Filenews 30 December 2023
The process through which the cities of Cyprus are invited to apply to claim the title of European Capital of Culture 2030 officially began on Monday, said the Deputy Minister of Culture, Vasiliki Kassianidou.
In a statement, Kassianidou said that "the Deputy Ministry of Culture, which acts as the National Managing Authority, launches today the first phase of the procedure, which is the call for applications."
She noted that "winning the title of European Capital of Culture 2030 will have a huge benefit for the country, but even greater for the city that will win it, offering recognition and visibility, prospects for development and progress".
The process, as Kassianidou said, "will include two phases, the Pre-qualification Phase and the Selection Phase".
She further explained that the Pre-selection Phase starting today will be completed on December 13, 2024 with the submission of proposals/applications by the cities and the final Selection Phase is expected to be completed at the end of 2025, when it will be known who will be the holder of the title for the year 2030.
Kassianidou said that based on the relevant EU decisions, "the title of European Capital of Culture 2030 is awarded to a city in Cyprus, to a city in Belgium, but also to a city of a third country, which is a candidate country or a potential candidate for EU membership."
She added that "Cyprus hosted this institution for the first time in 2017 with Pafos being the first city in Cyprus to be named European Capital of Culture".
Regarding the role of the Deputy Ministry of Culture, Kassianidou said that "as the competent managing authority, it will be responsible for conducting the competition for the selection of the city of Cyprus, which will receive the title of European Capital of Culture for the year 2030, with the whole process being organized in close cooperation with the European Commission."
She added that "on the website of the Deputy Ministry of Culture, all interested parties can find the documents of the call notice, as well as the Rules of Procedure (www.culture.gov.cy/ecoc2030cy)".
The Deputy Minister further explained that "this action is an initiative of the European Union, which aims to highlight the richness and diversity, as well as the common cultural aspects in Europe, contributing to the rapprochement of its peoples and the improvement of mutual understanding".
"Within this framework, the aim is, on the one hand, to preserve and promote the diversity of cultures in Europe, to highlight the common characteristics they share and to strengthen citizens' sense of belonging to a common cultural space."
On the other hand, Kassianidou continued, the aim is "to promote the contribution of culture to the long-term development of cities at economic, social and urban level, in accordance with their respective strategies and priorities."
The Deputy Minister said that "it is essential to recognize both the emblematic importance of the institution and its substantial contribution in relation to cultural, social and economic development issues."
She added that "the principles and values that characterize the European ideal, through the institution of the European Capital of Culture, remain unchanged just as they were envisioned by the initiators of the institution, Melina Mercouri and Jacques Lag, when as Ministers of Culture they first promoted this idea."
As the Deputy Minister noted, she is certain that "for the cities that will choose to follow this path to claim the title, the whole process will be a rich journey through which it will be highlighted how important Culture holds in our lives, and how essential a role it plays in modern societies".
Kassianidou went on to say that the Deputy Ministry of Culture, "as the National Managing Authority, will also organize an information day on January 29, 2024 for a more detailed information on cities interested in the title."
Explaining the main provisions of the call for interest, he said that "this call for applications is addressed to cities in Cyprus that wish to claim the title of European Capital of Culture 2030, while cities in their application can engage and have synergies with surrounding areas, if they wish".
The Deputy Minister of Culture said that "each application must be based on a cultural programme with a strong European dimension, which must cover the year of the title of European Capital of Culture and be created specifically for the title.
She explained that "their programme must have a lasting impact and contribute to the long-term development of the city, and in addition, cities must demonstrate that they have the support of local authorities and the capacity to implement the programme".
The Deputy Minister, in conclusion, wished "good luck to the cities of Cyprus that will claim the title of Capital of Culture".
NB - It is worth noting that so far Larnaca, Limassol and Nicosia have officially expressed their interest, while their intentions to participate in the bidding process have been strongly expressed by Ypsonas (as Kourion Municipality) and Ayia Napa.
