The ECoC is a big family that is expanding every year
Veszprém hosted this year the second meeting of the European Capitals of Culture (ECoC), organised jointly with Timisoara. The delegation of nearly 60 people, representing past, present and future ECoC cities, came from all over the world. During the three-day event, the participants were able to learn about the artistic and cultural projects of the Veszprém-Balaton 2023 and Timisoara 2023 ECoCs, as well as the infrastructure developments in the City of Queens, and had time to explore the projects and attractions in the Balaton region.
The professional day started with introductions and presentations on Thursday, during which visitors were able to meet the VEB2023 and Timisoara team members, as well as other ECoC delegates and each other. We presented the most important developments and programmes, such as the Ruttner House at 8 Jókai Street, the art institution at 17 Vár Street, which is being renewed, or our biggest development. The park area behind the main university building and the former Heim Pál Children's Hospital were also not missed, which will be revitalised as ActiCity and will host different representatives of the culture of movement. The infrastructural developments and the new community and cultural venues were also presented during an interactive walk by the staff of Veszprém 2030 Kft.
On Friday, thematic workshops took place in four downtown locations on major topics such as gastronomy, music and festivals, monitoring in the life of the ECoC, and infrastructure improvements in the city’s abandoned buildings and bringing life back to empty city centre spaces. In the workshops, we discussed good practices, brainstormed on solutions to potential problems and challenges, and looked for synergies between our projects within the ECoC Family.
The participants of the meeting also visited the Jutasi Picnic, where they had the opportunity to visit the Landschip - installation of the Antwerp Timcircus art collective, talk to the project's creators and even help to load the giant chariot into the main square of Veszprém. Almost 10 metres long and 3 metres high, the Landschip will arrive at the opening of the ECoC city of Elefsina in Greece in February 2023, and will be pulled and pushed by hand by the project's implementers.
On Saturday morning, the Timisoara ECoC team presented its concept and plans for 2023, and an interactive workshop was held to discuss communication and marketing issues, with a focus on cultural diplomacy, international and digital communication, which are relevant for all ECoC cities.
There was also time to have a bit of a fun and show off our culture: we tasted the juicy pálinka from Timisoara and danced Moldovan and Hungarian round dances. We also visited the Káli-kapocs CultNet point in the Balaton region and a few other attractions, and tasted the typical wines of Badacsony.
We gained many interesting insights and ideas, both professionally and personally, during the ECoC family meeting in Veszprém. This event has not only a diplomatic value, but through networking and professional round tables, presentations and shared cultural programmes we can gather new ideas and inspiration, which we can adapt and implement in the future or refine our own concept. We are delighted that colleagues from other ECoC cities have visited us and hope that they have gained lasting experiences that will help their own projects to move forward in a positive way. Furthermore, we hope that these connections will live on after the 2023 ECoC season and meetings like this and similar ones will strengthen Hungary's image and position in the European region.
