Košice supports Belgrade’s candidacy for European Capital of Culture

Mayor of Košice Richard Raši has visited Serbia’s capital Belgrade to express support for it’s candidacy for the European Capital of Culture 2020, as well as to encourage the development of relations between Košice and Belgrade.

 

The aim of the visit is to intensify the collaboration between the cities and their cultural communities. Moreover, mayors of both cities have signed a Letter of intent for mutual support of citizens in the ECoC project Košice 2013 and Belgrade 2020. Košice want to offer it’s experience with several projects, for example the SPOTs project, establishing and developing creative industry, cultural residencies program or the world renown Nuit Blanche.

 

City revitalization

Both cities are rebuilding their cultural infrastructure. Košice are currently building 6 new cultural institutions and the cultural centre of the city will be tripled thanks to the projects such as SPOTs. The ECoC project brings an overall revitalization of the city, as many city parks are being reconstructed to create modern green spaces suitable for cultural events and relax. The city of Belgrade has started it’s intensive preparations for the candidacy this year. For this purpose there has been created the Belgrad 2020 Organizational Committee. The project has a good start with visualizations of the individual subprojects already prepared. The candidacy has a wide support not only from the municipality of Belgrade and it’s citizens, but also throughout the private and academic sector.

 

Closer relations between Košice and Belgrade will help both cities in their effort. Sharing experience and collaboration are the key elements in the ECoC project. The idea is to make art not only about creativity, but also about bringing people closer together.

 

For more on Belgrade’s candidacy please click here.