Pécs2010 Management - Cultural relations

Regional relations

The proposal submitted by Pécs does not only represent the city itself but both its narrow (the South Transdanubian) and its broader region (the Southern Cultural Zone). The South Transdanubian region was included in the programme on grounds that Pécs is the seat of decentralisation and regionalism in Hungary. The idea of regionalism in closely tied to Pécs, and by the regional extension of the ECoC programme it will be filled with real content – in as much as the notion of the region means to us a practice to be established with the purpose of creating a regional identity and model-like co-operation rather than regional administrative units.

The counties and county seats of the region are „co-owners” of the ECoC title together with major cities, small regions and villages. The harmonisation and joint planning of programmes, communication, marketing and international activities may provide a model for the future functioning of this region just being born.

On the basis of the declarations of intent provided in the application phase several cities like Baja, Dunaújváros, Keszthely, Nagykanizsa and Székesfehérvár also participate in regional co-operation in addition to the cities of the South Transdanubian region.

Szeged, our distinguished partner city

Szeged and Pécs made a strategic agreement at the beginning phase of the European Capital of Culture programme contest according to which Szeged did not apply for the European Capital of Culture title and in return it concluded a separate agreement with Pécs which expressly states that Szeged is a distinguished partner city of Pécs. This way the two cities can effectively represent Southern Hungary and the cultural partners on the other side of the southern borders.

Szeged and the Open-Air Festival

Szeged offers a unique experience to visitors. It is without exaggeration: Szeged is a gem to Hungary. The city can be conveniently accessed from Budapest on motorway within a little more than an hour. The built heritage of the beautifully renewed old city of Szeged abounding in Mediterranean cafés and terraces include outstanding treasures such as one of the largest synagogues of Central Europe, the extraordinary building of the medicinal bath with its eastern character and the Cathedral. One of the most precious sites of Szeged's built heritage is the Reök Palace, which functions as the Regional Art Centre (REÖK) as of August 2007, and welcomes visitors to its art gallery and cultural programmes. Since its establishment the REÖK has hosted numerous world famous artists, special exhibitions and events displaying the works of national artists, and in addition it is home to permanent programmes that have already conquered the public in Szeged. With its past going back to 77 years the Open Air Festival, the largest summer festival in Hungary and one of the most important events in Central Europe will offer a wide range of cultural events to people longing for recreation and intellectual excitement and in 2010 too. The venue of the Festival is the Cathedral Square whose beauty and acoustics create a natural environment for monumental events and the programmes of the Open-Air Festival.

www.szeged.hu

"The winner takes everybody else along"

The applicant cities competed for the European Capital of Culture title in a two-round competition procedure. In the first round, which was closed on December 31, 2004, eleven cities – Budapest, Debrecen, Eger, Győr, Kaposvár, Kecskemét, Miskolc, Pécs, Sopron, Székesfehérvár and Veszprém – submitted their proposals to the Ministry of Culture. The high number of applicants reflects the heightened interest in the programme. During the application phase Pécs expressed its intention to work together with the other applicant cities in case it would win the title.