Marseille’s in the Running for European Capital of Culture 2013

20.11.2006

Linz 2009 has officially established contact with Marseille, one of the French cities vying to be European Capital of Culture in 2013.

Of course, the spotlight in France is currently focused on the upcoming presidential election, but there are those in la Grande Nation who are also looking out a little further into the future. In 2013, France and Slovakia will be up for Capital of Culture nomination honors. The folks behind the initiative in Marseille have already gotten in touch with their counterparts in Linz for an initial exchange of views. Marseille will officially announce its candidacy on December 14, 2006 and is currently gathering information about the application process in other European countries. Naturally, this city of 800,000 will be drawing particular attention to its lovely setting on the Mediterranean coast, and they’ve developed the expression Euroméditerranée to get across their branding concept. In a recent chat with Ulrich Fuchs, though, Philippe Campos, Coordinateur Capitale Européenne de la Culture 2013 in Marseille, also made it clear that Marseille will face strong competition in France. Lyon, Toulouse, Nice, St. Etienne and Nantes are also readying their applications, which much be submitted by November 30, 2006 to the Ministry of Culture in Paris. Nevertheless, the winner won’t be announced until 2008, and thus in the wake of country-wide municipal elections. By then, France will also have a new Monsieur le (or perhaps Madame la) Président(e).

www.marseille.fr