Maribor, Slovenia candidate for European Capital of Culture 2012

THE EUROPEAN CAPITAL OF CULTURE 2012
MARIBOR AND THE PARTNER CITIES
ACTIVITIES A N D P R O G R A M M E H I G H L I G H T S

THE EUROPEAN CAPITAL OF CULTURE 2012
MARIBOR AND THE PARTNER CITIES
(Murska Sobota, Novo mesto, Ptuj, Slovenj Gradec and Velenje)
Activities and programme highlights
The Municipality of Maribor
Temporary Secretariat for the project of the European Capital of Culture 2012
January 2009

Candidate for the title
of the European
Capital of Culture 2012
Activities and programme
highlights

Content
6 1. THE EUROPEAN CULTURAL PROJECT THE EUROPEAN
CAPITAL OF CULTURE
1.1 Previous and future capitals of culture
7 1.2 Formal arrangements
1.3 Expectations towards the candidate cities regarding the programme
8 2. CANDIDATURE OF MARIBOR AND THE PARTNER CITIES
2.1 Initial preparation
2.2 State tender
2.3 Function of Kibla
9 2.4 The concept of the European Capital of Culture in the Slovene candidature
11 2.5 Approval of the Concept
2.6 Results of the state tender
12 2.7 Preparation of Candidature for the European Commission
2.8 Candidature under review by the EU
2.9 First presentation of the project in front of the decision panel
13 2.10 Appointing a Temporary Secretariat for the European Cultural Capital 2012 project
14 2.11 The second presentation of the project
2.12 Final presentation and evaluation of the project on 5 th November 2008 in Brussels
15 2.13 Further procedures leading up to the nomination

16 3. PROGRAMME BLOCKS OF THE PROJECT
MARIBOR – EUROPEAN CULTURAL CAPITAL 2012
19 3.1 ČISTA ENERGIJA!/PURE ENERGY!
3.2 Musica noster amor
20 3.3 MARIBOR FESTIVAL
3.4 THE CROSSROADS OF WORLD CULTURES – SUMMER FESTIVAL LENT
21 3.5 ART & HERITAGE CARNIVAL
3.6 SATURDAY HARMONY
3.7 MUSES OF SOCIALISM
22 3.8 GLASS BALL
3.9 ECOC 2012 – OPEN SOURCE OF EUROPE
23 3.10 ARS VirDiCo
3.11 EuGENIUS LOCI
24 3.12 ARS NON-VIOLENS
3.13 THE MAST OF EUROPE
3.14 EUPIPPI L.
25 3.15 MAN WITH BOMBS
3.16 DREAMING THE FUTURE
26 3.17 Upgrading of the leading cultural programmes
28 4. CURRENT TASKS OF THE PROJECT PREPARATION
4.1 Development of cultural projects and the economy
29 4.2 Establishment of an appropriate organization for the preparation and management
of the project
30 4.3 Short-term tasks of the temporary secretariat

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1. THE EUROPEAN CULTURAL PROJECT
THE EUROPEAN CAPITAL OF CULTURE
The European Capital of Culture is a title awarded according to a certain procedure by the
European Union for a period of one year to one or more cities. The city holding this prestigious
title carries out number of important cultural events. Due to the nomination the cultural
eyes of Europe and the World are focused on those events. The initiator of this project of the
European Capital of Culture was the Greek Minister of culture and artist Melina Mercouri
(1920 – 1944). On her initiative the project was introduced in 1985 by the Council of Ministers
of the European Union. The basic idea of the project is to promote different European
cultures and through the consciousness of the value of the cultural diversity strengthen
the mutual understanding and the mutual European identity. From 1985 onward 32 cities
have been nominated as the European Capital of Culture. From its beginnings until today
the project developed and was upgraded in many ways, however, its basic principles never
changed – stressing the importance, values and diversity of the European cultures, improving
the knowledge of each other – the different languages, cultural traditions, religions –
and by stressing the common cultural basis spreading the awareness of being part of the
same European community. Furthermore, the broader social and economic impacts of this
project are becoming more and more important.
1.1 Previous and future capitals of culture
1985 Athens 2001 Porto, Rotterdam
1986 Florence 2002 Bruges, Salamanca
1987 Amsterdam 2003 Graz
1988 West Berlin 2004 Genoa, Lille
1989 Paris 2005 Cork
1990 Glasgow 2006 Patras
1991 Dublin 2007 Luxembourg, Sibiu
1992 Madrid 2008 Liverpool, Stavanger
1993 Antwerp 2009 Linz, Vilnius
1994 Lisbon 2010 Essen, Istanbul, Pécs
1995 Luxembourg 2011 Turku, Tallinn
1996 Copenhagen 2012 Guimarães, Maribor
1997 Thessaloniki 2013 in procedure Marseille, Košice
1998 Stockholm 2014 cities from Sweden, Latvia
1999 Weimar 2015 cities from Belgium, Czech Republic
2000 Avignon, Bergen, Bologna, Brussels,
Helsinki, Krakow, Prague, Reykjavík,
Santiago de Compostela
2016 cities from Spain, Poland
2017 cities from Denmark, Cyprus
2018 cities from Netherlands, Malta
2019 cities from Italy, Bulgaria

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1.2 Formal arrangements
The goals of this European cultural project and the procedures related to awarding of the
European Capital of Culture title are defined in several European documents: between 1985
and 2000 the programme was based on the Decision of the European Union. The European
Parliament and the Council have adopted a Decision in 1999 where the nomination procedure,
the goals of the project and criteria for the selection of the nominated city (Decision
1419/1999/EC) were more clearly defined. Through two additional Decisions adopted by the
European Parliament and the Council (Decision 649/2005/EC and 1622/2006/EC) the regulations
were adapted when the new member states joined the EU.
If the nominated cities fulfil the defined conditions and perform a qualitative implementation
of the project they can receive the Melina Mercouri Prize, which amounts to 1,5 million
Euros. Otherwise there are no additional grants for direct financing of the preparation and
implementation of the cultural programs or investments related to the European Capital of
Culture.
1.3 Expectations towards the candidate cities regarding the programme
The nominated city should take advantage of its uniqueness and prove its creativity. The
cultural heritage and the constant cultural life in the city are advantageous, but merely represent
a base in relation to organizing of a cultural programme in the year of nomination.
The city is nominated and holds the title with the purpose of preparing unique cultural
events, which must represent a possibility for a better European cooperation in the field of
culture and for promoting a permanent dialogue on the European level. Programme coordination
between the two nominated cities is highly appreciated; for the implementation of
the programme the cities can connect on a regional level, across the national borders on the
European level or even broader. Following guidelines are important as criteria for appropriateness
of a programme offer:
` `“European dimension” of the cultural events: the events should stimulate cooperation between
the cultural performers, artists and cities from the EU member states (and broader),
furthermore, they should stress the value of cultural diversity in Europe; the events
should bring the common aspects of the European cultures to the fore. The programmes
should be interesting for a wider European audience.
` `“Inclusion of the city and the citizens” into the cultural events: the citizens and the environment
are stimulated to cooperate in the preparation and implementation of the events; individual
social groups, which could be overlooked as creators and consumers of cultural
goods, deserve a special attention; the local population should be interested in participating
in the cultural programmes and cultural cooperation within the European framework.
` `“Sustainability”: the cultural events during the nominated year should be part of a longterm
and sustainable plan which refers to the cultural, spatial as well as social development
of a city.

