Now the European Capital of Culture will start taking shape

The selection panel has chosen Umeå to become the European Capital of Culture 2014. Preparatory work will begin. Umeå is going to offer the general public and visitors from all around Europe an exciting and creative ECC year.

— We intend on showing that we are one of Europe's strongest Capitals of Culture, states Marie-Louise Rönnmark (S), mayor of Umeå.

— The ECC year will be a fantastic opportunity to present Umeå to the world around us. It is now that our work really begins, says Fredrik Lindegren, head of cultural activities.

During the next few months the work with building up an organisation around the ECC year will be completed. Many strategic and practical challenges will be resolved. The program section will take shape and the national and international marketing campaign will be prepared.

— Starting now, we begin a new phase. We will work purposefully with the development of networks with the Swedish embassies and cultural attachés in Europe. We will contact sponsors both large and small and cultural offerings from northern Sweden that reach the European public will be set in motion, states Sven-Olov Edvinsson (C), group leader and member of the steering committee for Umeå 2010.

Innovation and cross-border cooperation
Umeå will encourage new forms of cultural expression, new cross-border forms of cooperation and new methods of artistic dialogue and co-creation.

— We have already collected over 200 cultural and sports project ideas from our citizens, cultural workers, cultural institutions, NGOs, businesses and public authorities, points out Fredrik Lindegren.

What happens now?

  • An organisation that will continue to evolve as 2014 approaches will be created. For the time being the team that has worked with the application will be retained.
  • All the projects that come in will be documented and forms of funding will be examined.
  • A framework program for 2014 will be implemented.
  • A communication plan will be drawn up.
  • An ongoing dialogue with local, regional, national and international contacts will be established or strengthened.

Work with ECC will continue to be characterized by openness and opportunities for co-creation — one of the reasons that the selection panel chose Umeå.