What is a European City of Culture

Asks howardpiercy

A. A European City of Culture is a title awarded to a city in Europe - the title is bestowed on a city that has entered and won a competition held by the European Union in which it can prove it is of higher cultural interest than other competitors - or one that can prove that through an EU grant it will become a greater cultural attraction to its visitors.

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The competition was established in 1985, originally as a means of bringing European citizens together, and has run ever since. The title of the winning city or cities was changed to European Capital of Culture in 1999.

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Q. Why was the title been changed

A. In order that joint bids can be considered by the European Union, for example the current holders (for 2001) of European Capital of Culture are Porto in Portugal and Rotterdam in the Netherlands.

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Q. What are the benefits of becoming a European Capital of Culture

A. There are great social and economic benefits for the city - it receives a grant from the European Union to develop cultural activities and it usually attracts more tourists that it usually would for example, Glasgow is the only city in the UK to have been made (so far) a European City of Culture, in 1990. In that year Glasgow saw an 80% rise in tourism and has been a lot more attractive to tourists ever since. It is generally believed that winning the award means that your city will become a magnet for tourists.

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Q. What is the time frame from being awarded a Capital of Culture status and actually becoming one

A. Since 1999 - and the EU directive 1419/1999/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 25 May 1999 was passed - it is four years. Currently, all Capitals of Culture have been chosen up until 2005. A new selection procedure for the Capitals for the 2005-2019 period is currently underway. From 2005, a Member State of the EU will be chosen to nominate a city or a short list of cities from within the Member State to the EU for selection.

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In 2008, one city from the UK will be chosen as a European Capital of Culture and many are going to bid for the title including Bradford, Newcastle, Bristol, Birmingham and Liverpool. All proposals have to be completed by a city council by March 2002, the Government will then publish a shortlist of cities to be put forward to the European Union in Autumn 2002 -and a final decision will be made in Spring 2003 - giving the chosen city four years to prepare before it becomes a European Capital of Culture in 2008. The award is financed through the EU's Culture 2000 programme.

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Within its proposal to be nominated as a European Capital of Culture each city has to include the following criteria: host a cultural project of European dimension that is organised in association with other European cities; exploit the historic heritage, urban architecture and quality of life in the city; and state how it will ensure tourists visit the city (through publicity, events organisation, transport and accommodation etc.).

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Q. What activities does the EU consider to be cultural

A. Usually once the EU has awarded a grant to the city of its choice its cultural activities are enhanced and will include: The performing arts (music, opera, theatre, street theatre, circus); visual arts and photography; books and reading; cultural heritage (including cultural history, identity, ethnicity, multiculturalism, museums, architecture, archaeology, conservation and restoration) and multimedia. Festivals, exhibitions, tours and conferences usually take place in the city too during the year it holds the title.

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Q. What cities have so far been a European City or Capital of Culture

A. So far the following cities have received the award:

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1985 - Athens

1986 - Florence

1987 - Amsterdam

1988 - Berlin

1989 - Paris

1990 - Glasgow

1991 - Dublin

1992 - Madrid

1993 - Anvers

1994 - Lisbon

1995 - Luxembourg

1996 - Copenhagen

1997 - Thessaloniki

1998 - Stockholm

1999 - Weimar

2000 - Avignon, Bergen, Bologna, Brussels, Helsinki, Prague, Cracow

2001 - Porto and Rotterdam

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The following cities have been appointed European Capitals of Culture until 2005:

2002 - Bruges and Salamanca

2003 - Graz

2004 - Geneva and Lille

2005: Cork (announced in October 2001)

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By Karen Anderson