The opening gong of the great spectacle of the European Capital of Culture (ECC) 2023 will sound in Timisoara today for the official opening that will take place in the presence of dozens of European Union and non-EU ambassadors, ministers of culture, Romanian and foreign cultural officials, according to Agerpres.

Timisoara Mayor Dominic Fritz told the opening of an international news conference on Friday morning that Timisoara is expecting between 500,000 and 1,000,000 people in 2023.

He added that „Timisoara, with its history of diversity, innovation and courage is an example for Europe, and through culture and arts we can tell its story and thus bring a new focus on the role of this region of Eastern Europe, of Romania in this wonderful design that Europe is.”

The mayor of the European Capital of Culture 2023 reviewed the city’s progress from 2015-2016, when he expressed his intention to win the title, and said that the ECC’s cultural programme has cost 44 million euros since its inception, which includes the preparation period, of which 40 million euros from three public financiers (Timisoara City Hall, Timis County Council and the Ministry of Culture) and 4 million euros raised from private financiers.

„In all, there are investments of 150 million euros in cultural infrastructure for this title. Not all projects will be opened this year; they will be opened in the following years as well, as we are transforming cinema halls, the former water tower and other cultural attractions,” said Fritz.

European Commissioner Adina Valean said that the ECC title is not only symbolic, only for promoting the tourist and cultural brand of a city; it is not only a diploma or an award, but it is a European programme among the most popular to make Europeans showcase their cultural heritage so diverse in the EU’s vision, to practice sustainable tourism.

„I am in the city of courage, of multiculturalism and I can assure you that in Brussels I will be a constant ambassador of Timisoara ECC,” said Valean.

County chair Alin Nica said in his turn that in addition to the 5 million euros that the Timis County Council has pledged to invest in the ECC programme, the amount will reach 8 million euros, „which will enrich the cultural programme, leading to a much higher quality level.”

He also showed that the two-year postponement of the ECC programme due to the COVID-19 pandemic offered a chance to enrich the cultural programme and gave time to adjust it for new realities.

Agerpres