Dear
Cities,
Emerge launches a global call for ideas that reimagine cities through creativity.
Submissions until Jan 31, 2027
Submit Your Idea
Supported by
About the global invitation
What is
Dear Cities,?
Dear Cities, is the concept that presents how Emerge Mota-Engil Real Estate Developers, envisions the cities of the future. We are inviting everyone, no matter their background or country, to rethink cities through creativity. Your idea doesn't have to be finished. Just submit a description, and if you're selected as a finalist, you'll get mentorship sessions to help develop it, culminating in a public exhibition in Portugal.
If you could write a letter to a city, what would you say? And what would you create to bring awareness to it?
Dear Cities, A Global Invitation
A city where everything is possible
What is OPO City?
As Mota-Engil's real estate developer, Emerge was born to rethink the spaces that shape our lives. It challenges conventional real estate by turning buildings, neighbourhoods, and urban projects into platforms for new ways of living.
OPO City is one of the first practical applications of this vision. With around 27 hectares of urban space, it is a real urban project offering a unique opportunity to explore new ways of shaping the cities of the future.
If you could write a letter to the perfect city, what would you tell it to have, become, or never forget? Imagine OPO City as a blank canvas for your vision, and a real place where the perfect city can come to life.
What you get
Prizes
Mentorships
The five finalists get mentorships to develop their projects.
Funding
After a pitch, the 3 winning ideas will receive financial funding of 15.000€ each.
Public Exhibition in Portugal
The winning works will be exhibited in Portugal in the second quarter of 2027.
Apply
Creative Output: What we're asking for
Think about every city you've lived in, visited, and loved. The places that inspired you, the things that frustrated you, and the details that made you feel at home. Now imagine you had the opportunity to bring all those learnings together and create the city you believe we should live in.
To apply, you don't need a finished project. We just want to understand the core concept, your vision, and where you want to take it.
Three steps to apply:
Write a letter
Start with Dear Cities, and share your vision of the perfect city (maximum 1,500 characters). All letters will be exhibited as part of the challenge and shared with OPO City and the decision-makers shaping its future.
Tell us what you want to create
How are you turning your letter into art? Any form of creative expression is valid: film, installation, object, piece of writing, interactive experience, performance, immersive storytelling, hybrid and mixed media projects…
Attach a moodboard or draft
Provide a moodboard or a draft of your concept so we can understand what you are doing and how you are doing it: What’s your vision? How are you bringing it to life?
Who it's for
We're calling every creative mind out there!
You don't have to be an artist to participate. Submit your idea individually or as a team of up to four people. Brand managers, architects, designers, researchers, storytellers, and creators from all disciplines are welcome.
Our mission is to:
Explore new perspectives
Reimagine the future of cities and urban life from unexpected angles.
Foster dialogue
Bring creativity and urban thinking together.
Drive innovation
Explore new possibilities across culture, technology, and sustainability.
Inspire reflection
Encourage critical thinking about the role we can play in shaping the cities of tomorrow.
Get Ideas
Explore the themes and get ideas!
To help kickstart your letter, you can imagine this new, improved city through the lens of these themes:
Community
How can a space promote real human connection and break isolation? Combating loneliness requires intentional urban design.
Nature
How are you incorporating nature in an urban landscape? How important is it for you? Sustainability and regeneration are key.
Health
What role can a city play in our mental and physical health? There are infinite ways to promote emotional balance and a good quality of life.
Art & Culture
The beating heart of a city. How do you integrate art, creativity, and cultural expression into the daily life of this reinvented city?
Education
How does the city become a place of continuous learning where knowledge is exchanged across generations?
Housing & Belonging
What makes a place feel like home? How can housing create a sense of community for different people and ways of living?
Technology, Innovation & Mobility
How can technology, innovation, and smart mobility help us build better cities? How does the way you move in the city influence your life?
Freedom
Think beyond the themes. There's no limit to creativity. What's your unique vision for the perfect city that doesn't fit into any category?
Process
How it works
Call for Submissions
Submit the idea for your project.
Top 10
After the top 10 make a pitch, the jury selects the top 5. The panel of jury and mentors will be revealed soon.
Top 5
The top 5 will receive mentorship to develop their projects and prepare for a final pitch, where the jury will choose the 3 winners.
3 Final Winners
Each winning project will receive €15,000 in funding.
Exhibition by the 3 Final Winners
The 3 winning projects will be exhibited in Portugal in the second quarter of 2027, kickstarting a bigger conversation about the future of our cities.