8 2. CANDIDATURE OF MARIBOR
AND THE PARTNER CITIES
2.1 Initial preparation
The first activities related to the candidature of Maribor for the title of the European Capital
of Culture 2012 date back to the year 2004. The mayor at that time - Boris Sovič decided -
based on the information he obtained as a member of the Committee of the Regions of the
European Parliament – that the nomination would be of a great importance for the development
of the city. In April 2005 the European Parliament and the Council adopted the Decision
649/2005/EC by which it was possible for the new member states to become a nominee.
Therefore in the period from 2009 until 2018 there will always be two cities nominated; one
from the old member states and one from the new. Consequently, one of the Slovene cities
was given chance to hold the title together with Portugal in 2012. In January 2006 a survey
of relevant cultural sources and possible starting-points for programme of the candidature
was carried out in the Mayor’s Office. Because the Ministry of Culture at the beginning of
2006 still did not make a clear statement on how Slovenia is going to choose its candidate
for the nomination (either via tender or decision of the government or the cities competing
directly in Brussels), different lobbyist activities were performed in Maribor in early spring
2006 (meetings with Members of the National and the European Parliament as well as with
potential supporting groups etc.). To choose the Slovene candidate the Slovene government
decided to call for applications in April 2006; the Ministry of Culture published a public tender
on July 14 2006 for the Slovene candidate, which will be nominated by the Government
of the Republic of Slovenia to the European Union.
2.2 State tender
The tender on the national level was based on an extensive developmental understanding of
this project; the required documentation proved that the nomination and the cultural production
could be seen as possible development initiative for a wider social field spectrum
(economy, employment policy, transport, spatial planning, etc.). It was also noticeable that the
complexity of the candidature, the dimension and the complexity of the project need a similar
approach like the more demanding investment projects usually do. When the supplementary
municipal budget enabled such approach in the autumn of the same year the institution which
would prepare the documentation for the candidature of the city of Maribor was chosen by a
public contract. Maribor Development Agency, Institution Pekarna magdalenske mreže (due
to its comprehensive international network of partners) and Association for Culture and Education
Kibla (the same reason as Pekarna and because Kibla prepared a previous study on
the project of ECC in Slovenia for the Ministry of Culture) were invited to participate. The
Association for Culture and Education Kibla prepared an appropriate offer and was therefore
chosen for preparation of the documentation for the candidature at the Slovene tender.
2.3 Function of Kibla
The previously prepared documentation for the ECC was used as a basis; with the new contract
Kibla was obliged to establish a broad and creative dialogue, where all interested individuals
and institutions from the field of culture, education, research as well as interested
economic subjects and their associations were invited to participate. The extent of Kibla’s
tasks defined in the contract was increased when it became clear that the actual dimension
of the work was much bigger; all obligations defined in the contract stayed within the preparation
of documentation, promotion and informing during the candidature. By carrying out
all those tasks and with the presentation in Brussels on April 23 2008, the obligations regarding
the contract were fulfilled.

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2.4 The concept of the European Capital of Culture
in the Slovene candidature
In December 2008 the Mayor of the Municipality of Maribor, Franc Kangler, invited all
city municipalities of the “eastern cohesion region” to participate in the project. The mayors
of the invited cities (with the exception of Celje, which ran a candidature on its own)
responded to the invitation and a common agreement (later also a contract) on cooperation
between Murska Sobota, Novo mesto, Ptuj, Slovenj Gradec, Velenje and Maribor was
signed on 25 th January 2007. The cities agreed to cooperate during preparation of the candidature
and implementation of the ECC project in case of nomination. This project of partnership
cooperation between the cities was based and corroborated on historical, cultural,
ethnographical, natural and economical elements. Every participating city is contributing
to the project with its unique competitive advantages. When the programmes will be implemented
a broader region will participate. Maribor, as the holder of the candidature,
represents the most prominent cultural, academic and economic centre of the ECC area;
Velenje will focus mainly on its industrial heritage; Ptuj is an important antique site and the
centre of ethnological curiosities (Kurent); Novo mesto is the core of Slovene archaeology
(the Hallstatt culture); Murska Sobota is famous for its rich rural culture; Slovenj Gradec is
the global city of peace.
Between November 2006 and February 2007 Kibla organized several expert working meetings,
round-table discussions, tribunes, presentations, etc., that attracted numerous interested
individuals and institutions from the field of culture and other fields from all partner
cities that helped in creating ideas for the ECC. The concept outlined by Kibla is trying to
unite the artistic ideas and projects with the developmental needs and potentials of the
whole eastern cohesion region. The main principles of the concept can be summarized in
the following paragraphs:
``Cooperation of partner cities: the partnership is increasingly providing resources for the implementation
of the project (experts, infrastructure, finances, public assets) and enabling
easier realization of the important regional projects (investments, traffic infrastructure,
tapping into Structural Funds tenders and state’s funds). Furthermore, a partnership increases
the ambitions of the performers and expands the market of cultural goods for the
local cultural organizations even after 2012.
``The cultural project of the ECC as an opportunity for development of the cities of the eastern
Slovenia – especially for the development of cultural tourism (and all services related to
it), for new business challenges based on innovations and informational technology (design,
communication, etc.) as well as for the traffic sector etc. The ECC project represents
a development project for an area, which belongs (according to the Slovenian and European
standards) to the less developed eastern cohesion areas (the so called Eastern Slovenia).
An area, which is in the wake of the decay of industry still looking for new ways to
catch up with the more developed post-industrial European regions. A substantial part
of the project documentation was therefore oriented towards the existing Development
documentation and Development strategies on a local and national level for the area of
the “Eastern Slovenia” and the ECC project was adapted to those documents.
``Sustainability: the quality and dimension of the foreseen cultural production for 2012 is exceeding
the current needs of the population. Inclusion of the additional highly qualitative
cultural offer within the permanent cultural offer after 2012 calls for sustainable planning.
This refers to the development of cultural organizations and their infrastructure, the cultural
education of children and the permanent development of cultural tourism.

