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This summer it should be clear which Czech city will become the European Capital of Culture (ECC) in 2028. Broumov and České Budějovice are in the final. The city that wins the title will be able to showcase its cultural life to Europe for a whole year and thus stimulate further development of the area.
One of the aims of the award is to raise international awareness of the award-winning city through culture. The first Czech ECoC was Prague in 2000, followed five years later by Plzeň. For 2028, the shortlisted cities are Brno, Broumov, Czech Budejovice and Liberec. Last year in October, Else Christensen-Redzepovic, chairwoman of the international jury, announced the two finalists. The two winners were Broumov and České Budějovice.
"Broumov is running as the smallest city in the history of the competition and this is a great opportunity for us to show that we are not afraid to take bold steps. The Broumov region is a region with enormous natural, cultural and historical wealth. And it is also on the old heritage of the pilgrimage trails through this wonderful Baroque region that we are building the concept of our candidacy: creative pilgrimage. This is what links all of the upcoming projects, although the details must remain a secret for now. We will make everything public at the end of June after the winner has been announced. Whatever the outcome, however, great things are already happening thanks to the candidacy," says Broumov 2028 candidacy coordinator Marie Silondi, reminding that one of the pillars on which the Broumov candidacy is built is slow cultural tourism. This global trend is based on a sustainable and environmentally friendly approach to the landscape and the involvement of local resources and economy so that tourism benefits local people and does not plunder nature.
The candidacy strategy of České Budějovice can be summarised under the term (PERMA)CULTURE. In the original meaning of the word, permaculture is a way of behaving towards nature (water, air, forests), towards one's surroundings (home, school, workplace) and towards other people in a way that is beneficial for everyone in the long term and does not harm anyone. The concept comes from agriculture, but can easily be applied to other fields – such as architecture, education, community, planning, and even art. Creative Director of the Budweis 2028 candidacy Anna Hořejší says: „Our goal is to show how the quality of life in the city and region can be improved through the arts, cultural and creative industries. We show the way how investment projects, strategic development of cultural infrastructure and care for people and the environment can be linked in a responsible, long-term and sustainable way. The European Capital of Culture thus creates an environment in which CARE, CONNECTION and CREATION can grow."
The EU awards the title of European Capital of Culture to one or more municipalities for one year at a time. It is awarded on the basis of a forward-looking programme in the year of the title. Cultural heritage or current cultural offerings do not play a role.
„Our data shows that it is for culture that most foreign tourists come to us. Cultural monuments are visited by 46% of travellers during their stay in Czechia and in connection with culture, tourists also use gastronomy, go out for entertainment or to various events. In terms of countries, Germans (26.87%), Austrians (11.40%) and Poles (9.27%) are the most frequent visitors to Czechia for culture. CzechTourism thus perceives culture as a key national product in its marketing. We therefore participate in a number of events, which we inform about with all available tools. Among others, on one of the largest tourist portals in Europe Kudy z nudy, which last year already recorded 23 million unique users,“ says Director of the Czech Tourism Authority – CzechTourism Jan Herget and adds:"The title of European Capital of Culture has a great potential to attract more visitors to Czechia, so we are logically and gladly supporting the candidates for this award. Among other things, we have created a special section for them at this address, where you can find continuously updated information about what Broumov and České Budějovice are up to."
In addition to cultural development, more interest from foreign tourists, the title and publicity of the ECOC brings additional cooperation to the winning municipality. This is because representatives of the European Capitals of Culture, European Months of Culture, candidate cities and the network of Capitals of Culture outside the European Union have created a network of European Capitals and Months of Culture. It is a non-governmental organisation based at the Ministry of Culture in Luxembourg. Its main objective is to ensure the exchange of knowledge and experience between the Capitals of Culture, to provide the necessary documentation and to assist future ECOC.
"Broumov is running as the smallest city in the history of the competition and this is a great opportunity for us to show that we are not afraid to take bold steps. The Broumov region is a region with enormous natural, cultural and historical wealth. And it is also on the old heritage of the pilgrimage trails through this wonderful Baroque region that we are building the concept of our candidacy: creative pilgrimage. This is what links all of the upcoming projects, although the details must remain a secret for now. We will make everything public at the end of June after the winner has been announced. Whatever the outcome, however, great things are already happening thanks to the candidacy," says Broumov 2028 candidacy coordinator Marie Silondi, reminding that one of the pillars on which the Broumov candidacy is built is slow cultural tourism. This global trend is based on a sustainable and environmentally friendly approach to the landscape and the involvement of local resources and economy so that tourism benefits local people and does not plunder nature.
The candidacy strategy of České Budějovice can be summarised under the term (PERMA)CULTURE. In the original meaning of the word, permaculture is a way of behaving towards nature (water, air, forests), towards one's surroundings (home, school, workplace) and towards other people in a way that is beneficial for everyone in the long term and does not harm anyone. The concept comes from agriculture, but can easily be applied to other fields – such as architecture, education, community, planning, and even art. Creative Director of the Budweis 2028 candidacy Anna Hořejší says: „Our goal is to show how the quality of life in the city and region can be improved through the arts, cultural and creative industries. We show the way how investment projects, strategic development of cultural infrastructure and care for people and the environment can be linked in a responsible, long-term and sustainable way. The European Capital of Culture thus creates an environment in which CARE, CONNECTION and CREATION can grow."
The EU awards the title of European Capital of Culture to one or more municipalities for one year at a time. It is awarded on the basis of a forward-looking programme in the year of the title. Cultural heritage or current cultural offerings do not play a role.
„Our data shows that it is for culture that most foreign tourists come to us. Cultural monuments are visited by 46% of travellers during their stay in Czechia and in connection with culture, tourists also use gastronomy, go out for entertainment or to various events. In terms of countries, Germans (26.87%), Austrians (11.40%) and Poles (9.27%) are the most frequent visitors to Czechia for culture. CzechTourism thus perceives culture as a key national product in its marketing. We therefore participate in a number of events, which we inform about with all available tools. Among others, on one of the largest tourist portals in Europe Kudy z nudy, which last year already recorded 23 million unique users,“ says Director of the Czech Tourism Authority – CzechTourism Jan Herget and adds:
In addition to cultural development, more interest from foreign tourists, the title and publicity of the ECOC brings additional cooperation to the winning municipality. This is because representatives of the European Capitals of Culture, European Months of Culture, candidate cities and the network of Capitals of Culture outside the European Union have created a network of European Capitals and Months of Culture. It is a non-governmental organisation based at the Ministry of Culture in Luxembourg. Its main objective is to ensure the exchange of knowledge and experience between the Capitals of Culture, to provide the necessary documentation and to assist future ECOC.