Since the nominations for European City of Culture were established on 13th June 1985, and was later renamed as European Capital of Culture in 1999 by the European Union Council, the project has not stopped growing. At first, its main priority was to contribute towards bringing the peoples of Europe together and, thus, to promote the cultural wealth, diversity and heritage of Europe

The idea of the European Capital of Culture is a title granted by the European Commission and Parliament to two European cities, one belonging to EU-13 and another to EU-27, which for a year have the chance to show their development and cultural life to the rest of Europe and the world.

Legal Reference: EC Ruling 1622/2006/EC

Through a programme specifically designed for this landmark event, lasting one year, the city’s European dimension and its European links must be made clear, as well as the cooperation and involvement of its citizens.

A large-scale cultural programme

• Awarded to a city and its surroundings
• It must last one whole year and be designed specifically for that year
• With an extremely strong European dimension
• Based mainly on cultural cooperation
• Based on the programme the city will carry out during the year

A simple idea …

to highlight the wealth and diversity of European cultures and shared common elements, as well as to promote more and better mutual understanding between European citizens

and... an ambitious event

• One of the most high-profile European cultural events
• Artistic and culturalrequirements of the highest quality
• A considerable financial investment (1995-2004):
  • Total current expenditure between €8 and €74 million
  • Total investment in infrastructure between €10 and €140 million

Which cities have been ECC?

• 39 up to the year 2009
• 1985-1999: Athens, Florence, Amsterdam, Berlin, Paris, Glasgow, Dublin, Madrid, Antwerp, Lisbon, Luxembourg, Copenhagen, Thessaloniki, Stockholm, Weimar
• 2000: Avignon, Bergen, Bologna, Brussels, Krakow, Helsinki, Prague, Reykjavik, Santiago de Compostela
• 2001-2008: Porto, Rotterdam, Bruges, Salamanca, Graz, Genoa, Lille, Patras, Cork, Luxembourg, Sibiu, Liverpool, Stavanger
• 2009: Linz (Austria) and Vilnius (Lithuania)

Which cities are going to be ECC?

• 2010: Pecs (Hungary), Essen (Germany), Istanbul (Turkey, as guest city)
• 2011: Turku (Finland) and Tallinn (Estonia)
• 2012: Guimaraes (Portugal) and Maribor (Slovenia)
• 2013: Marseille (France) and Kosice (Slovakia)
• 2014: Umea (Sweden) and Riga (Latvia)

Which countries will have an ECC in the near future?

• 2015: Belgium, Czech Republic
• 2016: Spain and Poland
• 2017: Denmark, Cyprus
• 2018: Holland, Malta

Evaluation of the candidatures based on the first criterion: the European dimension

• 2 key aspects:
  • The topics: role / links of the city in Europe, European identity, participation in European cultural life;
  • The method of carrying out the cooperation through international projects;
• The aim is for the city to be completely integrated in European cultural events (promoting / participating in European cultural policy)
• See the examples in the “Guide for the candidate cities for the title”

Evaluation of the candidatures based on the second criterion: the city and its citizens

• 2 aspects:
  • To raise the interest and participation, at a European level, of its citizens
  • Sustainability and socio-cultural development of the city in the long-term future

Designation and monitoring process

• The competition begins 6 years before the event - in 2010 for the 2016 title:
  • Candidates are evaluated by a jury of 13 experts (7 from the EU and 6 national), taking into account the criteria fixed by the EU
• Calendar in 2 stages: pre-selection and final selection:
  • September 2009: the forms are published to register a formal bid for the 2016 candidature.
  • July 2010: The candidature project is handed over in Madrid.
  • October 2010: Meeting of group of experts for second selection (list of 3 - 5 shortlisted cities): Announcement of new, reduced list.
  • Spring 2011: Visit of experts to shortlisted cities.
  • July 2011: Meeting of group of experts for final selection (one EU city is recommended and this is put before the Council).
  • Spring 2012: Formal designation of two cities (ES/PL) by the EU Council of Ministers of Culture.

Monitoring

• After the appointment: 2 meetings with group of 7 international experts (in 2011 and 2013 for the 2016 title)
• 3 objectives: to assess progress / give advice / verify compliance with the commitments made.
• A prize “in honour of Melina Mercouri "(€1.5 million) is given as a reward for the quality of the programme.

Keys to success: the concept

• Establishing clear aims and concepts based on the EU criteria (European dimension, etc.). and on the city’s particular characteristics
• An extensive and attractive cultural program
• A programme that arouses interest on a European level
• A project which is sustainable for the city (reflecting together on cultural and urban problems)
• Consulting and involving cultural organizations and socio-economic sectors in the project from day one
• A program of contemporary culture, focusing not just on cultural heritage and traditions

Keys to success: performance

• Strong and consistent commitment from politicians and public institutions with the programme and budget
• Sponsorship sought well in advance
• Independence of the artistic director from the political authorities
• Clear and powerfulcommunication strategy

Keys to success: ethical principles

• The title of ECC cannot be granted to a group of cities or a region
• The title can not be used before the formal appointment by the Council of Ministers
• A logo must be used which bears the words "candidate city"

Cultural benefits

• New audiences for culture, increased cultural activity
• New cultural infrastructure
• New skills in cultural management
• Increased international profile for the city with cultural operators
• It becomes a project of the State and, in a way, belongs to all the government departments

Economic benefits

• There are no direct economic benefits, but it does favour:
• Regeneration and Urban Development
• Tourism: + 12% on average compared with the previous year
• Knock-on effects on other sectors, e.g. creation of jobs
• Improvement in the city’s image: "innovative city"
• Indirect revenue resulting from increasing city’s profile, which directly affects tourism and trade

Social benefits

• Increased attendance by citizens at cultural events
• Social cohesion and intercultural dialogue:
• Children, youngsters, the elderly, minorities, the unemployed and the disabled
• Continuity of the volunteer program
• Increase of "civic pride" and sense of belonging

Risks

• Political and government instability in the management structures
• Delays in incorporating sponsorships
• Financial deficits
• Cultural contents may be uninteresting and poor quality
• Delays in construction of infrastructure
• Poor communication: lack of European visibility
• Disenchantment

The need for expert concepts and planning, time, money, political consensus

Challenges ...

• To make being the Cultural Capital a success and leave a legacy for all citizens
• To promote the European dimension (program + visibility in the EU)
• To get maximum benefit from the new competitive process

Office of Cordoba as Cultural Capital

• In 2003, Cordoba Town Hall created the Office of Cordoba as Cultural Capital
• It has been working non-stop:
• Promoting and publicising the project
• Performing different activities: Cosmopoetica, The Invention of Cities, Arts in Translation, International seminars, conference cycles, and so on.
• Managing the “messages of support” programme
• Developing the documentation for candidature: White Paper, Cultural Resources Guide, tutorials, Cordoba and Europe

Support received

• Citizens
• Famous personalities related to the world of literature, music, film and other arts ...
• Entities
• Institutions and organizations

Over 120,000 messages of support

Córdoba Cultural City Foundation

• Created in 2006
• Established by: Cordoba Town Hall, Cordoba Provincial Government, Andalusian Regional Government and University of Cordoba
• Governing Bodies: Governing Board, Advisory Commission and Management
• Objectives: drafting and promoting the candidature project in Spain and abroad