Timisoara is the Romanian city designated
\nEuropean Capital of Culture in 2021. The announcement was made by Steve Green,
\nthe head of the EU’s international jury of experts. Three other Romanian
\ncities, Baia Mare, Bucharest and Cluj-Napoca, competed, alongside Timisoara,
\nfor the title. According to the Romanian Culture Minister, Corina Suteu, it is
\nan honour to have this title granted for the second time to a city from
\nRomania. Corina Suteu also said that after the city of Sibiu held this title in
\n2007, it became clear that this title was a great opportunity for a city, in
\ncultural, social and economic terms. Corina Suteu:<\/p>\n
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Well, I first believe European cultural
\ncapitals are important because they make the proof that Ministries of Culture are still useful. I am of those who
\ndon’ t forget that, in fact, Melina Mercouri and Jacques Lang, both visionary
\nministers of culture, met once and out of this meeting grew the idea of having
\na contest of European capitals of culture. So I am a believer in the fact that,
\nif the state can be an architect for culture, and if a state can grow inside
\nthis architecture, freedom of creation, this is a label that European countries
\nstill have. Also, I am a believer in the fact that today, in the global
\ncontext, having European capitals of culture, and here I am greeting also the
\nrepresentatives of Greece, Montenegro and Serbia, who are going to be European
\ncapitals of culture together with Romania in 2021, so I am still a believer in
\nthe fact that culture is in fact the one that generates a sense of European
\nbelonging. If any generates a sense of European belonging, it is culture.
\nThrough culture we are European and Europe is what it is, because this kind of
\ndiversity brings us together.<\/p>\n
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The title of European Capital of Culture is granted
\nto a city from the European Union, or from a pre-candidate or candidate country
\nfor the duration of one year. 60 cities will have been awarded this title by
\n2019. The programme is considered the European Union’s emblematic cultural
\ninitiative. Since 1985, the European Union has designated one or two cities
\neach year, from candidate or pre-candidate countries, as European Capitals of
\nCulture. <\/p>\n
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For the duration of one year, the designated cities
\nare expected to come up with innovative and intense cultural programmes meant
\nto highlight the richness, diversity and similarities of European culture
\nbefore an international audience. Karel Bartak is Head
\nof Unit with the Creative Europe Programme, part of the Directorate-General
\nEducation & Culture. He emphasised the importance of the title of
\nEuropean Capital of Culture. <\/p>\n
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It started in
\n1985 and it has become one of the most prestigious year-long international
\nevents in the field of culture and we think that for all of us today, in these
\nchallenging times for Europe, this scheme is very, very valid and even more
\nthan ever before. We think that this is a good moment to come back to the
\nbasics, to come back to the core values of the EU and we think as well that the
\nconcept of the European Capital of Culture is a very good contribution to this.
\nThese capitals provide opportunities for Europeans to meet, to discover the
\nfantastic cultural diversity we have across the continent, the fresh look at
\nour common history and common values, promote mutual understanding,
\ninter-cultural dialogue among our citizens and the feeling of belonging to one
\ncommune. We have the feeling, at this period of time, that some of these values
\nare being questioned, that they are being lost, we can see also the rise of
\npopulism in many countries, and as a response, as part of the response to this
\nis to promote the scheme of the European capitals of culture as a kind of
\ninclusive and citizen-oriented initiative to bring Europe closer to the people.
\nIt also opens our cities to the world, illustrating the European Union’s
\nwillingness to promote culture as something which is embedded in the core of
\nthe EU action and we see that every Euro invested in culture is bringing
\nbenefits to communities, to our countries, and at the same time we see that the
\nculture sectors, above all the creative sectors have been resisting the
\npressure of the recent economic crisis mo re than many other traditional
\nbranches.<\/p>\n
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As a city winning the title of European Capital of
\nCulture, Timisoara will also receive a prize of 1.5 million euros from the
\nEuropean Union.<\/p>\n
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We have imagined an extraordinary journey, from
\nloneliness to belonging, from light, through darkness and back, travelling
\nthrough three theories dealing with the challenges Europe is facing today:
\npeople, places and connections. Timisoara is the perfect place for the
\ninitiation of a strong and systematic cultural endeavour seeking to bring hope
\nback to troubled European communities. We focus on the public, on people, on
\ncitizens, on voices – unheard, but not lost. We have a story to tell – that of
\na cosmopolitan city, a city that has resisted and reinvented itself at the
\nfrontiers of central and South-Eastern Europe. <\/p>\n
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This was a quote from Timisoara’s bid for the title
\nof European Capital of Culture. And we continue with another quote from the
\nteam of the European Capital of Culture Association:<\/p>\n
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Sometimes, great changes begin at the street
\ncorner. In 1884, Timisoara was the first
\ncity in continental Europe with electric streetlight. In 1989, the Revolution
\nagainst the Ceausescu regime flared up on the streets of Timisoara. Starting
\nfrom the strong metaphor of light, we intend to export the values we believe in
\nto other cities across Europe, in order to encourage an open and visionary
\nattitude among citizens. The slogan of the campaign is the very essence of our
\nmessage: Enlighten the city through yourself!<\/p>\n
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