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EU Report at closing ceremony

On the occasion  of the closing ceremony of Lisbon 94  - European city  of
culture,  held in  Lisbon  on the  17th  December in  the  presence of  the
President of  the  Republic  and  Mr.  Pinheiro,  Member  of  the  European
Commission   with   responsibility  for   cultural  affairs,   among  other
individuals,  a report  titled  "European Cities  of  Culture and  European
Cultural  Months" will  be  presented.  This  report, commissioned  by the
Network  of Cultural  Cities of  Europe with  the support  of  the European
Commission, refers  to 21 European  cities and evaluates the  achievements,
problems and impacts of the programme of the 10 cities which have already
held the title of European  City of Culture and 3 cities  which have hosted
European Cultural Months.  A  major research study on the  European Union's
programme  for  designating European  Cities  of  Culture and  Cities  with
Cultural Months has judged the scheme a success.

The annual  title of  European City  of Culture  was first  awarded by  the
Council of Ministers  of the European Community  to Athens in 1985.   Since
1990,  those  responsible for  organising  the  event  in  both former  and
forthcoming cities  have been meeting as the Network  of Cultural Cities of
Europe.

The research  study, undertaken by  Mr. John Myerscough,  took seven months
to complete,  and offers  a comparative  review  of the  experience of  all
participating  cities.   It  identifies the  successes of  the celebrations
that  took place and  draws together lessons that  have been  learned.  The
report  deals with  the organisation,  cost, sources  of  finance, artistic
programmes, media response, social impact and  economic significance of the
cultural years and months.

The  report  states that  the  City  of  Culture  programme  has  become  a
versatile  development  tool  of  cultural   policy  capable  of  achieving
multiple  objectives.   The  study  concludes  that  "the  decision of  the
Council of Ministers to reach out to selected  cities in the European Union
has produced  an energetic and  imaginative response  which reinforces  the
role of the cities as cultural entities".

Among the many facts  contained in the study, the research report indicates
that :

the net cost  of  the Cities  of  Culture   programme between  1985  and 1994 totalled ECU 210 million.

business sponsors  contributed  an  average  20  per cent  of  operating resources (Total sponsorship was valued at ECU 42 million).

total attendance for  the designated programme of the first  9  European  Cities of Culture was ECU 15 million.

tourism figures suggest a strong market response to the City of Culture, especially in foreign tourist markets.

  lasting impacts in the cultural field were evidenced in all cities.

In  welcoming the  report,  the Commissioner  for  Culture of  the European
Commission, Mr.  João de Deus  Pinheiro stated: "This  study contributes to
raising  awareness of the value and impact of culture on our societies.  It
reflects the multi-faceted opportunities offered by Europe today". 

The report,  titled  "European  Cities  of Culture  and  European  Cultural
Months" is available in two versions :  a  full study document published in
English  and  a   summary  document  published  in   English,  French   and
Portuguese.

Copies  of  both  documents  are  available  from  the European  Commission
(Department DGX),  Rue de la Loi 200, B-1049  BRUSSELS, Belgium, or Glasgow
City Council, Department  of Performing Arts, 229 George Street, GLASGOW G1
1QU, Scotland.

For further  information about the  study, contact  Robert Palmer,  Project
Director, Telephone Glasgow (41) 227 5429, Fax Glasgow (+41) 227 5533.

                                 N O T E S

1.   European Cities of Culture :

  1985   Athens               1993 Antwerp
  1986   Florence             1994 Lisbon
  1987   Amsterdam            1995 Luxembourg
  1988   Berlin (West)        1996 Copenhagen
  1989   Paris                1997 Thessaloniki
  1990   Glasgow              1998 Stockholm
  1991   Dublin               1999 Weimar
  1992   Madrid

2.   Cities with European Cultural Months :

  1992   Cracow               1995 Nicosia
  1993   Graz                 1996 St Petersburg
  1994   Budapest             1997  Ljubliana

3.   The study document  was presented  to the European  Commission by  the
Network  of Cultural Cities  as part  of the  closing ceremony  for Lisbon,
Cultural Capital of Europe 1994 held on Saturday 17 December 1994.

4.   The  study was  commissioned  by the  Network  of Cultural  Cities  of
Europe.  Research for  the study  was undertaken by  John Myerscough.   The
Project Director was Robert Palmer.

5.   The cost  of the study was  funded by the European  Commission and the
various  cities  that are  members  of the  Network of  Cultural  Cities of
Europe.

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LISBON 94 - EUROPEAN CITY OF CULTURE - Europa

europa.eu/rapid/press-release_IP-94-1218_en.htm?locale=en

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