Pécs2010 Management - Cultural relations

International relations

The Pécs2010 programme won the European Capital of Culture title under the title „A Borderless City.“ Pécs will be the first Cultural Capital of Europe to open a gateway to the rich multiculturality of the Balkans, including its Islamic heritage – in a period of time when the borders of the European Union will be extended towards the Balkan states. It wishes to play the role of a gateway city between cultures of the West and the East, presenting different cultural experiences, and in this mission it is assisted by the fact that in 2010 the other two capitals of culture will be the Ruhr region in Germany (Essen) and Istanbul in Turkey.

In addition, the European Union expects the Capitals of Culture to host a series of events of not only local or national scale but of an international dimension.

Therefore, the development of international relations is given high priority in the Pécs2010 programme, which is based on the following five pillars:

Pécs is a middle-sized city of lively public spaces.
Pécs is the city of cultural heritage and cultural innovation.
Pécs is a multicultural city where several different cultural layers have developed one after the other.
Pécs is the city of regionalism.
Pécs is a cultural gateway city that is open to the Balkans and parts of Europe which do not yet belong to the European Union.

Pécs – Istanbul – the Ruhr region

The three partners are getting ready for the 2010 cultural season in close co-operation. We are going to work out joint projects not only in culture but in the field of tourism and urban development too. We envisage that several programmes will continue even after 2010, thereby ensuring sustainable development in the area of culture as well.

The Southern Cultural Zone

European integration and the impact of globalisation have added value to regions. However, the notion of the region does not simply involve an institutionalised administrative unit but also a natural cultural unit that has evolved through traditional forms of co-operation. The many-coloured character of these natural units creates a new unit evolving from diversity that is a basic value of Europe.

The idea of the Southern Cultural Zone was born at the time when the Pécs application was conceived. In our case this notion – relying on the natural cultural relations of the multicultural Pécs – marks a zone on the other side of Hungary's southern border that runs from Trieste to Arad and depicts the outlines of a possible cultural region. The co-operation of the partner cities of the Southern Cultural Zone may strengthen regional identity by boosting the effective popularisation and the joint accomplishment of cultural achievements, thereby expanding harmonic co-operation among different cultures, which is taken for granted in a city of multiple ethnic minorities like Pécs. The diversity evolving from the encounter of cultures may give a unique and exciting image to this region.

Partner cities of the Southern Cultural Zone:
Trieste, Maribor, Osiek, Zagreb, Pula, Újvidék (Novi Sad), Szabadka (Subotica), Magyarkanizsa, Tuzla, Sarajevo, Temesvár (Timisoara), Arad

Déli Kulturális Övezet

International relations and twin cities

The European Capital of Culture programme is a significant challenge for all the winners of the title, so the ECoC cities regularly exchange their experience. The European Capitals of Culture Network initiated by Pécs has become an internationally recognised forum that holds its session typically at the invitation of the current Capital of Culture.

The city of Pécs and its regional partners have extensive twin city relations. The Pécs2010 programme aspires to involve these traditionally fruitful forms of co-operation in its international activities.

Further information on the details of the European Capital of Culture programme and the calls for cultural proposals of the European Union can be found at the following websites:

European Capitals of Culture:

1985: Athens (Greece)
1986: Florence (Italy)
1987: Amsterdam (the Netherlands)
1988: West Berlin (FRG)
1989: Paris (France)
1990: Glasgow (United Kingdom)
1991: Dublin (Ireland)
1992: Madrid (Spain)
1993: Antwerp (Belgium)
1994: Lisbon (Portugal)
1995: Luxembourg (Luxemburg)
1996: Coppenhagen (Denmark)
1997: Thessaloniki (Greece)
1998: Stockholm (Sweden)
1999: Weimar (Germany)
2000: Reykjavík (Iceland), Bergen (Norway), Helsinki (Finnland), Brussels (Belgium), Prague (Czech Republic), Cracow (Poland), Santiago de Compostela (Spain), Avignon (France), Bologna (Italy)
2001: Rotterdam (the Netherlands), Porto (Portugal)
2002: Bruges (Belgium), Salamanca (Spain)
2003: Graz (Austria)
2004: Genova (Italy), Lille (France)
2005: Cork (Ireland)
2006: Patras (Greece)
2007: Luxembourg (Luxemburg) – Nagyszeben (Romania)