European Capital of Culture is a special title that is given to one or more cities by European Union. Having that title, chosen city has to organize several important cultural events during the year. Due to the city nomination (European Capital of Culture) these events are specially exposed in front of the eyes of European and World public.

From its beginnings up until now this project has been upgraded but still hasn't lost its original goals – to expose diversity of the European cultures, to improve the knowledge of each other’s in different languages, to expose cultural traditions, religions and by highlighting common cultural basis to spread spreading the awareness of being part of the same European community.

Check out what is happening in Maribor and other partner cities during ECOC 2012.

Initiator of European Capital of Culture project was former Greek Minister of culture and artist Melina Mercouri (1920 – 1994). On her initiative the project has been confirmed by the Council of Ministers of the European Union in 1985. The original idea of the European Capital of Culture project is to promote different European cultures and to build mutual understanding, as well as joint European identity, using consciousness of the value of cultural diversity.

Find out more about Maribor.

ECOC From past into future:

Atens (1985), Florence (1986), Amsterdam (1987), West Berlin (1988), Paris (1989), Glasgow (1990), Dublin (1991), Madrid (1992), Antwerp (1993), Lisbon (1994), Luxembourg (1995), Copenhagen (1996), Thessaloniki (1997), Stockholm (1998), Weimar (1999), Avignon, Bergen, Bologna, Brussels, Helsinki, Krakow, Prague, Reykyavik, Santiago de Compostela (2000), Porto, Rotterdam (2001), Bruges, Salamanca (2002), Graz (2003), Genoa, Lille (2004), Cork (2005), Patras (2006), Luxembourg, Sibiu (2007), Liverpool, Stavanger (2008), Linz, Vilna (2009), Essen, Istanbul, Pecs (2010), Turku, Talin (2011), Maribor, Guimaraes (2012), Marseille, Košice (2013), Umea, Riga (2014), Mons, Plzen (2015), cities from Spain and Poland (2016), cities from Denmark and Cyprus (2017), cities from Netherlands and Malta (2018), cities from Italy and Bolgaria (2019).

ECOC Maribor Programme:

European Capital of Culture Maribor 2012 Programme embraces 412 projects and much more other events which have total value of more than 16,5 million EUR. OCOC Maribor Programme focuses on four different pillars:

- Terminal 12 brings top art especially emphasizing new approaches and domestic creativity.

- The keys of the city are creating a dialogue between city and art, the identity circles of the city are expanding and searching for new way of creative existence through different events.

- The urban creases work on social edges using activist research of social and ecological topics they are warning on the meaning of coexistence and also trying to emphasize practical paths towards achieving creative and tolerant society.

- Lifetouch represents multimedia space reflecting happenings on European Capital of Culture 2012 as well as city itself, region and wider European context.

Beside all four programme pillars organizers decided to add three programme entities which will have special role in structure of ECOC Maribor. Amongst international activities this embraces Cultural Embassies which will focus on diverse cultures in cooperation between numerous European and non-European countries. University of Maribor has a great potential for future development and has huge significance for Maribor, its region and European Capital of Culture Maribor. Taking all together organizer want to pay great attention to people with special needs and volunteer. ECOC Maribor has to be an opportunity for all.

Maribor 2012 has all potential to become a renowned European Capital of Culture. It has an opportunity to become a model for new searches in time of crises although organizers stem from the experience of other capitals mainly from those that were titled for ECOC before Maribor. Maribor 2012 wants to enforce high standards and ambitions and at the same time through creativity to convince whole society to follow them.

There are several different cities that will be a part of European Capital of Culture project – Maribor (as a holder), Ptuj, Novo mesto, Slovenj Gradec, Murska Sobota and Velenje.

More information about European Capital of Culture check out on official web page ECOC Maribor 2012.

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