ECoC

The European Capital of Culture is one of the most important cultural projects in the European Union.

The European Capital of Culture programme, initially called the European City of Culture, was launched in 1985 by Melina Mercouri, then serving as the Greek Minister of Culture. The idea soon met with wide acclaim and has developed into international competition. In 2005 the project got a new name – The European Capital of Culture. In 2016  two cities from two different EU countries will be awarded the ECC title, one from Poland and one from Spain. The official Polish candidate will be chosen by a committee of thirteen cultural experts from Poland and other European countries. The committee will evaluate cultural programmes for the year 2016, provided by the candidate cities. The originality of the programmes, the citizens’ involvement in the activities, as well as their positive long-term effects on the cultural life of each city and country – all those aspects will be taken under consideration by the committee.

The main idea behind the whole project is to present the citizens of Europe with the richness and diversity of their continent’s culture, as well as to create the opportunities for fruitful cooperation between different European countries. Bearing the European Capital of Culture title is not only an honour but also an amazing chance for every city to fully develop their cultural offer, economy, science and tourism.

• 1 city in Poland, Kraków, has been awarded the title of the European City of Culture so far (in the year 2000, along with eight other cities)
• 12 months is the term of the European Capital of Culture presidency for every city that has been awarded the title
• 25 years ago the first City of Culture was chosen – Athens
• 39 cities has been awarded the title of the European Capital of Culture so far
• 1,5 million Euro is the Melina Mercouri prize awarded to the winner city
• 15 million people took part in the cultural activities arranged by Liverpool 2008 and two billion people saw them on television
• 2016 in that year one city in Poland will bear the title of the European Capital of Culture. Toruń may be the one!