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Nova Gorica in Slovenia and Gorizia in Italy, two cities divided by a border, are hosting this year’s ECoC Family meeting, serving as a prelude to the future Capital of Culture—Nova Gorica 2025.

The slogan “Go Borderless!” best captures the essence of this place and its complex identity. Families often speak both Italian and Slovenian, and artists seamlessly move between the two countries. Representatives from 28 cities—hosts of the European Capitals of Culture—are engaging in discussions about borders—physical, historical, cultural, and mental. We are sharing our experiences as a city near the eastern border of the EU.

As we explore the behind-the-scenes of Nova Gorica 2025 and Chemnitz 2025, we instinctively find many elements of shared history among former Eastern Bloc countries. It’s easy to be captivated by the story of Chemnitz’s 3000 garages. We understand what unwanted memories are and the active work required to deal with a difficult past, which makes it easy for us to grasp the importance of the EPIC project. We see how accurately the European Capitals of Culture project responds to the EU’s motto—United in Diversity.

Thank you for the incredibly warm welcome! We look forward to the conference in Chemnitz in June 2025, where research on the future of the European Capitals of Culture project will be summarized.

Marta Ryczkowska, Maciej Rukasz

3,000 garages will open in June in Chemnitz. The curator of the project is Agnieszka Kubicka Dzieduszycka. You can read more about it here ➡️ Eastern State of Mind (Project #3000Garagen, part of the Eastern State of Mind program line).

On September 25th, we heard the verdict of the Expert Panel—Lublin was designated as the European Capital of Culture for 2029. Now, we are awaiting the official confirmation of the title. However, we are not slowing down— the coming years will be a time of intensive preparations, gathering experiences, and collaborating with current, past, and future ECoCs, also known as the ECoC Family!

Czym jest ECoC Family! Co to znaczy dla nas i dlaczego to tak ważne.

What is the ECoC Family? What does it mean for us, and why is it so important?

The ECoC Family is a network of European Capitals of Culture. For the first time, Lublin can participate in the annual conference, and we have just arrived in Nova Gorica, Slovenia—European Capital of Culture 2025! This is the first transnational capital, uniting Italian Gorizia and Slovenian Nova Gorica.

What are we doing here?

We are here to listen, engage in discussions, and gain the much-needed experience for the years ahead. We are talking about programs, the challenges we will face, finding new partners, reviewing our current plans, and discussing the common threads that unite us. It’s hard to imagine a better source of knowledge than the people who have successfully implemented their applications and cities that have completed their year of celebrations. It is wonderful to see how generously they share their experiences.

September 25th will be remembered as a milestone in our city’s history, marking the day Lublin was officially named the European Capital of Culture for 2029.

In 2029, Lublin will proudly carry this prestigious title, executing a comprehensive cultural program developed in close collaboration with its residents. Securing the title not only promises a wealth of unique cultural initiatives, projects, and events, but also the development of sectors related to tourism and the promotion of the city on an unprecedented scale. This recognition will bring a series of positive transformations, contributing to growth in areas beyond culture and tourism. Furthermore, the European Capital of Culture title can enhance opportunities for securing European funding, which will support infrastructure development as well as social and cultural initiatives. It also paves the way for new partnerships and the exchange of expertise with other cities across Europe.

“The past two years have been a period of intense work for all of us, with many valuable projects and events realized in the spirit of the RE:UNION idea. We now have several years of preparation ahead, focusing on turning the ideas from our application into concrete actions. I want to thank all the involved communities for their shared effort and contribution to this great success. We have once again proven that Lublin’s culture and the people behind it possess immense potential,” said Krzysztof Żuk, Mayor of Lublin.

The selection process for the European Capital of Culture title was conducted in two stages. Participating cities submitted their initial applications by September 15, 2023, with twelve Polish cities entering the competition: Bielsko-Biała, Bydgoszcz, Jastrzębie-Zdrój, Katowice, Kielce, Kołobrzeg, Lublin, Opole, Płock, Pszczyna, Rzeszów, and Toruń.

Following the first evaluation, a shortlist of cities advancing to the final stage was announced, which included Lublin, Bielsko-Biała, Katowice, and Kołobrzeg. The final decision on the European Capital of Culture for 2029 was based on a thorough assessment of the shortlisted cities’ final applications, which provided comprehensive details of their cultural programs, and in-person presentations to the evaluation panel.

