ECOC

WHAT IS THE EUROPEAN CAPITAL OF CULTURE?

The European Capital of Culture is an initiative of the European Union aimed at highlighting the richness and diversity of cultures and common cultural aspects of Europe, to bring the peoples of Europe closer and enhance mutual understanding.

 

The overall objectives of ECOC activities are as follows: to preserve and promote the diversity of cultures in Europe and highlight their common characteristics, to increase European citizens’ sense of belonging to a common cultural area, and to foster the contribution of culture to the long-term development of cities in accordance with their strategies and priorities.

WHY DO CITIES DECIDE
TO BID FOR THE ECOC?

The experience of the nearly 60 cities that have hosted European Capitals of Culture since 1985 proves that it is a unique opportunity for a city that can bring positive cultural, social and economic impacts. The ECOC is, above all, an opportunity to regenerate and raise the profile of the city, to improve the image of the city in the eyes of its inhabitants, to promote tourism and an opportunity to reconsider the cultural offerings within the city.

WHAT IS THE PROCEDURE FOR CANDIDATURE

  1. We are becoming ECOC 2025

    • preparing the city for candidacy and connecting all stakeholders
    • preparation of the bid-book and involvement of all stakeholders
    • submission of application by December 31st, 2019

  2. WE ARE BECOMING ECOC 2025 | PRE-SELECTION

    • Interview with Expert council (February 2020)
    • The Expert council examines the applications, submits a report giving an overall assessment of all applications and recommending a shortlist of candidate cities

    FINAL SELECTION

    • Completion of the application considering the selection criteria and recommendations of the Expert council
    • Shortlisted candidates meet with the Expert council
    • The Expert council issues a selection report containing an overall assessment of all applications and a reasoned recommendation for the designation of one city for the title

  3. WE ARE BECOMING ECOC 2025 | DESIGNATION

    • Designation of the city as European Capital of Culture

  4. WE ARE BECOMING ECOC 2025 | PREPARATION FOR THE IMPLEMENTATION OF ECOC

    • raising the competences of the cultural and creative sectors
    • developing international partnerships
    • developing the interests of a wide range of stakeholders
    • implementation of pilot projects
    • preparation and implementation of infrastructure projects

  5. WE ARE BECOMING ECOC 2025 | YEAR OF PERFORMANCE

    • European Capital of Culture

  6. WE ARE BECOMING ECOC 2025 | LEGACY

    • Reporting and evaluation of sustainable effects
    • Legacy of the European Capital of Culture
  1. 2019
  2. 2020
  3. 2021
  4. 2022-2024
  5. 2025
  6. 2026

EUROPEAN CAPITALS IN PICTURE

WHO DECIDES ON THE SELECTION OF THE ECOC?

The Council of independent experts evaluates the bid-books, draws up the shortlist and final selection recommendations, and monitors the ECOC during the monitoring period. The Council is composed of 10-12 members, 10 members are appointed by European institutions and bodies, i.e. The European Parliament, the Council, the Commission and the Committee of the Regions, 2 may be appointed by the Ministry of Culture in discussion with the European Commission.

EVALUATION CRITERIA

The evaluation criteria are divided into six categories:

 

  • contribution to a long-term strategy
  • the European dimension
  • cultural and artistic content
  • ability to perform
  • reach
  • management

You can read more about the evaluation criteria HERE.

WHICH CITIES WERE DESIGNATED EUROPEAN CAPITALS OF CULTURE TO DATE?

The initiative was developed in 1985 and has, to date, been awarded to 60 cities across the European Union.

 

The 2020 European Capitals of Culture are:

 

European Capitals of Culture designated until 2024:

2021 – Timișoara (Romania) ), Elefsina (Greece) and Novi Sad (Serbia, candidate country)

2022 –  Kaunas (Lithuania) and Esch (Luxembourg)

2023 – Veszprém (Hungary)

2024 – Salzkammergut (Austria), Tartu (Estonia), Bodø (Norway)

 

2025 – Kandidatke:

Slovenija: Ptuj, Lendava, Nova Gorica-Gorizia, Kranj, Ljubljana, Piran

Nemčija: Chemnitz, Hannover, Hildesheim, Nürnberg, Magdeburg

You can find more about the European Capital of Culture: HERE