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``Use of available sources: through programme ideas, cultural projects and the best existing
programmes, by evaluating the current personnel and room capacities and through
planned investments into the cultural infrastructure of all partner cities, we have stressed
the capacities the city of Maribor and the partner cities have in order to implement the
project successfully.
``The leading idea: from the mass of ideas pertaining to almost every field of artistic and cultural
activities in the eastern part of Slovenia we identified only general programme ideas,
which would form a common leading idea of the project. The central theme of all included
ideas is the perception of artistic creation as an actual and symbolic social creative power,
which co-shapes the material development potentials of a society and its self-understanding;
culture impacts both, either indirectly via esthetical and moral values, co-created by
art, or directly as part of the market economy, when a market of cultural goods is created in
form of a so called “cultural or creative industry”. Such a perception of the function of artistic
creation and culture as a creative factor of social changes, in the case of our project also as
the leading element of the development revival of the broader Slovenian (European) region,
is summarized in the slogan “PURE ENERGY!”. The purpose of the chosen leading slogan
is not the establishment of another social naïve programme orientation, as was often the
case with engaged avant-garde art manifestoes. The idea behind the slogan demands from
every artistic field and every project included to the ECC to test its own social power and
to critically consider it. By doing so, the project as a whole and as a series of cultural events
tests one of the foundations of the European (western) civilization, which was, from antiquity
until today, able to keep the tension between the social-educational, state, ideological,
religious, economical, etc. function of the art on one side and its catharsic powers of every
individual on the other. This is also the basic spiritual “European dimension” of the project.
``IT-framework: for the past decade new communication technologies and media are not
only intensively reforming ways of public and private communication, but are also coshaping
the contents of the communication (speed, visualization, etc.), they change the
language – globalizing the meaning of different ideas – and create new virtual spaces in
the sphere of the aesthetics. Therefore, the project of the ECC will be based on different
levels of technical and new spiritual possibilities offered by new information-communication
technologies in the field of informing, direct transmission and inclusion into cultural
events as well as different, new creative tools and creative possibilities in a virtual space.
The project of ECC should raise questions regarding the creation and freedom in a cybernetic
world and a virtual society for art.
``Financial framework:
Programmes: an estimation of the financial means needed for preparation and implementation
of the programmes based on a record of expenses of individual programmes, was

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not possible define during the phase of candidature. The estimated sum of required financial
means is therefore based on experience of other cities, nominees for the title of ECC.
The total amount of required means for preparation, organization and implementation of
the programmes in Maribor and the partner cities was estimated at 57,423,000 EUR (for
Maribor 28,095,000 EUR). The documentation foresees the following financial sources:
``own sources (entry-fees, sponsors, etc.): 6,250,000 EUR
``budgets of Maribor and partner cities: 23,473,000 EUR
``state funds and European tenders: 262,000,000 EUR
``Melina Mercouri prize: 1,500,000 EUR
The costs of investments into cultural infrastructure were estimated based on the available
data (December 2006). The planned investments and those already in progress are mostly
composed of investments that were planned for Maribor and partner cities regardless of
the ECC candidature but in regard to the project their implementation was accelerated.
Estimated values:
``Maribor: 79,967,000 EUR
``Other cities: 63,041,000 EUR
The cost estimate of other investments was based on programme and development documents
of local communities and the state and on statements of purpose of individual economic
operators (traffic infrastructure, accommodation and catering capacities, energy,
services, etc.). These investments are not a direct part of the ECC project, also, project
quality and mutual development effects depend on other development projects.
2.5 Approval of the Concept
A summary of the extensive programme and development documentation for candidature
at the state’s tender was reviewed and approved by the MO Maribor City Council on 17 th
February 2007. At the same time the City Council adopted the Municipality of Maribor Culture
Development Programme for the period 2007 to 2011, where the main goals of the ECC
project are included into the Maribor Culture Development Plan.
2.6 Results of the state tender
The international commission appointed by the minister for culture, Dr. Vasko Simoniti, reviewed
the candidatures of four Slovenian cities, which applied for the nomination (Ljubljana,
Koper, Celje and Maribor with partner cities). The commission decided that from among
the applicants Maribor’s programme was the most complex and therefore selected it as the
Slovene nominee. The culture minister then proposed Maribor as the Slovene ECC candidate
to the Government of the Republic of Slovenia, which issued a decree on 31 st May

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2007 (123 rd meeting of the Government of the Republic of Slovenia) confirming Maribor and
partner cities as the nominee.
2.7 Preparation of Candidature for the European Commission
This kicked off the second phase of the candidature, when the Slovene nomination was reviewed
by EU bodies. The documentation for the EU evaluation commission was prepared
by KID Kibla as well and was based on the concept and materials that were developed for
the Slovene national candidature. In the period up to late autumn 2007 a series of harmonization
meetings with the Ministry for Culture took place, as the ministry did not want the
documentation to clearly state how high the financial expectations of the project toward the
state were. After harmonizing the application documentation the Ministry for Culture forwarded
it for review to the Government of the Republic of Slovenia, which confirmed it with
a decree on 20 th December 2007 (151 st meeting) and the Ministry of Culture could finally
forward the documentation to Brussels.
2.8 Candidature under review by the EU
Project documentation that Maribor and partner cities applied with in Brussels stayed predominately
identical to the one that was prepared for the national tender, however, more
emphasis was put on the “European dimension” of the project and less on the development
dimension of the whole project concept. Additional explanations of the projects were added,
which were required by a special application questionnaire. A short film on Maribor and the
partner cities was produced for the presenting the project to the decision panel in Brussels
and the presentation book PURE ENERGY! was published in English.
2.9 First presentation of the project in front of the decision panel
The presentation took place on 23 rd April 2008 in front of the decision panel, which was
appointed by the European Parliament (two members), European Commission (two members),
European Council (two members) and the Committee of Regions (one member). At
the presentation and later from the preliminary report of the decision panel it was evident
that commission members were expecting a different type of documentation. The candidatures
of Guimarães and Maribor for 2012 were the first two reviewed by the decision panel,
which was appointed only a short time before that, and later on the commission dealt with
candidatures for year 2013 and onwards. Up to and including for the year 2012 the candidature
procedure was governed by the selection rules and criteria from Decision 1419/1999/EC
of the European Parliament and of the Council. The Slovene tender and selection were also
organized based on these rules. However, in October 2006 (after the selection procedure in
Slovenia had already started) the decision 1622/206/EC of the European Parliament and of
the Council changed the selection procedure and evaluation criteria. The new rules apply
to candidates for 2013 and onwards and for 2012 only if the candidates explicitly request so.

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There are many differences between the two procedures (e.g. multi-phase evaluation of candidate
cities), however, the content-related differences are less noticeable. The previous approach,
which was used in the Maribor and Guimarães candidatures, strongly emphasized
the project’s development component in addition to the European dimension and required
no implementation programmes during the candidature phase. Maribor (and Guimarães)
presented its capabilities, a regionally oriented development concept and a broad selection
of possible programmes. Both candidates were then asked by the decision panel to provide
modifications to their projects with a more concrete programme design and a focus on a few
core programme contents and were instructed to observe the criteria for the period 2013 and
onwards. The final evaluation of the Guimarães and Maribor projects was postponed to the
date of next presentation, when the modifications will have been made. Such approach is in
accordance with the phase procedure foreseen for the period after 2012, but for both cities
such decision of the decision panel caused numerous problems and uncertainties regarding
further steps in preparation of the project. The official nomination was rescheduled to
2009, which in turn postponed serious talks and agreements with the Government of the
Republic of Slovenia and the Ministry for Culture on the financial framework of the project
(which are actually only starting now with the new government); furthermore, that postponed
the founding of a professional organization for preparation and implementation of
the project with the named programme directors, who would in 2008 and 2009 during the
normal course of preparations design concrete event programmes for 2012.
2.10 Appointing a Temporary Secretariat for the European Cultural
Capital 2012 project
After the first project presentation in Brussels the mayor of Maribor invited the mayor of
Guimarães to a conference and appointed a Temporary Secretariat. The Temporary Secretariat
is a consulting and working body whose task is to take care of the required modifications
of candidature documents and pave the road for establishing a special operational organisation
for implementation of the project. In this regard the Temporary Secretariat is continuing
the work done by Kibla, whose contract had expired, as it was not foreseen that a private
cultural organization, who is also a potential candidate for implementation of individual
cultural programmes in the ECC 2012 project, would directly prepare concrete framework
for a subsequent search for contractors. The Secretariat is composed of:
``Chairman: Vladimir Rukavina (Narodni dom Maribor, director)
``Secretary: Srđan Trifunović (Magdalena – Association for Visual Communications,
advisor)
``Members:
``Andrej Verlič (Municipality of Maribor, vice-mayor)
``Peter Tomaž Dobrila (KID Kibla, advisor and founder)

