability, offering a tested and adaptable framework for cities seeking to strengthen the link between heritage, sustainability, and community participation while creating meaningful cultural and environmental impact.
The modular structure of the event ensures flexibility and adaptability, enabling different territories to customize content based on their unique identity. Workshops on gastronomy, traditional crafts, and sustainable farming, interpretative routes, and artistic activities can all be tailored to local characteristics, ensuring that each community can highlight its own landscape, traditions, and sustainability challenges.
A key replicable element is the participatory governance model, which involves schools, associations, local farmers, and artisans in co-designing activities. This bottom-up approach strengthens community engagement, fostering a deeper sense of belonging and ensuring that the event remains relevant and impactful across different social and cultural contexts.
The use of innovative digital tools, such as augmented reality and immersive audiovisual storytelling, also enhances knowledge transfer and can be adapted to educational and cultural initiatives in other cities.
The success of Murcia Huerta Week demonstrates its scalability, offering a tested and adaptable framework for cities seeking to strengthen the link between heritage, sustainability, and community participation while creating meaningful cultural and environmental impact.
Murcia Huerta Week addresses global challenges by implementing local solutions that promote sustainability, cultural resilience, and economic development. The event demonstrates how community-driven initiatives can contribute to international agendas such as the 2030 Agenda and the European Green Deal, tackling pressing issues while strengthening local identity and heritage. One of the key challenges the project addresses is climate change. By promoting sustainable agriculture and responsible water management, the event fosters resilience against droughts and environmental degradation. Workshops and educational tours highlight efficient irrigation techniques and agroecological practices, encouraging the preservation of biodiversity and reducing environmental impact. The project also combats cultural disconnect, particularly in urban areas where traditional knowledge and practices are at risk of disappearing. The project reconnects citizens with their rural heritage, offering intergenerational spaces for the exchange of local wisdom, crafts, and farming traditions. This approach strengthens cultural identity while ensuring that essential skills and knowledge are passed on to future generations. In response to food security concerns, the event promotes local production and consumption, reducing dependency on imported goods and fostering a more sustainable and resilient food system. Showcookings, markets, and educational programs raise awareness about seasonal eating and circular economy principles, supporting local producers while minimizing food waste and carbon emissions.
Additionally, it contributes to rural development by strengthening local economies. It supports small-scale farmers, artisans, and businesses, creating new opportunities for responsible tourism and sustainable economic growth. The project scales local action into a replicable model, leveraging heritage and sustainability to tackle global challenges
Additionally, it contributes to rural development by strengthening local economies. It supports small-scale farmers, artisans, and businesses, creating new opportunities for responsible tourism and sustainable economic growth. The project scales local action into a replicable model, leveraging heritage and sustainability to tackle global challenges
Murcia Huerta Week has delivered significant results and impacts, strengthening cultural heritage, sustainability, and community participation in alignment with the New European Bauhaus values. The event has successfully reconnected urban and rural communities, revitalized local traditions, and promoted inclusive, sustainable development, benefiting both direct and indirect beneficiaries.
A key outcome is the growing sense of belonging among citizens. Each year, participation increases, reinforcing emotional and cultural ties to the Huerta of Murcia and ensuring that local traditions and agricultural knowledge remain relevant for future generations.
The event also brings economic benefits by supporting local production and short supply chains. Increased sales of zero-kilometer products and crafts provide additional income for farmers and artisans, strengthening the rural economy while promoting responsible tourism and sustainable gastronomy.
In education, Murcia Huerta Week has introduced sustainability, heritage, and water management topics into school programs, raising environmental awareness among younger generations. Workshops, guided tours, and digital tools allow participants to engage with circular economy principles, climate resilience, and cultural preservation in an interactive way.
Additionally, the event has positioned itself as a cultural and ecological reference, attracting visitors from across the region and reinforcing Murcia’s image as a sustainable tourism destination.
Murcia Huerta Week strengthens social ties, diversifies the local economy, and promotes environmental responsibility, serving as a scalable model for other regions seeking to integrate sustainability, cultural identity, and community engagement into their development strategies.
A key outcome is the growing sense of belonging among citizens. Each year, participation increases, reinforcing emotional and cultural ties to the Huerta of Murcia and ensuring that local traditions and agricultural knowledge remain relevant for future generations.
The event also brings economic benefits by supporting local production and short supply chains. Increased sales of zero-kilometer products and crafts provide additional income for farmers and artisans, strengthening the rural economy while promoting responsible tourism and sustainable gastronomy.
In education, Murcia Huerta Week has introduced sustainability, heritage, and water management topics into school programs, raising environmental awareness among younger generations. Workshops, guided tours, and digital tools allow participants to engage with circular economy principles, climate resilience, and cultural preservation in an interactive way.
Additionally, the event has positioned itself as a cultural and ecological reference, attracting visitors from across the region and reinforcing Murcia’s image as a sustainable tourism destination.
Murcia Huerta Week strengthens social ties, diversifies the local economy, and promotes environmental responsibility, serving as a scalable model for other regions seeking to integrate sustainability, cultural identity, and community engagement into their development strategies.
