In 1985, the Council of the European Union (or the then EC) launched a project named the European City of Culture. The Expansion of the European Union, increased migratory flows due to the Common market and new ties in various spheres of activity among European countries have led to greater contacts between cultures, ethnic groups, religions, and languages. Having this in mind, the aim of the project was to promote cultural diversity and develop an intercultural dialogue between the countries.
Until 2004, the European Cities of Culture were designated on an intergovernmental basis. The cities were selected unanimously by the Member States, and the selected ones were given subsidies by the European Commission. Since 2005, the EU institutions have been taking part in the selection process of the cities to host the event. In order to avoid harsh competition, the project European City of Culture was renamed the European Capital of Culture in 1999. Now each EU member nation is given the chance to host the event in turn. Since 2005, two cities share the status each year. During the year, the selected city has an opportunity to show and develop its cultural life.
Together with the Austrian city of Linz, the Lithuanian capital Vilnius has been designated the European Capital City of Culture for the year 2009.
The Lithuanian capital is the first city of all post-soviet countries and the new EU member states which will be granted such honour. Participating in the project is going to be part of a programme commemorating Lithuania’s Millennium (Lithuania entered into the history of Europe in 1009, when it was first mentioned in a medieval manuscript, the Quedlinburg Chronicle).
The programme draft presented to the Ministry of Culture of the Republic of Lithuania encompasses cultural, artistic and social projects, special events, conferences and meetings. The overall programme consists of the European Art Programme, Culture (Re)Discovery Programme, Live History Programme, and People Programme. From over 500 cultural and social projects proposed, more than one hundred were chosen.
Special events are going to include the opening, celebration of Lithuania’s Millennium, closing, and special projects which are going to take place during the year 2008-2009 and are expected to become a tradition.  Meetings and conferences are planned to include sessions of international organizations of culture and art, conferences on topical questions of cultural development, world congress of the Lithuanian Jews, the meeting of Polish people who come from Vilnius, and other cultural events.
The European Art Programme is going to open a space for the showcase of European arts in new and diverse forms. As part of the programme, a project The School of European Arts is being prepared.
The aim of the Culture Re(Discovery) Programme is to reveal the uniqueness of Vilnius as a multi-cultural city (the Rediscovery part) and reveal the ties between Lithuania as an EU Eastern border state and the cultures of other European countries as well as the rest of the world (the Discovery part).
The programme Live History is concentrated on historically developed situations of the East-West border, their imprints in the people’s subconscious mind, and the influence of these imprints on present perceptions, dreams and future.
Finally, the People Programme includes the initiatives of various social groups, financed from a special fund for the year 2009; all city residents and guests will have an opportunity to take part in charge-free events.
More articles about Lithuanianian regions:
|
|
Vilnius – European Capital of Culture 2009. A Glance at the Programme Draft