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``Daniel Sajko (Municipality of Maribor, head of the sector for culture)
``Gordana Kolesarič (Municipality of Maribor, EU tenders)
``Danilo Rošker (Slovene National Theatre, director)
``Dr. Suzana Žilič Fišer (University of Maribor, media communications)
``Stojan Skalicky (University of Maribor, city architect)
``Marinka Jerman Jelek (Narodni dom, accounting)
``David Braun (Amis, law)
``Brigita Pavlič (Narodni dom, head of the Concert Office and Festival Maribor)
``Simon Tekavec (Municipality of Maribor, urbanism)
``Emanuel Čerček (Municipality of Maribor, investments)
2.11 The second presentation of the project
At the end of July 2008 Sir Robert Scott, the chairman of the decision panel, responded to
the invitation of our mayor and visited Maribor, where he carefully reviewed the project
documentation with the members of the Temporary Secretariat, explained the positions of
the decision panel and gave a series of useful advices for modification of the project. A
smaller task group within the Temporary Secretariat then prepared the modifications to the
application documents in all points underlined by the decision panel in its discussions and
the preliminary report. Additionally, the task group selected from among the numerous
programme ideas in the preliminary documentation a series of programme blocks with an
exceptional European dimension, which were used as a base for 16 programme units and
remodelled into flagship projects for ECC 2012. When designing these 16 programme units
the task group observed the following guidelines:
``introduction and integration of the best programme ideas by partner cities;
``design of broader and multi-level programme entities with attractive titles, which represent
the guiding idea for concrete programmes – events in an individual block. This way
each of the 16 blocks is open to a series of different events and contractors within each
block;
``establishment of networking in Slovenia and abroad in regard to organization and carrying
out of events;
``during planning of the required resources a part of resources was held back for programme
blocks that have not been developed yet (for cultural aspects, which have not
been covered yet, e.g. cultural heritage, urban projects etc.).
A part of the Temporary Secretariat also travelled to Guimarães and with the Portuguese
city – the co-holder of the ECC 2012 nomination – agreed on a joint cultural project entitled
The Mast of Europe, which was presented among the 16 programme blocks. The modifications
to the application documentation, which were forwarded to Brussels on 30 th October,
retained the concept of the initial candidature; despite the decision panel’s doubts they retained
the integration of partner cities in the Eastern Cohesion Region (but Maribor’s role
was more strongly emphasized), project networking with modern IT technologies, and the
planned financial framework for preparation and implementation of the programmes. Development
orientations of the project in connection to the economy as well as the investment
purposes remained the same and were not especially emphasized in the project presentation.

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2.12 Final presentation and evaluation of the project
on 5 th November 2008 in Brussels
At the second presentation of the project on 5 th November 2008 the decision panel was highly
impressed with presentations by both Guimarães and Maribor. The evaluation committee
also suggested that priorities be set within the 16 programme blocks and that Maribor
should integrate individual elements (e.g. marketing) of both major city projects – ECC 2012
and Winter Universiade 2013. On 26 th November 2008 the decision panel’s written report
was sent by the competent office of the European Commission to Maribor and Guimarães,
the European Parliament, the European Commission, Council of the EU and Committee of
Regions.
2.13 Further procedures leading up to the nomination
The report of the decision panel with the proposal to confirm the nomination should be
reviewed by the European Parliament by the end of February 2009, who will then forward
its position statement to the European Commission; the Commission will then add its own
opinion and forward it to the Council, who will issue a decision confirming the nomination.
As the rules (1622/2006/EC) dictate that the proposal of the decision panel is to be observed
and taken into account, the rest is merely a formal procedure, which should be finished in
May 2009 at the Council meeting (at the meeting of culture ministers of EU member states).
ESTIMATED POSITIVE EFFECTS OF THE PROJECT
``sustainable development of the region (new jobs, long-term urbanistic development
of cities and the countryside, higher economic growth, better competitiveness of the region,
creative use of modern information and communication technologies, renewable sources of
energy and environment-friendly management)
``interregional and polycentric management (integration within the region and outwards,
cross-border and international cooperation and integration)
``strengthening of local identities (self-confidence of the population, accessibility of cultural
goods for the local population, development of local creative talent, cooperation among
political operators, establishment of an information society)
``promotion of the European cultural cooperation, international recognisability of Maribor,
the partner cities, regions, the eastern cohesion region and Slovenia
``restoration of the cultural and industrial heritage and ensuring of sustainable contents
``upgrading the existing and developing new touristic, recreation and traffic infrastructure
``digitalization of culture (networking and presentation of virtualized contents)
``promoting intercultural dialogue (ethnic minorities, religious communities, the Slovene
cultural area)
``cooperation between the non-profit and the economic sector (public-private partnership,
development of the public and the non-governmental sector)
``establishment of undersubscribed educational programmes and institutions
``integration of all social groups, especially the vulnerable ones (elderly, children, youth,
disabled, rural population, unemployed, homeless)

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3. PROGRAMME BLOCKS OF THE
PROJECT MARIBOR – EUROPEAN
CULTURAL CAPITAL 2012
The current selection of 16 programme blocks does not yet cover all planned cultural fields
(e.g.: we still have to find an appropriate programme pool for museum and other activities
in the field of cultural heritage, also, the block covering the activities and programmes from
the field of architecture and urbanism has not been added yet). In design of programme
blocks described below the task group of the Temporary Secretariat especially observed the
criteria that were important to the evaluation commission in Brussels:
``European wealth in cultural differences and specifics, which are especially emphasized:
``through quality international cultural festivals in Maribor and the partner cities;
``through programmes that promote intercultural symbiosis (ethnic and other minorities
(Roma, Hungarians, Croats, Serbs, Albanians, Macedonians, Bosnians, etc.));
``through programmes based on cultural cooperation across the language barriers (crossborder,
international, trans-European cooperation);
``through programmes with the emphasis on the global culture of peace (Slovenj Gradec,
which since 1989 carries the honorary title UN World Peace Herald);
``through intense cultural cooperation with the western Balkans and other states who are
not EU members;
``in cooperation with Portugal, with the city of Guimarães and twin cities.
``Interesting programmes for the demanding as well as for the broader European public,
which have to fulfil several conditions:
``they have to be attractive (quality, “star” programmes, etc.)
``they have to enable an efficient marketing approach;
``they should enable the development of specific tourist products as well as their promotion
and integration into a joint programme offer with other cultural and touristic
programmes;
``they have to address questions relevant to the organization of expert meetings with invited
important European culture representatives and experts for specific fields of art.
The potential for such approach is represented by the cultural and natural attributes of
Maribor and its partner cities, which the European tourists (especially tourists from larger
European centres) will experience as a novelty and something special. These are the circumstances
the enable “boutique tourism” based on small size and diversity: untouched
nature, accessible prices of cultural goods (annual festivals, castle events, art events, etc.),
geographic position and transit connections enable quick access from larger central European
centres (Vienna, Budapest, Zagreb, Trieste, Venice, etc.), a rich culinary and oenological
offer, etc.
``Observation and integration of best programme ideas by partner cities
Partner cities were called upon to provide a selection of projects and programme ideas
that will be included into the programme selection. All partner cities responded and their
programmes were included in individual programme blocks. Due to the problems of a
“regional” approach to the candidature (at the first presentation to the evaluation commission)
the programme ideas of partner cities are now no longer presented as individual
city projects by e.g. Ptuj, Velenje, etc., but are integrated into the whole concept. This way
the projects win in scope: they expand from local cultural events to events covering the
complete partnership network.
``Integration of citizens and social groups
One of the important starting points for preparation of programmes was the tendency
to directly integrate of citizens from the local area where the events are to take place,

