Broumov and České Budějovice. Cities that will compete for the title of European Capital of Culture 2028. The finalists have been announced today in Prague by the president of the international jury of the competition, Else Christensen-Redzepovic. The jury was choosing from four cities, in addition to those above mentioned, Brno and Liberec also applied. The winner will be determined next year. CzechTourism will introduce all the finalists around the world.
The European Union awards with the title of European Capital of Culture for one year one or more municipalities. For 12 months they can be presenting Europe what kind of cultural life they have and how it is developing. Both of the cities announced today, Broumov and České Budějovice, were very pleased to advance to the finals.
"It's a journey. It's a pilgrimage. It's incredible. We go on with developing our city and region and we´re looking for a recipe to connect Europe," Jan Školník, the founder of the Agency for the Development of Broumovsko says with joy.
České Budějovice's deputy Juraj Thoma reacted enthusiastically to České Budějovice's advancing to the finals: "I am very happy. I believed from the beginning that we would succeed."
In Czechia, European capitals of culture have already become Prague and Pilsen. The title is awarded to the city on the basis of a program for the future in the year of validity of the title, cultural heritage or current cultural offers do not play a role here.
"Our goal this year will be to present to the world all the finalists of the European Capital of Culture competition. The title will bring enormous publicity and a lot of tourists to the final winner, but we must use the opportunity and introduce the other finalists to the world as well," says Director of the Czech Tourism Authority - CzechTourism Jan Herget and adds: "*The title of European Capital of Culture includes huge benefits for the economy. On average, it brings an extraordinary increase in GDP of 4.5% per inhabitant. The effect starts 2 years before the very beginning of the cultural year and lasts up to 5 years after its end. The economy is strengthened by investments in infrastructure, in the program itself, but especially by the influx of domestic and foreign tourists."
(*Source: 2019 Impact Study prepared for the European Parliament)
"It's a journey. It's a pilgrimage. It's incredible. We go on with developing our city and region and we´re looking for a recipe to connect Europe," Jan Školník, the founder of the Agency for the Development of Broumovsko says with joy.
České Budějovice's deputy Juraj Thoma reacted enthusiastically to České Budějovice's advancing to the finals: "I am very happy. I believed from the beginning that we would succeed."
In Czechia, European capitals of culture have already become Prague and Pilsen. The title is awarded to the city on the basis of a program for the future in the year of validity of the title, cultural heritage or current cultural offers do not play a role here.
"Our goal this year will be to present to the world all the finalists of the European Capital of Culture competition. The title will bring enormous publicity and a lot of tourists to the final winner, but we must use the opportunity and introduce the other finalists to the world as well," says Director of the Czech Tourism Authority - CzechTourism Jan Herget and adds: "*The title of European Capital of Culture includes huge benefits for the economy. On average, it brings an extraordinary increase in GDP of 4.5% per inhabitant. The effect starts 2 years before the very beginning of the cultural year and lasts up to 5 years after its end. The economy is strengthened by investments in infrastructure, in the program itself, but especially by the influx of domestic and foreign tourists."
(*Source: 2019 Impact Study prepared for the European Parliament)