European Capital of Culture (ECOC) was initiated in 1985, and since then more than 40 cities have hosted the project. All of them have experienced a number of positive short as well as long-term effects: Improvements to the cultural infrastructure, an enhanced image and brand, a permanent increase in the number of international visitors as well as in-creased local audiences fro culture.
We’re not on our own! We will be doing this backed by The Central Denmark Region and 14 other local authorities in the region. With around 1,1 million residents we are aiming for a big splash!
We use culture to rethink the city
The choice of the theme of ”rethink” has been made to underline the sense of radical change cities are challenged with in a world with multiple global challenges which demand rethinking – redesigning - reconnecting – rebuilding, and on many levels: Urban infrastructure transport, energy and resources, climate, cultural co-existence, democracy, diversity, sustainability, social polarization, economic and financial models.
On the more local level Aarhus is already committed to rethink:
- With the wind energy company Vestas building more wind turbines in the world than anyone, we are aware of the climate and energy challenge
- With the complete redevelopment of the largest and the poorest social housing neighborhood in Denmark, we are trying to combat the results of system planning and social segregation of the past 40 years
- With the building of a new multimedia library in the harbor we are trying to kick new life in to the harbor and also integrate new knowledge sharing and open source innovation environments with old fashioned books
- With a total of 12 new cultural centers in the region we are looking at rethinking sports halls, community centres, schools, theatres, museums and much more.
Our vision of Aarhus as the ECOC 2017 is not just as one off events, but as a process which will challenge and change, stimulate and strengthen the city and the region from a number of perspectives: Artistic, cultural, urban redevelopment, social and integration, business and tourism - national and international.
We are involving local, cultural, educational and business communities, citizens and local decision makers.
The Process
We have already been through an exciting process of engagement and consultation, and we have also completed a number of studies of the cultural sector and the creative business sector.
Literally thousands have been involved in workshops, seminars and think tanks and we are soon presenting our full proposal for the project.
We expect that our programme will include around 200 projects and we are aiming at a total public of some 5 million for all events. Ambitious yes but not unrealistic! After all, half a million came to our "Sculptures by The Sea” exhibition in 2009 and this will be a core biennale project towards 2017.
We are not waiting for 2017. We will be initiating programmes from 2013-2016, and these will include both development programs but also a series of public events.
Internationally, we’ll be inviting European networks to use our platform, inviting European producers to work with us, asking European museums to exchange exhibitions, offering European artists to take time out and take part in the many residencies we are setting up.
If you have any proposals you are welcome to contact the secretariat. Otherwise, we’ll expect you here in 2017 – you could also do with some rethinking!