17
whether it is integration into preparation and organization of the events, into the creative
process itself or integration into the public. The same goes for processes of integrating
marginal and vulnerable social groups into the ECC project.
GOALS (for Maribor and partner cities)
``30 restored objects under monument protection
``7 new buildings for cultural and culture-related use
``7 new residence centres for artists
``5 new creative industry centres
``1 new museum
``3 new art and mobile cultural heritage networks
``1 new European network of multimedia centres
``58 new programmes from the field of cultural heritage, archaeology, art, AV,
film and education
``90 international coproduction projects for ECC 2012
``8 new cultural and touristic treks
``1 digital integrated information product
``10 new social integration projects
``2 new multicultural symbiosis projects
``1 new international project from the field of global culture of peace
``3 new projects related to Natura 2000
``13 investments into transport infrastructure
``31 other investments (tourism, recreation, education)
``Sustainable development aspect
The question of sustainable orientation of the ECC project and individual programme
blocks touches several dimensions: the cultural events have an important effect on the attitudes
of the society and individuals toward the natural environment (critical awareness
building, self-reflection); this content is thematically emphasized in some programme
blocks. For those preparing the materials the sustainable aspect of investments in cultural
programmes and cultural infrastructure was equally important: rich investments make
sense only if the majority of the cultural goods offered in 2012 will actually become part
of the environment’s cultural requirements. The infrastructure that is to be established
(material-technical, personnel, organizational) should even after 2012 to a large extent
create cultural goods for the local area as well as for the by then better developed culturaltouristic
market.

18
The planned ECC programmes represent a substantial growth of size and quality of production
in Maribor and the partner cities; therefore cultural workers and the public have
great expectations regarding them. The proposed programmes represent content-related
starting points for cooperation of cultural institutions (societies, youth culture organisations,
libraries, museums, publishing houses, theatres, etc.) whose ideas and proposals will
complement, upgrade and enrich the planned programme blocks. The programmes have
multi-layered titles, which are interesting for authors as well as for the public and which
leave a lot of room for ideas and suggestions by cultural professionals in Maribor, partner
cities and in the whole of Slovenia.
Cultural events in Maribor and the partner cities in 2012 will not “drain” all cultural programmes,
which would otherwise take place in the cities. However, an increase of quality
of the “regular” cultural production (the existing theatre programmes, symphonic and
chamber cycles, comedies, youth culture, festivals, museum and gallery programmes, society
programmes, etc.) is expected. A part of these programmes will be integrated into the
ECC programme blocks.
The programme structure of individual programme blocks will be left to the professional
team of the new organization for ECC implementation. The same goes for the final scope
of the programmes, which will to a large extent depend on guaranteed financial sources
and marketing success in acquisition of own resources. The final selection of cultural programme
contractors will as a rule (except for author-based programme blocks) be carried
out through domestic and international competitions and tenders and programme selectors.
The following programme highlights were presented to the selection panel in Brussels on
5 th of November 2008:

19
3.1 ČISTA ENERGIJA!/PURE ENERGY!
The slogan »Pure energy!« is used to designate the projects/events organised in 2012 with
a particular emphasis on various aspects of the social effects of art. The following series of
cultural events will tackle the social power/helplessness of art:
``Forma EViva: cultivation of public spaces with artistic sculptures – organization of a call
for applications on the European level and an international – European creative sculpture
symposium with participants from all 27 EU member states, during which artistic sculptures
will be created from tonalite (Pohorje granite) and put on display in public spaces
around Maribor. The exhibition of each of the 27 granite sculptures will be accompanied
by a special cultural event presenting the author's cultural environment.
``Forma EVocativa: international festival of design in public communication, based on the
existing Magdalena festival of visual communication.
``Forma Eloquentia: international rhetoric festival and accompanying events dedicated to
the quality of live speech. A festival with international guests, experts, connoisseurs and
speech practitioners featuring public appearances as well as narration and public speech
competitions. The festival will be organized by the network of Maribor public libraries
and the Velenje library. The network of Maribor libraries features 19 libraries.
``Forma Educativa: animating children and youth for cultural creativity and integration into
cultural activity through various approaches: through creative cultural workshops, youthoriented
cultural events (guided tours, explanations, gradual integration into events...),
through offering particular child and youth seasonal tickets, and through special types of
stimulating cultural activities (quizzes, social gatherings, clubs...). The educational programmes
will be organized in all public cultural institutions. Some programmes have
already been carried out (museum workshops), some are commencing with the current
school year. The project will be fully active by 2011.
3.2 Musica noster amor
The title of a madrigal by Iacobus Gallus Carniolus is used to designate the series of events
dedicated to classical music. Key events in 2012 include:
``Special original project – music stage concert (vocal music) (Karmina Šilec and Carmina Slovenica
choir)
``Special original project – music stage performance (opera) (Tomaž Pandur, Pandur.Theatres
and SNG Maribor Opera and Ballet)
``Special original project – music stage choreography (ballet) (Edward Clug, SNG Maribor Opera
and Ballet)
The following headline events in classical music are planned:
``Hugo Wolf: Events dedicated to the composer Hugo Wolf (1860–1903, born in Slovenj
Gradec – secondary school student in Maribor): international musicology symposium,
international singing seminar and international “Hugo Wolf” competition in individual
lieder singing. Project events will be carried out in the composer's house of birth, which
will be renovated for this purpose and refurbished into a memorial museum and international
Hugo Wolf documentation centre (in cooperation with International association of
Hugo Wolf Societies).
``International Choral Competition Maribor 2012: The Maribor-based choral competitions at
national level – “Naša pesem”, and international level, organized alternately year by year
by the Republic of Slovenia Public Fund for Cultural Activities and the Municipality of

