2023-12-13 07:10:32
Four French cities are competing this year to obtain the label of European Capital of Culture in 2028. Wednesday December 13, in the early evening, a French city and another from a candidate country for entry into the European Union will be designated, alongside České Budějovice in the Czech Republic, already chosen in July.
Since its creation in 1985, the label has enabled three European cities each year to benefit from funds intended for the development of their cultural policy. They also become host cities for a year “responsible for organizing a program of cultural events”specifies the website of Ministry of Culture.
► Creation in 1985 under the leadership of Greece and France
In 1983, the Greek and French ministers of culture, Melina Mercouri and Jack Lang, conceived the title of “European city of culture”, keen to bring European citizens together around a common cultural heritage. The Greek minister then believes that culture does not receive the political attention it deserves, and seeks through this label to promote the development of the cultural offer of cities in the long term.
Athens was the first city designated in 1985, when the program officially launched. The label changed its name fifteen years later to become the ” European capital of culture “. In the past, the award of this label has enabled peripheral towns to promote their cultural heritage and increase their visibility on the European and international scene.
► A six-year selection process
Every year since 2011, two cities belonging to Member States of the European Union have been designated by a European jury. It is only since 2021 that it has been possible, every three years, to add the name of a city from a candidate country for entry into the EU to this list.
The designation process begins six years before the event, with the publication by States of a call for applications. A national jury then examines the proposals from the candidate cities and makes a pre-selection. The final selection is made nine months later by a European jury, then the chosen city is officially designated by the Member State concerned. She therefore knows, four years in advance, that she has been selected.
Once nominated, European cities are provided with funds allowing them to invest sustainably in their cultural offering for an entire year. The European Capitals of Culture are also monitored by a committee made up of seven people. If it considers that the recommendations made have been applied by the host city, it can award them the “Melina-Mercouri prize”, funding of 1.5 million euros intended for the creation of a cultural event.
► Four French cities preselected for 2028
For 2028, nine French cities had applied: Amiens, Bastia, Bourges, Clermont-Ferrand, Montpellier, Nice, Reims, Rouen and Saint-Denis. In March 2023, four were preselected: Bourges, Clermont-Ferrand, Rouen and Montpellier.
On Tuesday, December 12, a European jury made up of twelve people, appointed by different EU institutions and by the French Ministry of Culture, was responsible for hearing the four delegations. The candidate cities are judged on their cultural projects and must convince the jury of the European dimension of their initiatives, but also be persuasive on the budgetary aspects.
The elected city will be the fifth in France to win the title of European Capital of Culture, after Paris in 1989, Avignon in 1999, Lille in 2004 and Marseille in 2013.
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