Concept of Knowledge City

Interesting document written by the city of Barcelona and reported in “The Knowledge City” that defines the attributes (check-list) for any city claiming to be a knowledge city:

• A city that has instruments to make knowledge accessible to citizens.
• A network of public libraries that is compatible with the European standards.
• Access to the new communication technologies for all citizens.
• All cultural facilities and services with a central educational strategy.
• A city that has a newspaper- and book-reading level that is similar to the average European level.
• A city that has a network of schools connected with artistic instruction throughout its territory.
• A city that is respectful of the diversity of cultural practices of its citizens.
• A city that places the streets at the service of culture.
• A city that simplifies, through the provision of spaces and resources, the cultural activity of the community collectivities and associations.
• A city with civic centres that are open to diversity and that foster face-to-face relations.
• A city that makes available to citizens from other territories all the tools required for them to express themselves.