Visit Toruń - Toruń 2016

date: 17.03.2010

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The European Capital of Culture 2016

Toruń is a vital cultural and scientific centre, it has a rich tradition rooted in European history. We should use this - said in January 2006 Piotr Calbecki, then the head of the Department of development and municipal projects of Toruń City Office. - Task to set for ourselves is very ambitious, but we take up the challenge.

That was the first step. Then, ten months later the City Council of Toruń passed a resolution that the City of Toruń should apply for the title of a 2016 European Capital of Culture. Thus Toruń became the first Polish city to announce the candidacy.

The European Capital of Culture - Idea of the Programme

The main goals of the European Capital/Cities of Culture Programme

is to integrate artistic milieus shaping the cultural tastes of people living both in EU cities and other European cities, to present the diversity and abundance of the European cultural heritage and to search for common cultural roots with a view to cement the social ties between European citizens.
A city that wins the title of European Capital of Culture will receive substantial financial help enabling it to organize all kinds of prestigious cultural events within the framework of a programme that runs for twelve months. Each candidate city prepares a programme of cultural events that show its unique character and illustrate its cultural and historical heritage additionally emphasising elements that are related to the heritage shared by all Europeans.
The idea to strengthen European integration was put forward by the Greek Minister of CultureMelina Mercouri at a convention of the European Council of Ministers on 13 May 1985. The idea of European Cities of Culture soon took root in Europe. Since 2005 the initiative has been called European Capitals of Culture.
Initially, the programme followed simple rules and there was hardly any central supervision. The original idea was to have one EU country serving as the host of the programme for a year. 1996 was the year of change giving access to the programme to other European countries following the principle of democracy, pluralism and the legislation adopted at that time. Cities representing countries which were candidates for EU membership were nominated for the title. Each year one city was selected as European Capital of Culture. To mark the start of the new Millennium, in the year 2000 as many as 9 cities were nominated to the title.
In 2005 new rules for granting the title were adopted (binding until 2019). They are based on the principle of rotation, which ensures that each EU member state will have one of its cities designated as European Capital of Culture in accordance with a chronological list of countries drafted by European Parliament. As of 2007 two Capitals are selected to the title.

The European Capital of Culture - Toruń & Pamplona
In June 2008 Toruń together with Spanish city of Pamplona started a joint struggle for the title of European Capital of Culture 2016.

The historic agreement was signed at the EU Committee of Regions headquarters in Brussels in the presence of the crowd of EU officers and those of local governments from both regions (Polish: Kuiavia-Pomerania and Spanish: Navarre) and cities. Bulletin of the document was preceded by a speech by the chairman of the Committee of Regions Luc Van den Brande, who stressed that Brussels is located exactly halfway between the two collaborating centres. - We give here a strong and clear signal throughout Europe, and especially its cultural centres that Spanish Pamplona and Polish Toruń were eager to reach for the prestigious title of European Capital of Culture in 2016 - said the president of Toruń, Michał Zaleski. - We are the cities of similar size, like you, we have a rich historical and cultural achievements - said in the corridors the president of the region of Navarre Miguel Sanz Sesma.
The Agreement provides, inter alia, cultural cooperation, joint promotion and strengthening of intercultural dialogue and development activities of both cities and regions. - The agreement has a double meaning - stressed after the ceremony Piotr Całbecki, marshal of the Kuiavia-Pomeriania region. - We support Toruń, which together with Pamplona is seeking for acheiving the title, and for our region of Kuiavia-Pomerania, Navarre is a very valuable ally, because it is one of the richest regions in Europe, which over the last several years made a tremendous leap forward. We want to repeat that also in our region.
The ceremony of signing the contract was preceded by the opening of the exhibition of photographs, presenting the greatest attractions of both Toruń and Pamplona, and Kuiavia-Pomerania and Navarre. There was also a presentation of the film "The two regions, one idea" and Toruń gingerbread. In turn, the Spaniards brought wine specially prepared for this celebration. However, the biggest hit was the hot show of flamenco. At the end the agreement was signed by representatives of both cities and regions. The first steps in co-operation has already been done (Days of Toruń in Pamplona and Days of Pamplona in Toruń). Further ones include the idea of joint promotion of the San Fermin Festival, cooperation between theatres, universities and in the field of medicine.

The European Capital of Culture - Decisions

The title of European Capital of Culture 2016 shall be awarded to one Polish city and one Spanish city. Candidates cities have already set off to work for the selection process, which is officially launched six years before the actual designation. Already in autumn 2009 the competition will be officially announced as well as call for the outline for the year 2016. At the end of 2010 some cities will go to the next stage of the competition where they will be invited to present a full programme for the year 2016. Based on these programmes and on the visit of 13 Polish and foreign experts to each of the city, decision as to the choice of one city will be taken at the end of 2011.