There European capital of culture is a city designated byEuropean Union, which for the period of one year has the opportunity to showcase its life and cultural development. Several European cities have used this period to completely transform their cultural base, and in doing so, their international visibility.
Introduction
Conceived as a means to bring the various European citizens closer together, the European city of culture it was launched on June 13, 1985 by the Council of Ministers on the initiative of Melina Mercouri. Since then, the initiative has been increasingly successful and has a growing cultural and socio-economic impact on the many visitors it has attracted.
European cities of culture were designated on an intergovernmental basis until 2004; the member states unanimously selected the most suitable cities to host the event and the European Commission guaranteed a subsidy for the selected cities every year. Since 2005, the European institutions have taken part in the selection procedure of the cities that will host the event.
In 1990, the Ministers of Culture launched the European cultural month. This event is similar to the city of European culture but lasts for a shorter period of time and is aimed specifically at the nations of thecentral Europe and oriental. Grants from the Commission are also foreseen for this event.
In 1999, the European City of Culture was renamed the European Capital of Culture and is now funded through the Culture 2000 program.
List of Capitals of Culture
For the following years the order of succession of the host states has already been established, but not yet the individual cities.
European cultural months
| Year | City | country | Comments |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1992 | Krakow |  Poland | |
| 1993 | Graz |  Austria | |
| 1994 | Budapest |  Hungary | |
| 1995 | Nicosia |  Cyprus | |
| 1996 | St.Pietroburgo |  Russia | |
| 1997 | Ljubljana |  Slovenia | |
| 1998 | Linz | Austria | |
| 1998 | Valletta |  Malta | |
| 1999 | Plovdiv |  Bulgaria | |
| 2000 | - | - | - |
| 2001 | Basel |  Switzerland | |
| 2001 | Line |  Latvia | |
| 2002 | - | - | - |
| 2003 | St.Pietroburgo | Russia |
Related items
- Italian capital of culture
Other projects
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