20
Maribor, originate from the rich tradition of Slovene choir singing. An international expert
jury chooses only the best of the applied choirs to participate in the competition. The
competition will last 3 days in April in the form of attractive public concerts of selected
choirs, closing with the award ceremony (grand prix, medals, certificates).
``International Young Opera Singers Competition “Ondina Otta”: In honor of the exceptional
SNG Maribor Opera House soprano singer Ondina Otta Klasinc (1924), the Opera and
Ballet division of Slovene National Theatre Maribor organizes a periodical International
Young Opera Singers Competition. The competitors are evaluated by an international
expert jury. The winners are granted a monetary prize, concert performance and the opportunity
to join the SNG Maribor Opera and Ballet. In 2012 the SNG shall prepare a
competition featuring several rounds and an attractive final concert of award winners and
guest stars of international opera stages.
``Maribor Festival (special programme)
3.3 MARIBOR FESTIVAL
The festival is based on extensive experience of more than 40-years of organizing classical
music festivals. It includes an own festival production with programmes and groups composed
specifically for the festival. Approximately 40 events, i.e. matinees, afternoon and
evening concerts at various venues in Maribor and the wider region. As regards the programme,
the festival in 2012 will be a result of gradual introduction of intercultural dialogue
and European ideas. This will be done in the sense of eliminating the "elitism" related to the
European tradition of classical music and of integrating mutual enhancement of various
music genres at the highest possible level of performance.
Musical styles will be varied, performed either on contemporary or traditional instruments
by chamber orchestras, symphonic orchestras or electro-acoustic orchestras. Integration of
visual and theatre arts with music. Principle programme premises for Maribor Festival 2012
are: residential orchestra 2012 (Australian Chamber Orchestra), resident composer, Interactive
music projects, youth musicians at the festival, festival for youth, accompanying events,
festival of benefit to the local community.
3.4 THE CROSSROADS OF WORLD CULTURES – SUMMER FESTIVAL LENT
A popular summer festival with a series of top quality, attractive cultural events with meetings
and cultural exchanges. The theme of the festival is worldwide cultural integration by
confronting and mirroring cultures of different continents:
``Europe – Mirroring Africa
``Europe – Mirroring Asia
``Europe – Mirroring America
``Europe – Mirroring Australia…
In 2012, the festival will be organized as a counterpoint of European creative expression to
the creative expressions of nations and cultures from other continents. The emphasis will be
on the variety and colourfulness of the presented cultures and on the best of the common
European creative tradition. The festival takes place in a number of venues in the city centre
with many simultaneous attractive events (parades, fireworks, competitions etc.), bringing
life to the old city centre and city parks. In comparison to the current festival, the events
will be less concentrated, but will be performed over a longer period of time; however, the
special festival atmosphere will stay the same.

21
3.5 ART & HERITAGE CARNIVAL
In the European environment, Ptuj is renowned as an area where the greatest number of
traditional carnival figures and groups has been preserved up to now. The heritage of traditional
carnival masks has, since 1960, been presented each year at the Kurentovanje carnival
in Ptuj, which is the largest organized Mardi Grass carnival in this part of Europe. The new
programmes to be included in the ECC 2012 international programme shall comprise the
Art & Heritage Carnival, which will emphasise the wealth of immaterial European cultural
heritage and include a number of cultural events representing the artistic comprehensions
and interpretations of the mask and the masking culture. The basic project concept comprises
the following programme sections: art and design workshops dedicated to the contemporary
understanding of mask and masking culture; organization of art events on the
streets and markets, at the countryside, on the riverbanks and in woods surrounding the
Drava River, on the Ptuj lake; organization of art, design and heritage exhibitions; carnival
with several accompanying events.
3.6 SATURDAY HARMONY
Murska Sobota – one of Maribor partner cities in the project ECC 2012 – represents the
centre of an area that is considered exemplary in cultural co-existence of nationally and
religiously mixed population.
The "Saturday Harmony" project comprises Saturday cultural events organised and implemented
throughout the year, predominantly dedicated to intercultural coexistence:
``International gatherings of amateur cultural creators and groups.
``The culture of minorities and ethnic groups,
``Intergenerational tolerance and reciprocity,
``Meetings of cultures of various religious communities.
A series of cultural events displaying amateur artistic creativity, artist gatherings (concerts
of amateur choirs and music bands, exhibitions, literary events, clubs etc.), in which similar
organisations from Europe integrate and present themselves.
3.7. MUSES OF SOCIALISM
Socialism was a political doctrine during which Maribor experienced its developmental and
industrial peak. Both the positive and the negative energies, deriving from that time are
the subjects that we aim to address and present in the project of making of the Museum of
socialism. However, this museum will not serve as a witness of revolutionary achievements
or the hurts and wounds of the expropriated, it will be a place of reviving and reliving
the highest cultural and artistic achievements of that era, born either from the enthusiastic
struggles for the utopian dawns of future or from dire straits of individuals, being pushed
against the wall when opposing the common interest and power. The museum will speak of
the muses of socialism.
The opening of the Museum of Socialism in 2012 will be realised through international exhibitions
and cultural events with the following lead topics:
``European avant-garde: revolutionary art - revolutions in art
``Ideology and art
``Socialism as an artistic process
``Myths of the past, present and future (Myth as Thread – Myth as Threat) etc.

22
3.8 GLASS BALL
Based on the experience and reference related to the Ecology and Art international triennial
organised by the Maribor Art Gallery (7 th triennial in 2007), a large-scale international exhibition
on human/artistic relationship towards nature will be organised in 2012 with invited
artists. It will be organised within the cooperation of ECC city galleries and the Culture City
Network. The theme will also accentuate worldwide cultural integration and dialogue of
European cultures to other world cultures by confronting and mirroring cultures of different
continents through various selections of arts from different continents made by invited
curators.
3.9 ECOC 2012 – OPEN SOURCE OF EUROPE
A series of cultural events (such as stage acts, intermedia events etc.) addressing the connections
of science and art will take place in Maribor, Slovenj Gradec and other partner cities in
Slovenia and other EU countries.
``Conceptual boundaries of science, rational paradigms of artistic utopias, aesthetic and
artistic relativization of the logos
``Scientific-technological apparatus and technology as a medium of artistic expression
``Art as a new language of science on the edge of the ineffable
``Special conceptual approaches in modern visual techniques (under subtitle: Bio-nanotrans-tech:
Art of Cloning) etc.
The initial event and the central theme of the above-mentioned series of cultural events is
the Noordung intermedia project, inspired by the spirit of Herman Potočnik Noordung, a
pioneer in the field of technology of space travel. The closing event will be the exhibition
“Open Source Art”; artistic integration of science and art, art that derives from integrating
both ways of creative activity or is based on scientific technology.
3.10 ARS VirDiCo
The ARS VirDiCo project (Virtuality-digitalisation-Communication) studies digitalization,
production of virtual environments and new forms of communication in the field of artistic
creation and presents the most successful, most innovative European art production made
by using contemporary technologies. One of the goals of the project is to popularize the best
creations in Ars VirDiCo and to bridge the gap/divide between the traditionally-oriented
cultural audience and the new artistic expression in the new technological environment.