Lublin’s final application, a detailed 100-page document, outlines the city’s cultural, organizational, and financial strategies, as well as its vision for the future. This application was the result of collaboration with local residents, artists, social activists, cultural organizers, and community leaders. An important part of the process was the visit of the European panel of experts to Lublin on September 18, followed by the city’s formal presentation on September 24.

The central theme of our application is RE:Union, which symbolizes an extraordinary gathering, dialogue, mutual care, and a fresh perspective on Lublin.

The concept of the European Capital of Culture has a history spanning over four decades. It was first proposed in the early 1980s, with Athens becoming the inaugural titleholder thanks to the initiative of Melina Mercouri, then the Greek Minister of Culture. In the following years, cities such as Florence, Amsterdam, West Berlin, and Paris held the title. In 1999, the selection process was revised to designate two cities each year, with the exception of the year 2000, when nine cities, including Kraków and Prague, were named as Capitals of Culture.

In 2029, Lublin will share the title with one of two Swedish cities—Kurina or Uppsala. The results of the competition are announced several years in advance to allow ample preparation, which is why the cities selected this year will hold the title in 2029.

Those interested in the competition bid are invited to read the final application.

BIDBOOK LUBLIN FOR ECoC 2029

The Summer Film Academy has come to an end in Zwierzyniec. The event has been taking place for a quarter of a century. Thanks to cooperation with the Lublin Film Fund, the “Lublin” section appeared in its programme for the first time.

This year’s edition was held under the slogan: “3x Closer” – closer to cinema, closer to creators, closer to viewers. During the 7 festival days, the audience saw films from 38 countries screened in 14 sections and 3 retrospectives.

The programme of the Summer Film Academy also included new films including ones recognized by jurors, critics, and audiences during festivals in Cannes, Berlin, and Venice.

The Festival’s programme had something for all ages. The films selected for the KING section introduced young viewers to the cultures of other countries, and social phenomena. They offered a commentary on important topics of the contemporary world.

During the Summer Film Academy, talking about the films was just as important as watching them. This year’s Festival programme included a record number of lectures and meetings with film makers. An important part of the programme is the retrospectives. This year, they focused on the artistic achievements of Krzysztof Zanussi, Luis García Berlanga, and Aimee Anouk.

As part of the LUBELSKIE section, viewers could watch films set in Lublin. They were created with the financial and organisational support of the Lublin Film Fund of the City of Lublin. The Zwierzyniec audience saw productions presenting Lublin and the Lublin region from an unconventional perspective:
– “This Damn Sunday” – an animated film by Przemysław Kotyński, Lublin in the 1930s.
– “The Maid” – a film directed by Rafał Bryll, a documentary with animation, which is a testimony to real events.
– “Irene’s Vow” – a feature film by Louise Archambault, inspired by true events, the story of teenage Irena Gut, who risked her life during World War II to hide and save a dozen people of Jewish origin from the Holocaust. The main roles are played by international cinema stars: Sophie Nélisse and Dougray Scott. The cast of the Polish-Canadian co-production also includes Andrzej Seweryn, Filip Kosior, Rafał Mohr, and Eliza Rycembel.
In addition, this section will also feature a screening of the film “Motór” by Wiesław Paluch, set in Biłgoraj.
The cooperation between the City of Lublin and the Summer Film Academy in Zwierzyniec was initiated as part of the idea implemented by Lublin, as part of the bid for the European Capital of Culture 2029. This is one of the activities that aims to create a regional network of cities, communes, and counties. The main goal is to develop and promote the culture of the Lublin region.

In mid-August, Lublin celebrates the anniversary of the granting of city rights by Władysław Łokietek. The participation in the competition for the European Capital of Culture gave this year’s celebrations a special character. It encourages reflection on the city’s history, looking into the future, and taking on contemporary challenges.

The celebration of the 707th birthday began on August 12, on International Youth Day. The Creative Relaxation and Youth Information Zone “Chill & Charge” was created in Litewski Square. Young residents could relax on deckchairs and hammocks. It was also an opportunity to meet experts from the Youth Information and Development Centre, Eurodesk Lublin, Europe Direct Lublin, and representatives of the Youth Space. The event called #ESMactive was an outcome of the European Youth Capital 2023, and a part of the implementation of Lublin’s youth policy.

