The European Capital of Culture is an idea that has its origins in Greece in 1985. The annual ECoC celebrations in successive European cities are intended to strengthen the integration of the European Union and showcase the cultural heritage of the EU countries. Each European Capital of Culture prepares an annual programme demonstrating the cultural assets of the city, region, country, and its international and European contexts. To date, more than 60 cities have been awarded this title. In Poland, it has been awarded twice, to Kraków in 2000 and Wrocław in 2016. The competition for the ECoC title is not only about great festivals, prestigious performances and exhibitions. Above all, it is about proposals that showcase Europe’s cultural richness and diversity, the European Union’s key civilizational values, and events that foster a sense of unity and integration. Participation in the ECoC competition is also an opportunity to face cultural and civilizational challenges, to revitalize life culturally and to increase the well-being of city residents.
The European Capital of Culture title changes hands each year; Lublin will be the one to hold it in 2029. The winning city is selected five years prior to the year of the celebrations, followed by many years of preparation.

Tłumaczenie: Aleksandra Górecka
Korekta: Zofia Świerszcz, 2 rok, grupa AN

Lublin is the European Capital of Culture 2029! The panel of experts praised our final application. Four bids were assessed in the second stage of the competition. Lublin has defeated Bielsko-Biała, Katowice and Kołobrzeg. Being shortlisted alone is a significant achievement. Winning the title shall result in a wide range of positive changes, bringing about cultural and social benefits. So, what exactly is the European Capitals of Culture competition?

The idea was born 40 years ago in Greece. The European Capital of Culture year in subsequent European cities was intended to strengthen the integration of the European Union, and to present the cultural achievements of the EU countries. Each European Capital of Culture prepares an annual programme that focuses on the culture-forming potential of the city, region, country, and its international and European contexts. So far, over 60 cities held the title, including two in Poland: Kraków in 2000 (granted in a non-competitive manner) while Wrocław was chosen in a competition to host the European Capital of Culture in 2016.

At first, the European Capital of Culture title was awarded to large, recognizable cities with a rich, global, artistic life. Over time, the emphasis shifted to select cities whose potential has not been yet discovered on the international arena. This approach provides the cities with a great opportunity for promotion across Europe. It often becomes the starting point for positive change, that residents recognize long after the conclusion of the project.

The ECoC competition is not only about great festivals, prestigious performances and exhibitions. Nowadays, the best-rated programs are those showcasing the cultural richness and diversity of Europe, civilizational values that are key to the European Union, and proposals that strengthen the sense of community and integration. However, participation in the ECoC competition is also an opportunity to face cultural and civilizational challenges, to revitalize life on a cultural level and increase the well-being of city residents. Therefore, when creating a program proposal, candidate cities should not only take into account the strengths, but also diagnose problems that can be overcome and solved.

The competition

The selection procedure takes place in two stages. All cities competing for the 2029 title had to submit their applications for the pre-selection by September 15, 2023. 

The selection procedure takes place in two stages. All cities competing for the 2029 title had to submit their applications by September 15, 2023, for the pre-selection. The first, 60-page document outlines the organizational and financial possibilities of the program’s implementation. The panel of international experts examined the applications. It recommended a short list, which included Lublin, Bielsko-Biała, Katowice, and Kołobrzeg. In the second stage of the competition, a more extensive bid was prepared. It outlined the comprehensive program over 100 pages. The cities also hosted experts’ visits and presented their candidacies during a meeting with the full panel. The European Capital of Culture 2029 competition results were announced on September 25, 2024.

Lublin is the Gate of the East, a city of a rich multicultural heritage. Here, in 1569, the Polish-Lithuanian Union, one of the first European unions, was formed. As a result of this, the Commonwealth was intended to be an equal state of Poles, Lithuanians, Ukrainians, and Belarusians. Obviously, the Jewish community, which lived here, must also be acknowledged for shaping its unique culture that evidently influences the city to this very day. All these factors contributed to the European Heritage Label Lublin was awarded with. This recognition is a symbol of the European concepts of integration, the heritage of democracy and tolerance, and the cultures’ dialogue between East and West.

We consider the European Capital of Culture a natural continuation of the European Youth Capital—the title that Lublin has been taking pride in since 2023. This program became a real talent incubator, providing young people with the opportunity to actively contribute to the city’s culture and engage socially. It is these people that will greatly form the European Capital of Culture in 2029. They will become its managers, curators, artists, and recipients.
A vast multitude of events attracting tourists and an immense promotion in Poland as well as worldwide await us. In addition, this title increasingly opens doors for receiving European funds we would allocate for the sake of the development of infrastructure, prosocial, and culture-forming activities.

Tłumaczenie: Zofia Świerszcz, 2 rok, grupa AN
Korekta: Daria Nowak

RE:UNION is the slogan of the European Capital of Culture Lublin 2029. It stands for a meeting, a dialogue, mutual care and a new vision of the city. It is a return to the historic and pioneering concept of the Polish-Lithuanian Union, which is included in the motto “The free with the free, the equal with the equal”. We want Lublin 2029 to be a community of strong ties and authentic relationships between all Lublin’s residents, regardless of their religion and ethnicity.

The RE:UNION slogan encourages asking questions about a new community, awareness of distinctiveness and uniqueness when acting in cooperation. It indicates an invisible network of connections across the countries of Eastern Europe, connections between art, science, sport, and the creative and business sector. RE:UNION will strengthen them, enabling a flow of experience, knowledge, and critical reflection, which will activate their cooperation for the development of the city.

RE: UNION stands for strengthening ties and alliances, rebuilding communities in a contemporary, divided world. There is no better place for it than Lublin. It can be noticed especially in our close relationships with Ukraine and Belarus. These ties and network of contacts, which we have been creating over the years, have resulted not only in many joint artistic projects but also life changes. Particularly in the context of the war, taking place only about one hundred kilometers away.

In line with the RE:UNION idea, we have established special unions. The Union of Lublin Cultural Operators – the agreement of the city’s local culture institutions, non-government organisations, and Academic Centre for Culture, which have been collectively working on the ECoC 2029 programme. The Business Union – over 40 Lublin entities working on an international and global scale that together employ more than 32,000 people. There are plans with Lublin entrepreneurs to organise programmes developing and supporting the social responsibility of business. The Academic Union – rectors of all 9 Lublin universities declared cooperation to integrate the city more with academic communities. The Cultural Union of the Metropolitan Area has connected 26 cities, counties and communes of the Lubelskie area. RE:UNION goes far beyond the culture and borders of the city.

• RE:UNION – reintegration as a natural counteraction of disintegration caused by the pandemic, crisis, and war.
• RE:UNION – increase in the quality, intensity, and frequency of interpersonal contacts.
  RE:UNION – accepting multiple value systems, norms, and assessments while recognizing their common points.
  RE:UNION – a new social contract where everyone feels and is important.
  RE:UNION – building a real community.
  RE:UNION – a dialogue between various fields of art, cultures, generations, tradition, and modernity; the past and the future.
  RE:UNION – a union of entities under a single banner and idea.
  RE:UNION – a meeting.

Tłumaczenie: Daria Nowak
Korekta: Aleksandra Górecka