rozy

In the year 2000, nine European cities bear the title 'European City of Culture': Avignon, Bergen, Bologna, Bruxelles / Brussel, Helsinki, Kraków, Prague, Reykjavík and Santiago de Compostela.

Since 1985 the title 'European City of Culture' has been given by the Ministers of Culture of the EU to one European city each year. The objective is 'to open up to the European public particular aspects of the city, region and country concerned', as well as to emphasise 'wider European cultural affinities'. Each city is free to determine its own emphases and to organise programs and projects within a time scale and budget which each city must determine. The impact and importance of the 'European City of Culture' concept has grown consistently and cities have been using the designation in relation to other cultural and economic objectives.

To celebrate the turn of the century, the EU designated nine cities of culture for the year 2000. They will each present a rich cultural program related to the needs and tastes of the local and international community. Moreover, they will collaborate on various levels and work closely on a number of joint projects. This cultural co-operation between European cities is unique and will create an unprecedented synergy between three cities in the north, three in the centre and three in the south of Europe.

Avignon, France
http://www.mairie-avignon.fr/

Bergen, Norway
http://www.bergen2000.no

Bologna, Ital
http://www.bologna2000.it/

Bruxelles / Brussel, Belgium
http://www.brussels2000.be/

Helsinki, Finlan
http://www.2000.hel.fi/

Kraków, Poland
http://www.krakow2000.pl/

Prague, Czech Republic
http://www.praha-emk2000.cz/

Reykjavík, Iceland
http://www.reykjavik2000.com/

Santiago de Compostela, Spain
http://www.compostela2000.com/

[This message has been edited by rozy (edited 06-20-2000).]

Library Dragon

Well, the culture in Brussells right now is football, football, football for Euro 2000. We spent an interesting day in the Grand Place prior to the Belgium-Italy match. Only a couple of entrances-exits open. Not the usual quiet, stately atmosphere it usually has.

raffy

I was in Iceland in February 2000 and there was quite a few activities planned for this event. It's a great country to visit - wonderful restaurants in the capitol, a wide variety of shops and friendly residents.

TA

I would love to see the US try to name some equivalent "cities of culture." I would be stretching it even to say even New York.

stimpy

Ahem, Chicago ranks with a lot of world cities when it comes to culture. Culture is not determined solely by age.

Now LA on the other hand...

TA

OK, I guess "culture" can mean any of these:

historical signficance
sophistication of the people
sophistication of the sights, events, attractions
etc.

At least in many other countries, if the people aren't very sophisticated, the location has significance. Or if the place isn't that significant, the people balance it by being interesting (maybe just by being a foreigner, you can think that this is true).

But I can't think of too many US places that rank well by any of these criteria -- there's just too much suburban middle-america wasteland that swamps any faint signal. And then there's that whole part of the US that's called the midwest...

Chicago is good, maybe you can help me name some others?

And, no, "shopping" in a city to me does not really constitute culture...

rozy

I do not know US very well but...
Culture: History, People and Music; Jazz Music.
New Orleans?

Library Dragon

Hey, you can't bet Athens, Alabama for CULTURE Gotta try a Dub's cheeseburger (deep fried beef patties).

Actually, we have some very good cultural experiences in the States. They are just very different than Europe. But hey, they have sports hooligans, we have sports hooligans