The 2nd edition of the Hot Air Balloon Fiesta provided a unique setting for the city’s birthday celebrations. The organizers offered animations and games, a night ride with burners, and flights over the city.

Those who set out on thematic walks could learn about the history of Lublin and the people related to the city. The first walk concentrated on the figure and works of Julia Hartwig. Participants visited places associated with the poet and the Hartwig family. The Guides of Inspiration hosted planned walks under the slogans: “Let’s brag about Lublin”, “Lublin, all the best!” and “Before Lublin was born…”.

Over the centuries Lublin drew from diverse traditions to build its identity. This was reflected during two festivals – the Lubliner Festival, presenting Jewish culture, and Re:tradition – Jagiellonian Fair, devoted to music and traditional crafts.

The program also included the National Competition of Budge Calls. This year the 30th- anniversary edition of this unique event popularizing city bugle calls, which are an important element of various cities’ identity. In the case of Lublin, the tradition dates back to the 16th century.

The meetings in working groups focused on the main challenges in cooperation between the City of Lublin and non-governmental organizations. The conversations picked up on the previously discussed threads.

The creation of a Center for Supporting Non-Governmental Organizations was discussed on July 17th at the City Hall. Representatives of numerous NGOs attended the meeting. The main topic was to discuss the needs and expectations regarding the creation of the Center. The participants talked about the impact that the lack of such a centre may have, both from the perspective of the organization, and the city itself. The individual needs of the organization were grouped and assigned to 6 categories. This evaluation will facilitate further work on the development of the Center. The groups worked on solutions that could support the implementation of these needs.
The availability criteria in public open tenders was discussed again on July 24. Participants focused on conclusions from previous meetings and opinions on the evaluation principles used in other cities such as Wrocław, Gdańsk, and Warsaw. The participants agreed that the competition forms should include a separate criterion regarding accessibility. This criterion should be an important factor in the evaluation of the offer. However, its absence should not result in the rejection of such an application.
The meeting, which took place on August 1, was devoted to improving the cooperation of the City Hall with the third sector. Topics discussed included transparency of offers, assessment of the organization’s experience in working with the City Hall, and sharing the full evaluation of offers. Much time was devoted to the calendar of tenders, and multi-year competitions. The solutions in this field may help organizations solve the problem of effective work schedule planning and ensuring financing for activities. Participants also considered the advantages and NGOs.

Consultations of the Cooperation Program of the Lublin Commune with NGOs and entities referred to in Art. 3 Section 3 of the Act on Public Benefit Activities and Volunteering for 2025 is open until September 8th. Comments on the document can be submitted via the FORM. Details are available on the website lublin.eu.

The Lublin ECoC application was submitted to the Ministry of Culture and National Heritage yesterday. We are proud of the bid book that we created together. This collective commitment of the Lublin cultural community, non-governmental organizations, and residents of Lublin will surely pay off.

The application process has become an impulse to support social change in the city through culture. Representatives of Lublin’s cultural institutions formed a consortium – the Union of Lublin Cultural Operators. Together, they developed the most important program assumptions for the final application. Regardless of the result of the competition, the consortium will continue its work, taking into account the assumptions included in the application. Thanks to the Re:Union idea, each scenario is a win-win situation.
On Europe Day (May 9), the Cultural Union of the Metropolitan Area was concluded. We want to share the idea of the European Capital of Culture with cities, communes and counties of the Lublin metropolitan area. It is a signal that we regard the process as a starting point for reflection on a common concept of partnership between cities and communes in eastern Poland.
The business community also supports the implementation of the European Capital of Culture Lublin 2029. The concluded Business Union creates new standards of mutual support for culture and business. The rectors of all 9 universities in Lublin joined the agreement and submitted a declaration in favour of cooperation at ECoC 2029. Academia is one of the pillars of Lublin’s development. Cooperation with the academic circles becomes crucial in light of the EcoC competition.
The organizing committee would like to thank everyone involved in the process so far for their joint work and perseverance.