23
The execution of the project will start in 2010 and continue in 2011 with international calls
for applications and cooperation in different forms of creation and presentation of artworks,
created by and existing in forms, enabled and sustained by contemporary IC technology. In
2012, Ars VirDiCo will be implemented as a creative workshop in Maribor between April
and September, a simultaneous international creative workshop in the World Wide Web, a
European festival of computer art and an international festival of creative communication.
The results of web workshops will be presented as cultural events in both real life and online.
3.11 EuGENIUS LOCI
Already established forms of residential art centres will be developed into more useful,
more productive forms of international all-European exchanges. The EuGenius Loci project
will host an all-year-round exchange of artists (individuals as well as groups), holders of
specific creative atmosphere and contents from former and future European capitals of culture.
The aim is to create places of "European creative atmosphere" by renovating and revitalizing
the medieval city centre of Maribor (living spaces, studios, exhibition venues, "art
corners") where young European artists and creators will meet and confront.
The programme is structured on three levels:
``Urbanism: international challenge for young architects to renovate and fix houses, living
spaces, studios... (residential centres); expert meetings
``A challenge, selection and execution of student grant programmes for hosting artists from
cities of ECC.
``Art Big Brother: monitoring creative processes (in connection with Ars VirDiCo project)
and presentation of creative results as independent cultural events (exhibitions, concert
tours...).
3.12 ARS NON-VIOLENS
The Festival of the culture of peace and non-violence will be a simultaneous intermedia
cultural event implemented in ECC and IAOMC (International Association of Peace Messenger
Cities) cities network. The event derives from the original idea by the multimedia
artist Tadej Pogačar, his P.A.R.A.S.I.T.E. Museum of Art and his partners.
The project to be included in the European Capital of Culture programme is based on the
well-established traditional Peace festival as organized each year in Slovenj Gradec old city

24
core at the occasion of the UN day (24 th October). Following several years of preparation,
the basic concept will have been updated into a widely designed project in cooperation with
renowned European intermedia artists. The project shall integrate European (maybe even
global) Peace Messenger Cities (IAPMC) into a unified network promoting the culture of
peace and non-violence. The festival shall culminate in the simultaneous coordinated cultural
event happening at public venues in all the participating cities.
3.13 THE MAST OF EUROPE
The project “The Mast of Europe” could be described as a travelling multidisciplinary promotional
project. The project represents the connection between the two European capitals
of culture in 2012 - Maribor in Slovenia and the Portuguese Guimarães. A bus of artists will
be travelling from Maribor to Guimarães and one the other way. On their route, they will
be stopping in different European cities, meeting local artists and exchanging knowledge,
skills, experience and ways of working. The caravan will carry along the Mast of Europe
- a wooden trunk, a maypole that will be raised and additionally decorated at each stop.
The event will be accompanied by an exhibition, performance, concert and video screening
which makes it interesting and appealing to wider public. The idea for the project comes
from a Slovene tradition of raising the maypole on special occasions (traditionally at the
spring solstice, as a symbol of fertility, at weddings etc. in Slovenia and in Guimarães, where
there is also a massively participated community tradition that makes use of a wood trunk.
Thousands of people play drums in the street while the trunk is placed close to the main
church after a city parade). In this case, the maypole will be specially designed as a statue
and complemented with various, contents, including multimedia.
Halfway through the journey, both buses will meet and create the midpoint of the route
(probably some place near Marseilles in France) and a joint presentation event. At the end of
the journey, the masts will be raised in both cities.
The Mast of Europe project connects both cultural capitals of 2012 and at the same time
presents and promotes both cities on European scale and especially in the other cultural
capital. A book, newspaper diaries and an exhibition will show the results of a road journey
between Guimarães and Maribor (and vice versa). Portuguese and Slovene writers and photographers
will be invited to map the route between the two cities, travelling through other
small and average-sized cities on the way (Leon, Burgos, San Sebastian, Pamplona, Pau,
Carcassonne, Torino, Nimes, Toulouse, Millau, Orange, Saint-Etienne, Chambery, Annecy,
Brescia, Verona, Venice, Trieste, Ljubljana, Gyor, etc.)
3.14 EUPIPPI L.
Pippi Longstocking has outgrown the Swedish children story to become a European (and
World) synonym for liveliness, curiosity and creativity of children. The project using Pippi
Longstocking as a connecting symbol is based on existing children and youth cultural
activities in Maribor and partner cities – especially in Velenje (e.g. "Pippi Festival" – the
town of Velenje, "Summer Puppet Haven" –international festival of puppet plays – Puppet
Theatre Maribor, "Days of Curiosity" – a fair of information on interesting professions – KI-
BLA). Based on their development until 2012, these activities will become organizationally
integrated European events featuring entertaining and educational programmes for children
at various settings in Maribor, Velenje, partner cities and ECC cities: Children’s ethno
concerts, Illustration exhibitions featuring the most popular children illustrators from EU
countries, Children and youth musical (new productions and tours), Implementation of
creative music workshops for children (organized by an integration of Middle-European

25
regional radio and TV stations), International summer festival of puppet plays (organized
by the Maribor Puppet Theatre), International competition of liars – storytellers – narrators
(organized by the library network of Maribor library and Velenje library), "Days of curiosity"
– a fair of professions: entertaining presentation of typical European creative professions.
3.15 MAN WITH BOMBS
The title of this project dedicated to European theatre avant-garde is taken from the expressionist
poetry collection by the avant-garde artist Anton Podbevšek (1898 – 1981). Drama
theatre holds a special position in the Slovene cultural space as it helped shape the Slovene
cultural and national history. Numerous professional theatres organize or participate in a
number of theatre festivals (national competition of drama theatres at the Borštnik gathering
festival each autumn in Maribor, comedy festival, Ex ponto festival of contemporary theatre
creativity etc.). The history of Slovene drama theatre was largely influenced by the literary
avant-garde of the first half of 20 th century. This tradition is maintained by the youngest
Slovene professional theatre Anton Podbevšek Theatre from Novo mesto. In 2012 this theatre
in cooperation with SNG Maribor Drama theatre and other Slovene theatres will organize
a series of performances by European avant-garde theatres, hosting the most notable
European drama ensembles as well as the best Slovene theatrical productions.
3.16 DREAMING THE FUTURE
At the equinox, a visual scenic installation intertwining different combinations of artistic
expressions such as movie, theatre, dance, music, intermedia creations of sound and special
effects will be performed on both banks and at the surface of the Drava River. The chosen
venue on a symbolical level represents the flow of historical events through the centuries.

