About the European Capitals of Culture
The European Capital of culture initiative is one of the most prestigious and visible European cultural events. It is substantial in scale and scope, and consequently the requirements to get the title are high in artistic and cultural terms. The success of the event depends on the quality of the programme, the commitment of public authorities, notably in terms of funding, and the involvement of the social and economic stakeholders of the city.
The title "European Capital of Culture" was designed to help bring European citizens closer together. This was the idea underlying its launch in June 1985 by the Council of Ministers of the European Union
Since 1985, more than 30 cities have been designated European Capitals of Culture, from Stockholm to Genoa, Athens to Glasgow, and Cracow to Porto.
Over the years, this event has evolved without losing sight of its primary objective: to highlight the richness and diversity of European cultures and the features they share, to promote greater mutual acquaintance between European citizens, and to foster a feeling of European citizenship.
By using the sidebar menu on the left hand side of the screen you will find all the relevant information about the development of the action since 1985, the current process of designating the European Capitals of Culture, and the European co-funding of the event.
Various experiences from previous European Capital of Culture (ECOC) selections are presented as good practices to illustrate the criteria the cities have to meet in order to be selected.
