‘We support creativity’ is the main slogan of the Košice 2013 project

Today at the Social Pavilion in Košice, the team of the non-profit making organisation Košice – European Capital of Culture 2013 publicly introduced the project’s cultural and arts programme. An extract from the programme is the slogan: WE SUPPORT CREATIVITY, which is becoming an integral part and trademark of all events related to the project. Presentation of the main themes, individual genres and development programmes also follow the spirit of creativity under the name We’re heading for the final! Six months before the start of the European Capital of Culture, Košice 2013 n.o. gave the clear signal that even from today Košice has many things to look forward to.

“The Košice 2013 artistic and cultural programme is very wide and has several levels. From the highest international level with a European dimension, through national to the local scene. We have made every effort to ensure that the programme will reflect all ‘floors’, since it should stimulate and transform the environment not only in Košice but the whole of Eastern Slovakia,” stated the Arts Director of Košice 2013 n.o.,Vladimír Beskid. He stressed that the concept of the programme structure is not only about programming one of cultural events for 2013. “Its main aim is to start the process of long term development and stimulate conditions for cultural operators in the whole region, to support international partnerships and new creative initiatives, which have a chance for prospective, long term existence,” he added. Thanks to this approach, Košice has the opportunity to start developing a creative economy and gradually be transformed from an industrial to a creative city. For the future, it may result in faster economic growth and more job opportunities for Eastern Slovakia.

The cultural programme for the period until the end of 2012 and for 2013 is introduced in the freshly published programme booklet under the name Košice 2013 before and after the end of the world. Its sub-title refers to the predicted end of the world which, according to the Mayan calendar, should take place on 21^st December 2012. Košice will certainly not accept the end of the world, which is endorsed by their colourful, multi-genre cultural programme within the so-called December’s Cultural Starter. The almost 200-page programme booklet defines all the architecture of the cultural programme, its main aims, strategies and cultural corridors, but mainly gives a brief draft of the approximately 120 most interesting and most attractive events offered by the European Capital of Culture project during 2012 and 2013.

The cultural activities of the Košice 2013 project which could not be included in the programme booklet are generally divided into three large groups. They consist of 25 key events with a national and European dimension, approximately 60 significant events and around 300 smaller accompanying events mainly implemented by other subjects, cultural operators and civic associations.

However, a definitive and accurate picture of events for 2013 will be provided in a new, complete version of the programme booklet with exact dates and programme. This will be available by the end of November 2012.

“In relation to the programme, I must emphasize the role of the number of non-profit making organisations, associations and cultural operators. The Košice 2013 team itself is only preparing a third of all the events and the majority is in the hands of our partners, and we only co-participate in and coordinate their activities. So this isn’t just some elitist programme of a close circle of people but just the opposite, it is an open partner’s platform,” stressed the Director of Košice 2013 n.o.,Ján Sudzina. As he clarified, these will mainly be accompanying events supported by the 3.2 sub-programme via the Ministry of Culture SR. Efforts in the upcoming period will focus upon allocating more funds for local cultural operators in the Košice and Prešov region. “We want and feel the need to push this environment further,” added Sudzina. In relation to this, he mentioned the second round of the tender for projects under the grant scheme of the Ministry of Culture SR determined for the Košice – European Capital of Culture 2013 project, which is closing on 13th July. The main tender directly related to events for 2013 will close in October.

The grant scheme of the Ministry of Culture SR allocated €3.32m for implementation of the cultural programme in 2012 and the same amount is also allocated for 2013.

Representatives of Košice Self-Governing Region allocated funds of a total of €6.6m to support the European Capital of Culture project and the Terra Incognita – Unknown Country programme until 2015. These funds are designated for those who, here in the region, organise quality cultural and social activities for the wide public, as well as for supporting small investment. From the first tender for promoting the Terra Incognita brand, 29 cultural events were supported and together they obtained €120,000. The second tender was designed to increase the quality of services provided in tourism for projects to develop small infrastructures. Half a million Euros was divided between 39 projects and these shall be implemented by the applicants by the end of October 2012.