Liberec is considering a bid for European Capital of Culture

Liberec - Liberec is considering a candidacy for the European Capital of Culture for the year 2028. A decision is expected to be made based on a developing cultural strategy, which should be completed next year. Today, Mayor Jaroslav Zámečník (Mayors for the Liberec Region) informed journalists about this. The mayor anticipates that a decision regarding the candidacy will be made no later than 2022.

"Today could be the cornerstone of this idea, as we would like to make it clear that we dare to take on this ambitious European project," said the mayor. The title of European Capital of Culture (ECoC) is awarded annually by the European Union to one or more European cities, which then have the opportunity to present their cultural life and development to Europe throughout the year. In 2000, Prague was the holder for the Czech Republic, and in 2015 it was Plzeň. The opportunity will return to the Czech Republic in 2028, with Broumov and Brno announcing their interest in candidacy so far, though there are more potential candidates.

Which Czech city will succeed is expected to be known in 2023. According to Deputy Mayor for Culture Ivan Langr (SLK), the selection process is two-stage. He does not yet know how much the city’s potential candidacy will cost. "At this moment, we are not creating any budget. We are focused on visions, on a quality project, on quality content, with which we would like to apply in the first of the two rounds in which the decision will be made. Only in the intervening phase between the first and second rounds will it also involve creating a specific project and its financing," said the deputy mayor.

Liberec has the support of the Liberec Region. "I see it as an opportunity for locals to realize how significant the cultural background of Liberec is. To understand how important culture is in their lives," said regional councilor for culture Květa Vinklátová (SLK) today.

When Plzeň held the ECoC title in 2015, according to organizers, 1.38 million people attended 636 events included in the project. Organizers praised the significant increase in the number of tourists, with Plzeň recording a year-on-year increase of 16 percent in 2015. ECoC budgets range from five million to 120 million euros, with the costs in Plzeň amounting to 378 million crowns, or about 14.6 million euros.