Timișoara – European Capital of Culture in 2023
As many as 130 events take place this weekend in the western Romanian city
Roxana Vasile, 17.02.2023, 14:00
130 events spanning 3 days will mark the official opening of the “Timişoara – European Capital of Culture” programme. Starting on Friday, the western Romanian city becomes the second in the country, after Sibiu in 2007, to hold the much coveted title. The people of Timişoara want the programme to prove that theirs is a traditionally multicultural, open, brave and innovative city.
During the 3 days of cultural celebrations, Timișoara is expected to receive around 16,000 guests, including 100 Romanian and foreign senior officials, including scores of ambassadors, PM Nicolae Ciucă and the European Commissioner Adina Vălean.
Hundreds of Romanian and international artists have prepared concerts, exhibitions, street performances, theatre plays, film screenings and workshops around the city, under the slogan “Shine your light – Light up your city!”
The mayor Dominic Fritz urged people to take part in the celebration:
Dominic Fritz: “This is our chance to showcase everything we know about Timişoaras heritage, as well as the energy we have today and the thirst we have for the future. We are proud of our city and I am confident that a year from now we will have built a new, better, more engaged community, where each of us has a place. So lets make 2023 the year of Timişoara.”
The highlights of the “Timişoara – European Capital of Culture” opening weekend include a Victor Brauner exhibition hosted by the Art Museum. The retrospective, the first one in Romania and one of the most important in Europe, is devoted to a major personality of Romanian and European avant-garde and surrealist culture. Concerts will be given by the Romanian composer and pianist Andrei Irimia, by the Banatul Philharmonic Orchestra, by DJ Bully, Jay-Jay Johanson and the Dutch pianist and composer Joep Beving.
After having toured the world for 30 years, the founders of Taraf de Haidouks are returning home and set up a new project, “Taraf de Caliu,” which will also be present in Timișoara this weekend. One of the worlds most popular gipsy bands, “Taraf de Caliu” performs and promotes the traditional music of the south of Romania.
The organisers also promised that the aerial show staged by Muaré Experience (Spain) will also be worth attending.
A five-level nursery with over 1,300 plants will help educate people on biodiversity, while the Polytechnic University is hosting a digital culture festival.
You can find more details on the events taking place this weekend in Timişoara at opening.timisoara2023.eu. (AMP)
