Pécs 2010: City of Cultural Dialog and Interaction
01.10.2007The city of Pécs in southwestern Hungary will share 2010 European Capital of Culture honors with Essen, Germany.
The lead-in programme being arranged for 2008 provides an early indication of the city’s cultural development strategy. The slogan “Pécs 2010 – City of Dialogue and Interaction” makes it crystal clear that the conceptual emphasis here is on substantive dialog—that is, mediation between East and West and among the region’s minorities, religions and social strata. One concrete manifestation of this will be to encourage project applicants with related themes to collaborate with one another.Out of nearly 500 proposals, Márton Méhes, artistic director of Pécs 2010, has selected 135 projects as recipients of financial subsidies. An additional 67 ideas will occupy the center of attention at a series of forums scheduled for fall in Pécs. These will constitute a further contribution to the long-term Capital of Culture programme: environment and culture (the 2008 focal-point theme); Pécs – gateway to the Balkans; Pécs – multicultural city; and Pécs – city of equal cultural rights.
The programme lineup for 2008 will feature films and new media, contemporary art along with classical music. Developmental trends in the area of drama and dance are evident. Another item at the top of the organizational agenda is a reform of the Pécs festival structure, including professional coordination of existing festivals (such as the Pécs Spring Festival) and new productions (like the East-West Bridge world music festival).
The 2008 budget is projecting the receipt of subsidies totaling about 2.5 million euros from the Hungarian government and the city of Pécs on the basis of a formal agreement between the parties. Additional funding will be provided by the Hungarian Cultural Foundation.
For details, go to www.pecs2010.hu
