The Power of International Collaboration: Manchester, Barcelona and a Shared Cultural Future by Dave Moutrey OBE

In an era defined by global challenges and local pressures, international cultural collaboration is no longer a luxury; it is a necessity.

For Manchester, this conviction sits at the heart of Always Everywhere: Manchester’s Cultural Ambition, which positions culture as part of the city’s foundational economy and commits the city to learning from, and contributing to, a global dialogue between cities. Few partnerships demonstrate this more clearly than Manchester’s evolving relationship with Barcelona.

Both cities are proudly post-industrial, outward-looking and diverse. Both have reimagined their futures through creativity, knowledge and civic ambition. Manchester’s invitation to become Guest City at Barcelona’s La Mercè festival is therefore more than a prestigious international showcase; it is a tangible expression of shared values and mutual trust. It shows how city-to-city collaboration can move beyond cultural diplomacy into sustained artistic, economic and civic exchange.

Together, they have demonstrated an approach rooted not in export alone, but in co-creation. New commissions, shared curatorial decision-making and joint artistic development have been central, whether through contemporary outdoor arts, music co-commissions or participation in Barcelona’s historic cultura popular traditions.

The impact of this collaboration is multi-layered. For artists, it offers access to international platforms, new creative contexts and deep professional relationships. It enables experimentation at a scale rarely available domestically and provides sustained development opportunities rather than one-off touring engagements. For audiences, it expands cultural horizons, bringing new voices and aesthetics into civic space and reinforcing culture as a shared public experience rather than a specialist activity. For both cities, it strengthens international reputation, reinforces cultural leadership and builds durable networks that extend well beyond a single festival moment.

Importantly, this work also aligns closely with Manchester’s wider Creative Industries Strategy, which positions internationalisation as central to inclusive growth, talent retention and global positioning. International collaboration supports export readiness, attracts inward investment and connects Manchester’s creative businesses and freelancers to new markets. At the same time, it reinforces the city’s commitment to participation, diversity and public space as a site of democratic encounter, ensuring that global engagement does not come at the expense of local relevance.

However, delivering work of this nature is not without challenge – particularly when it comes to funding. International collaboration typically relies on complex, multi-source funding models that span local government, national cultural agencies, city partners, sponsors and sometimes diplomatic or cultural institutes. Each funder brings different priorities, timelines and reporting requirements. Aligning these into a coherent programme demands significant leadership, trust and administrative capacity, often over multiple years.

There are also structural challenges. Funding systems are still largely designed around national delivery rather than international co-production. Currency fluctuations, rising production and travel costs, and environmental considerations further complicate budgeting. For artists and producers, cashflow risk can be significant, particularly when costs are incurred well in advance of delivery. Public-sector partners must balance ambition with accountability, ensuring that international work demonstrably delivers public value at home as well as abroad.

Yet the return on investment – while not always immediate or easily captured by traditional metrics – is substantial. Economically, international collaboration supports creative exports, strengthens professional networks and enhances the international profile that underpins tourism, talent attraction and inward investment. It contributes to the growth and resilience of the creative industries, a sector that already plays a central role in Manchester’s economy. Socially and culturally, the returns are equally significant: increased access to high-quality cultural experiences, stronger community pride, and deeper intercultural understanding.

There are also strategic returns that matter deeply to cities. International partnerships build institutional capacity, enabling cultural organisations and civic bodies to operate confidently on a global stage. They generate learning around sustainability, inclusion and public space that feeds directly back into local policy and practice. Over time, they position cities as credible partners in wider global conversations about culture’s role in urban life, resilience and democracy.

Looking ahead, Manchester’s vision for international exchange is clear. Future collaborations must be long-term rather than transactional, built on reciprocity and shared challenge. They should prioritise co-commissioning, artist mobility and knowledge exchange, while embedding fair work, environmental responsibility and access from the outset. Funding models will need to evolve, with greater flexibility, longer horizons and stronger alignment between local, national and international priorities.

Above all, Manchester’s experience with Barcelona shows that the true value of international collaboration lies not only in what is presented on stage or in the street, but in the relationships, skills and civic confidence that are built along the way. In a complex world, culture remains one of the most powerful ways cities can learn from one another – and imagine fairer, greener and more connected futures together.