Frequently Asked Questions
1. What will happen in 2023? When can we find out what will happen then?
The European Capital of Culture is not a programme consisiting of a single event, but is a series of programmes and regional developments over a number of years, culminating in 2023. The full programme for 2023 will be finalised by the second half of 2022. ECoC cities traditionally publish their programme book in the autumn of the year preceding the tenure year of the title.
In the meantime, you can keep up-to-date with the events of the lead-up years via our website, newsletter and social media platforms (Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, Twitter, YouTube).
2. What will happen in the lead-up years?
In the years leading up to 2023, there will be several events and programmes implemented. We want to kick-start the buzz in the city/region: you can find out about current programmes on our communication platforms.
After winning the European Capital of Culture title in 2018, Veszprém-Balaton 2023 Jsc. started its activities with increasing intensity in autumn 2019. The project organization, which started with a few colleagues, grew to 24 staff members by the beginning of 2020. The organization, which organizes and coordinates capacity development, arts and culture programmes, plans to recruit around 60 full-time staff in several phases by 2023. Since autumn 2019, work has been largely behind the scenes, with the development of ECoC's organizational values, strategy, new image, website and office, and starting the preparation of the content and financing of the planned projects.
You can find out about our projects and programmes in the pipeline and already running here: >>>
For information on events organized or supported by the ECoC programme, click here: >>>
You can find our news on the ECoC programme here: >>>
3. What are the different types of ECoC project constructions?
The European Capital of Culture programme will fully unfold in 2023, since this is the year for which our region has won the title. In that year, a number of events and programmes will be implemented by Veszprém-Balaton 2023 Jsc. and its partners as well as by the owners of the ideas that have been the winners through the system of calls for proposals.
3.1. Programmes prepared and implemented by Veszprém-Balaton 2023 Jsc.
These include the opening and closing events of the 2023 ECoC year, several programmes outlined in the winning bid (e.g. capacity building programme, some artistic programmes) both in Veszprém and in the region. We also plan to involve a number of local, regional and national partners in the preparation and implementation of these projects and programmes, but the Jsc. will be fully responsible for project coordination.
3.2. Co-production projects
Programmes prepared, coordinated and implemented in close cooperation between the Jsc. and its partners, which vary from project to project. In addition to the local and regional professional partners, we also count on local self-governments and civil organizations, or even informal organizations as partners. The experts of the Jsc. play a key role in the formulation of the professional programme of these projects and in ensuring their high-quality implementation, while our partners, with their expertise, local knowledge and local organizational strength, ensure that we can achieve the jointly defined objectives with joint efforts.
3.3. Projects implemented under a tendering scheme
In accordance with national legislation, support can be passed on through the Veszprém-Balaton 2023 programme, within the framework of a call for proposals. In the coming years, up to and including 2023, we plan to launch several types of calls for proposals:
a) Small-scale community bids: support for small-scale projects in Veszprém and the region in the years leading up to 2023, supporting local self-government, civil society or even market players, up to a prospective amount of approximately HUF 300,000. During the lead-up years, these programmes will aim to stimulate reflection on ECoC, strengthen the local community, support gap-filling local programmes, even with tradition-making intentions. Call for proposals expected to be launched in Q1 2021.
b) Open calls: project and event-focussed funding, with the possibility to apply on an ongoing basis, with continuous assessment. Our aim is to enrich the cultural programme of Veszprém-Balaton 2023, to provide opportunities for new local or regional initiatives, but also to enable existing events and initiatives to step up to a higher level of quality within the framework of ECoC. We definitely want to encourage cooperation between small regions, so these project ideas covering several municipalities will have a good chance for the launch of their planned proposals. The call for proposals is expected to be opened in the first half of 2021.
4. Who will implement ECoC projects?
The objectives of the European Capital of Culture programme are wide-ranging, so there is a wide variety of projects that can be created and joined under its auspices. Projects under the ECoC programme are classified by their origin and by the project promoters.
4.1. Programme elements implemented by Veszprém-Balaton 2023 Jsc.
a) Projects included in the ECoC bid.
Projects that were included in the winning bid and are implemented in-house by ECoC staff with the involvement of external experts and subcontractors.
b) Projects
Projects arising during the preparatory phase of programme in reflection to new needs, developed and implemented in-house by the ECoC staff, with the involvement of external experts and subcontractors.
4.2. Co-production projects
In cooperation with local self-governments, cultural and artistic institutions, civil, non-profit and for-profit organisations in Veszprém and the Bakony-Balaton region.
a) Projects included in the ECoC bid
Projects included in the winning bid and implemented by ECoC staff with the involvement of a co-production partner.
b) New projects
New demand-driven projects that emerge during the preparatory phase of programme development and are implemented by the ECoC staff with the involvement of a co-production partner.
4.3. Institutional, municipal and civil grant projects
Open or restricted calls funded by ECoC for projects with local self-governments, cultural and artistic institutions, civil, non-profit and for-profit organizations operating in Veszprém or the Bakony-Balaton region.
4.4. Partnerships
Events and projects that share the objectives and values of ECoC. Cooperation in this case can help organizers and project owners to present themselves in the international programme offer and participate in the communication of ECoC.
5. How can I find out about events and bids?
Please follow our news in the local press, subscribe to our newsletter, visit our website and follow us on social media:
6. How can I join as a volunteer?
Find out more about the ECoC volunteering programme and how to join here: >>>
7. How can ECoC staff be contacted?
You can meet the colleagues of Veszprém-Balaton 2023 Jsc. on the 'Our Team' page. >>>
Please send your enquiry to our central e-mail address [email protected]. In all cases, the correspondence received will be forwarded to the appropriate department.
From autumn 2020, the directors of Veszprém-Balaton 2023 Jsc. have also personally engaged with those interested in the programme at the 'ECoC Questions and Answers' events. >>>
8. What is the role of the ECoC office in Kossuth Street?
Our Kossuth Street office is currently used for meetings, training, press conferences and workshops, and our day-to-day work is not carried out here, this way reducing the number of personal contacts.
We plan to open a customer service office from autumn 2022; until then we will open our offices to the public on an occasional basis, linked to an event or consultation opportunity.
If you cannot find the information you are looking for on the FAQ page, please send your question to [email protected].
