European Capitals of Culture European Capitals of Culture info-dayinfo-day

Tuesday 23 march 2010

Ann Branch, Head of Unit« Culture Programme and Actions », DG EAC

1. What is an ECOC?2. Who can be one?3. Why should you want to be an ECOC? What are the

benefits?4. How to become one?5. What can go wrong? What are the risks?6. Advice from 2 European panel members

- Sir Bob Scott - Mary McCarthy

AgendaAgenda

What is an ECOC?What is an ECOC?

A large scale cultural programme A large scale cultural programme

• awarded to one city in 2 MS p.a.• lasts a full year• very strong European dimension• based principally on cultural cooperation• designed specifically for the year• Not about what a city looks like,

but what it does during the year

A simple idea ….A simple idea ….

« to highlight the richness and diversity of European cultures and the features they share, as well as to promote greater mutual understanding between European citizens »

… … but an ambitious event!but an ambitious event!

• One of the most visible European cultural events, substantial in scale and scope

• Very high artistic and cultural quality requirements

• Considerable financial investment (1995-2004):– Total operating expenditure: between 8 and

74 million euros– Total capital expenditure: between 10 to 220

million euros

Who can be one?Who can be one?

Which cities will be one?Which cities will be one?

• 2010: Pécs, Essen, Istanbul• 2011: Turku and Tallinn• 2012: Guimaraes and Maribor• 2013: Marseilles and Kosice• 2014: Umeå and Riga

Which cities can become one?Which cities can become one?

• 2015: Belgium, Czech Republic• 2016: Spain, Poland• 2017: Denmark, Cyprus• 2018: Netherlands, Malta• 2019: Italy, Bulgaria

Why should you want to become Why should you want to become one? The benefitsone? The benefits

Cultural benefitsCultural benefits

• New audiences for culture, increased cultural activity

• New cultural infrastructure• New cultural management skills and

more international outlook among cultural operators

Economic benefitsEconomic benefits

• Regeneration and urban development• Tourism: +12% on average compared to previous

year,• Knock-on effects for other sectors, new jobs• Improved image for the city, « creative » city

Social benefitsSocial benefits • Social cohesion and intercultural

dialogue• Outreach programmes

– Children, young people– the elderly– minorities– the disadvantaged

• Volunteer programmes

How to become one?How to become one?

A competition in 2 stages at national A competition in 2 stages at national levellevel

• The competition starts 6 years before the event : in 2010 for 2016

• Proposals assessed by an international panel (13=7+6 members) against the criteria

• 2 stages : pre selection and final selection

One example : the 2018 titleOne example : the 2018 title • Netherlands and Malta • 2011 : call for submission of applications to

be published by the MS • End 2012 : pre selection panel’s meeting

=> list of pre selected cities• Autumn 2013 : final selection panel’s

meeting => one recommended city • 2014 : Designation by the EU Council of

Ministers

Evaluation based on criteriaEvaluation based on criteriaThe European dimensionThe European dimension• 2 aspects• The themes : role/links of the city in Europe, European

identity, participation in European cultural life;• The way of implementing : cooperation,

trans borders projects• Overall integration into the European cultural

actions (promoting/participating in the European cultural policy)

• Examples in the Guide for cities applying for the title

Evaluation based on criteria Evaluation based on criteria

City and citizensCity and citizens

• 2 aspects• Attractivity at European scale and

participation of people• Sustainability/ long term cultural and

social development of the city

How to applyHow to apply

• Reply to the call for submissions of applications filling in the « Proposed Application for the title » (in EN) : overview of the programme

• Completed by a file for further details• The pre selected cities will have to

provide the same documents to complete/go further

MonitoringMonitoring

• After designation, 2 meetings with a panel of 7 international experts (in 2015 and 2017 for the 2018 title)

• 3 objectives : assessing the progress/giving guidance/checking compliance with the commitments

• A prize « in honour of Melina Mercouri » (1.5 millions euros?) to reward the quality of the preparation.

Keys to success : conceptKeys to success : concept• Devising clear objectives and concept for the event on

the basis of the criteria (European dimension etc.) and the specificities of the city

• A forward looking programme• An attractive programme at European scale• A sustainable project for the city

(thinking together urban and cultural problems)• Consulting and associating cultural operators and

the socio economic world from the beginning

Keys to success :implementationKeys to success :implementation

• Public commitment to the programme and the budget must be firm and constant

• Seeking for sponsorship well in advance• Independence from the political authorities

of the artistic director• A clear and strong communication strategy

Keys to success :ethic rulesKeys to success :ethic rules

• The title cannot be hold by a group of

cities nor a region• The title cannot be hold before the formal

designation by the Council (important to specify candidate city)

• A logo to be used

Keys to success Keys to success Information and best practicesInformation and best practices

• The Guide to the cities applying for the title• http://ec.europa.eu/culture/our-programmes-and

-actions/doc629_en.htm• The Palmer study• The ECOC library in Brussels• Sharing of good practices

What can go wrong?What can go wrong?What are the risks?What are the risks?

RisksRisks • Instability in governance structures• Weak public commitment• Financial deficits• Delays in getting sponsors• Weaknesses in cultural content • Delays in building infrastructure• Weaknesses in communication:

lack of European visibility• Disappointment• → Need excellent concept and planning, time, money,

political consensus

Advice from two panel membersAdvice from two panel members- Sir Bob Scott - Sir Bob Scott - Mary McCarthy- Mary McCarthy

Thank you!Thank you!

http://ec.europa.eu/culture/our-programmes-and actions/doc413_en.htm