26
This multimedia spectacle will tell the story of the Marpurgs - the Jews of Maribor. The
performance will be based on motives from two books by Zlata Volkač, The Marpurgs and
The Book of Shadows presenting the medieval history of Maribor, which used to be a city
of tolerance and coexistence of different cultures, a place of meeting for the fugitives and
obstinate, free-spirited people between Prague, Vienna, Budapest and Venice. The turning
point with the exile of Jews from Styria (1496) brings out the classical European romantic
theme "artist - eternal pilgrim". In search and creation of places of coexistence in diversity,
the spectacle will be structured as a hymn of spiritual freedom and independence in different
trials throughout history and up to modern times. By combining the long-past events
and contemporary situations, the project promotes the idea of human-friendly progress and
development in spaces that nurture coexistence of different cultures, thoughts, religions etc.
Technological innovation of the performance: a sunken stage, projections on water curtains...
The set-up of the scenic technology will enable presentations of similar multimedia projects
by different European artists during the summer festival Lent.
3.17 Upgrading of the leading cultural programmes
The described 16 projects are covering almost all areas of art and culture, however, not all
of them. During the preparation of the documentation for the second phase of the candidature
in front of the selection panel in Brussels some programmes and projects were either
not fully developed yet or it was not possible to confirm the attractive ideas regarding the
possibilities of a realization. Therefore, a special attention is needed at least with projects
related to the mobile and stationary cultural heritage as well as the spatial planning and
architecture. Furthermore, there is a possibility that another, new project will be developed.
Therefore the planned financial structure within the operative costs foresees a part of financial
means reserved for programmes, which are not defined yet.
Development of projects related to spatial planning and architecture could be an example.
The strategic and spatial studies emerging from the framework of the new “spatial
regulations” are long-term plans for the period even after 2012; however, part of the spatial
solutions can be implemented by 2012, either as an infrastructural frame for the cultural

27
events (developing of spatial environment, venues, residential areas, traffic, etc.) or as a series
of special cultural and accompanying events (e.g. public competitions and exhibitions,
room installations etc.). The decision on inclusion of additional programme proposals will
be made based on the realistic realization possibilities, mentioned “European” criteria, the
elements of sustainability and the compatibility with the other cultural programmes.
SUSTAINABILITY
``higher employment rate and more possibilities for employment in the field of culture,
tourism and education
``better accessibility (largely frequented) of the cultural goods and participation of the
civil society
``residentially friendlier appearance, function and service in the regional urban centres
``high digital literacy, internet accessibility and an economy based on services
``preservation and development of the cultural and natural landscape
``preservation of the tourism turnover based on a higher regional identity
``connecting the cultural, ecological, wellness and recreation tourism
``connecting the business (congress) tourism with culture
``sustainable mobility and improved public transport infrastructure
``international embedment of the institutions and individuals (e.g. the European Network
of residential centres)
``operating of the new cultural institutions and programmes
``operating of the new educational institutions
``operating of the new centres for creative industry
``operating of a new museum programme
` ` operating of new institutions and programmes from the field of work of social
involvement, multicultural coexistence and the global culture of peace

28 4. CURRENT TASKS
OF THE PROJECT PREPARATION
4.1 Development of cultural projects and the economy
Based on forecasts of economic and other development trends it is expected that in 2009 and
at least in the year after that the economic growth rates will decrease, whereas a longer era
of economic recession is also possible. Under those circumstances fierce conditions regarding
the public income and expenditure, a rationalization of the public service operation,
demands for lowering of the public standards and a strict judgment of the public financing
priorities – related to the programmes and investments - are foreseen.
What do such circumstances mean for the preparation and implementation of the project of
the European Capital of Culture Can the high investments costs of the project be justified
Can Maribor, the partner cities and the state “afford” a project of such dimensions
In the project description with the 16 programme components prepared by the Temporary
Secretariat and presented in Brussels, only those projects were brought to the front, which
were fulfilling the criteria set by the selection panel in Brussels. However, in the complete
project outline (presented for the candidature in Slovenia) it is obvious that the project is foreseen
as a broad development project for a less developed part of Slovenia, which should by
means of culture and through international cultural visibility enable development possibilities
for the economy. The project outlines especially highlight the development of a cultural
tourism (creation of new touristic products, efficient marketing and trade mark recognisability,
construction of a touristic and cultural-touristic infrastructure). This part of the development
effects is the most concrete and obvious one. A lot of people share the opinion that
numerous indirect social effects of investing into culture (higher positioning of the cultural
values, e.g. attitude towards the cultural and natural heritage, attitude towards the language,
recognizing and understanding of the social values such as tolerance and solidarity, high
evaluation of the creativeness and innovation, better social integration and a general satisfaction,
appurtenance, etc.) are of a greater importance in the long-term than the direct economic
effects. However, the so called “soft” effects of the cultural creation can stay unrealized if
no simultaneous development of the economic-social key elements takes place.
After the process of the candidature, when Maribor and the partner cities “convinced” the
decision panel regarding the programmes, the next step needs to be taken: elaboration of the
operating plan for the project implementation. The economic subjects and their associations
as well as state authorities will be invited to participate in the preparation of the mentioned
plan. During the preparation of the candidature period numerous economic organizations
(especially from the field of tourism) have expressed their wish to participate, to integrate
their business interests and investments plans into the cultural-touristic infrastructure. At
this stage, it is necessary to concretize and reconcile those interests and possibilities within
this project. The ECC project is based on the conviction that culture has a social power and
an immense social development potential. Now is the time to prove this thesis by creating
new workplaces in the private and public sectors, by anticipating the incomes of the tourism
and their indirect effects and by preparing concrete development projects, which will be
able to successfully participate in EU’s tenders intended to support the development of the
less developed areas. In this regard the most important criterion and question to be asked
while developing further cultural programmes is the question of sustainability; in addition
to the cultural effects can it also bring long-term positive development effects for the environment
(even long after 2012) A concept defined in this way will reduce the possibility of
a project used only as an expensive and prestigious tool for promotion of Maribor and the
partner cities, furthermore, it will enable the business and the sustainable development effects
to be measured.

29
In conclusion; with an appropriate organization, preparation and implementation of the
project, the title of the European Capital of Culture can be one of the important elements
of the contributions to the development, which will help the whole cohesion region of the
Eastern Slovenia to overcome the financial crisis and contribute to the development of the
region.
4.2 Establishment of an appropriate organization for the preparation
and management of the project
Only a highly qualified, motivated expert team can meet the challenges of demanding
tasks, which should be performed in the following months. The organization should enable:
``transparency and responsibility of the decision making regarding the public financial
means and a successful funding strategies
``coordination between the partner cities
``coordination between the cultural projects and the economy
``comprehensive marketing
``invitations to tenders and selection of individual cultural projects and events
``monitoring the tenders and participation in tenders on state and European level (supporting
the cultural organizations in participating in the tenders)
``planning and network organization of the project, coordination of supporting and additional
systems needed for the implementation of the project
``coordination of the preparation and the realization of the cultural events
``personnel planning for the preparation and implementation of the project as well as for
the functioning of the systems after 2012, etc.

30
4.3 Short-term tasks of the temporary secretariat
The next steps to be taken are:
``by end of March 2009: coordination with the Ministry of Culture regarding the status of
the ECC organization, coordination with partner cities
``by end of March 2009: formation of project groups for preparation of programmes and
activities, which cannot wait until a new organization is established; proposal to the City
Council
``by end of April 2009: preparation of the constituent documents for the new organization
``by end of May 2009: the conciliated constituent documents for the organization of the
implementation of the ECC and a business plan framework of the new organization and
the ECC 2012 should be delivered to the City Council.
The required financial means for the performance of the mentioned tasks are included in the
draft amending budget for 2009 of the Municipality of Maribor.
Maribor and the partner cities of Murska Sobota, Novo mesto, Ptuj, Slovenj Gradec and Velenje
stand before one of the greatest development challenges in the history of Maribor and
the eastern part of Slovenia.

Candidate for the title
of the European
Capital of Culture 2012
ACTIVITIES AND PROGRAMME HIGHLIGHTS