European Capital of Culture: Athenian Heritage and the Power of Identity

European Capital of Culture: Athenian Heritage and the Power of Identity

Today, June 20, 2025, we take a look at the history and evolution of the title of European Capital of Culture, first introduced in 1985. The initiative goes back to the former Greek Minister of Culture Melina Mercouri, who made the proposal to establish a Capital of Culture on June 13, 1985. Their aim was to emphasize the diversity, richness and shared cultural heritage of Europe. The first city to receive this title was Athens, proclaimed on June 21, 1985 by Greek President Christos Sartzetakis. This was accompanied by a summer festival in Athens celebrated at the 2,500-year-old buildings on the Acropolis. In the years that followed, other cities such as Florence (1986), Amsterdam (1987), West Berlin (1988) and Paris (1989) followed, thereby setting new standards in European culture.

The first years of the Capital of Culture were characterized by highly cultural events, while the concept changed in the 1990s. Cities such as Glasgow (1990) and Antwerp (1993) began to use the title for urban development, aiming to revitalize neighborhoods, promote tourism and strengthen local identity. These changes are also reflected in today's selection process, which is considered complex and is evaluated by an independent jury of experts.

The development over the years

The title was awarded annually by the European Union and was initially called “European City of Culture”. There was an exception in 2000, when nine cities could hold the title at the same time. Since then, two cities have been appointed each year. The awarding of future titles for 2024 envisages cities such as Bad Ischl (Austria), Tartu (Estonia) and Bodø (Norway). Bourges (France), Budweis (Czech Republic) and Skopje (North Macedonia) are planned for 2028. Since 2020, cities from EU accession candidates or EFTA/EEA states have also been able to apply for the title.

The application phase procedure has been shaped by various decisions, such as Decision No. 445/2014/EU of April 16, 2014, which continues the action for 2020 to 2033 under new conditions. Applicant cities have the opportunity to adapt their concepts to the jury via a national selection process. This consists of ten international and two national experts who evaluate the applications based on six evaluation criteria: long-term strategy, European dimension, cultural content, ability to implement, social integration and administration.

Cultural and economic impacts

The awarding of the title often leads to an increase in visitor numbers in the affected cities and promotes international attention for local cultural highlights. This development is particularly highlighted by Capital of Culture experts such as Mittag, who sees the balance between cultural innovation, economic sustainability and the involvement of the local population as crucial. Bietigheim newspaper additionally reports that by considering applying for the title, cities are seeking significant changes to prosper culturally and economically.

Overall, it shows that the title “European Capital of Culture” is not only a sign of cultural recognition, but also offers concrete incentives for urban development and the promotion of cultural heritage in Europe. The idea of ​​selecting a Capital of Culture every year promotes lively cultural exchange and awareness of cultural diversity within the European Union.