Ostrava and Plzeň, candidates for the title of European Capital of Culture 2015
Prague - The bids from Ostrava and Plzeň, which are competing for the title of European Capital of Culture 2015 on behalf of the Czech Republic (to be selected on September 8; one of the Czech cities will be the cultural metropolis of Europe in 2015 along with the Belgian Mons):
OSTRAVA |
PLZEŇ |
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GENERAL The statutory city of Ostrava has 316,000 inhabitants, making it the third largest city in the Czech Republic. Thanks to its location at the intersection of Moravia and Silesia, it is the heart of the Moravian-Silesian Region, close to the borders with Poland (ten kilometers) and Slovakia (50 kilometers). The city covers an area of 214 km² and currently consists of 23 districts. The first mentions of Ostrava date back to 1267, but the city's peaceful development was significantly interrupted only by the discovery of black coal in its territory in the second half of the 18th century, which later brought about the development of ironworks. Ostrava underwent a transformation into a significant industrial center approximately a hundred years later. "Ostrava, the steel heart of the republic," as it is often dubbed, is still mainly an industrial agglomeration, despite the fact that the last coal was extracted in the city in 1994. The concentration of metallurgy and engineering production in the city significantly deteriorates the local air quality, which is among the worst in the country. The city is also home to the largest domestic metallurgical company, ArcelorMittal Ostrava, and the third largest steelworks, Evraz Vítkovice Steel (formerly Vítkovice Ironworks), located within the city. Ostrava boasts a number of famous natives, including director Věra Chytilová, actor Vlastimil Brodský, tennis player Ivan Lendl, and singers Marie Rottrová, Hana Zagorová, and Věra Špinarová. |
GENERAL Plzeň, which has been a statutory city since 1990, has a population of 174,000, making it the fourth largest city in the Czech Republic. The present West Bohemian metropolis, covering an area of 125 square kilometers, was founded at the confluence of the Úhlava, Úslava, Radbuza, and Mže rivers in 1295 by Czech King Václav II. as a trade crossroads on the route from Prague to Bavaria. Plzeň began to build its reputation as an industrial and brewery city during the 19th century. As early as 1842, the local Citizen's Brewery (later Plzeňský prazdroj) began brewing beer, and in 1869, Emil Škoda took over the then Valdštejn Machine Works, laying the foundation for the well-known Škoda Works. The winged arrow (the long-time logo of Škoda) remains one of the most recognized Czech brands. Today, Plzeň is a city with a rapidly growing immigrant community. Famous individuals from Plzeň include singer Karel Gott, theater artist Jiří Suchý, and football goalkeeper Petr Čech. The town is also the birthplace of artist Jiří Trnka and actor Miroslav Horníček. |
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| CULTURE IN THE CITY Despite its industrial tradition, Ostrava is positioning itself as a cultural and educational center of the region. The city today is home to two universities, and it is also the seat of the bishop of the Ostrava-Opava diocese. According to the city's website, there are currently 37 museums and five cinemas in Ostrava. Four theaters are dominated by the National Theatre of Moravian-Silesian, which offers opera, drama, ballet, and operetta. The Ostrava Puppet Theatre hosts the international puppet festival Spectaculo Interesse every two years. The Janáček Philharmonic Ostrava is an internationally recognized music ensemble, and the Janáček May international classical music festival is among the sought-after events. In recent years, the multi-genre festival Colours of Ostrava has also become a notable event in the city. There are four city heritage zones in Ostrava (Moravian Ostrava, Přívoz, Poruba, and Vítkovice). The city also has several significant technical monuments, including the Důl Hlubina, blast furnaces, and the coking plant of the former Vítkovice Ironworks, Důl Anselm, and Důl Michal. |
CULTURE IN THE CITY Cultural life in the city revolves mainly around the J. K. Tyl Theatre, but Plzeň also hosts several cultural events and festivals with international participation each year. For instance, the Smetana Days music festival and the Skupova Plzeň puppet theater festival, which commemorates the founder of the Spejbl and Hurvínek Theater, Josef Skupa, who worked in Plzeň. The multi-genre festival Na ulici and the traditional celebration of Plzeň's beers, the Pilsner Fest, are also very popular. The city’s historical core, with its chessboard layout, has been a protected municipal monument reserve since 1989. It attracts attention with the Gothic Church of St. Bartholomew, the Renaissance Town Hall, and the buildings of the Archdeaconate, the Franciscan Monastery, and the Jewish Synagogue. An exceptional group of 18 houses adorned with sgraffito according to designs by Mikoláš Aleš is also located here. The city has been the seat of the bishopric since 1993, the Faculty of Medicine of Charles University, and in 1991, the University of West Bohemia was established here. The liberation of West Bohemia by the Americans in May 1945 is commemorated in the city by the American Army Memorial, which is also a museum. |
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| PARTICIPATION IN THE EUROPEAN CAPITAL OF CULTURE PROJECT 2015 The motto of Ostrava's participation in the project is "A Place for a Happy Life." Members of the preparation committee see the candidacy of Ostrava primarily as an opportunity to strengthen the city's position in culture, a chance to enhance the local cultural infrastructure, and to generally improve the city’s access to culture. The key investment project for which Ostrava is striving to gain the title of European Capital of Culture in 2015 is the establishment of the Black Meadow Cluster. On an area of 20 hectares near the city center, an urban and architectural complex connecting cultural, educational, and residential facilities is to be created. An integral part of the project will be a rich cultural program encompassing a broad range of genres. As part of Ostrava 2015, the city further plans an educational program in the field of arts management. The last part of the project consists of a program to improve the environment. Ostrava has been preparing the project for about two years and has invested approximately 70 million crowns into it. Events that have already emerged as part of these projects include the International Film Festival Ostrava Kamera Oko and the Month of Author Readings. The Club for Culture and Information 2015 - Old Arena has also been opened, where events for the public are now held. |
PARTICIPATION IN THE EUROPEAN CAPITAL OF CULTURE PROJECT 2015 The main theme of the program with which Plzeň is vying for the title of European Capital of Culture in 2015 is the motif of openness and the intertwining of cultures (the motto of participation is "Plzeň Open"). Plzeň wants to make itself visible on the cultural map of Europe, believing that participation in the project will allow it to develop its cultural potential on an international scale, as well as generally improve the quality of life in the city. As part of its candidacy, the city has created a special ten-year plan for cultural development in Plzeň, most of which it intends to implement regardless of whether it receives the title. Plzeň is also striving for maximum public involvement in the planned projects. The city's development plans also include investments in cultural infrastructure, with Plzeň preparing the construction of a new theater building and West Bohemia Gallery, revitalization of the areas surrounding Plzeň’s rivers, and the establishment of a new sports and cultural center. On the five-hectare site of the former Světlovar Brewery, a new residential district with dozens of apartments, a city archive, a design and environmental museum, all complemented by a multicultural center, is planned. The authors of the "cultural" district plan to preserve most of the original structures here. |
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