INVITATION TO CLUJ-NAPOCA

The city of Cluj-Napoca invites all current and former bidding cities to become its partners in founding a Network of Candidate Cities. The network aims to become a platform supporting a sustainable approach to ECoC planning with the view to facilitate and encourage ECoC programme implementation regardless of the competition results.

Cluj-Napoca has applied for the title of European Capital of Culture, without being selected. Cluj-Napoca 2021, the association that managed the candidacy, was reorganised as Cluj Cultural Centre (CCC). The City and the Community have given CCC a mandate to proceed with the implementation of the proposed ECoC program.

Our membership increased after the title announcement, and our programme and budget remain the same. In 2017, CCC is in the set-up phase of its programme, revisiting the projects, piloting some of the activities and making the necessary preparations for the general implementation in 2018-2020. More details can be found at www.cccluj.ro/en.

Please find below a draft concept paper of the Network and an invitation to join the Network’s First Conference in Cluj-Napoca, Romania, during 22-23 September 2017. The conference will be a place for all of us to contribute to the shaping of the Network and also a training, networking and partnership marketplace for all the cities that acknowledge the role of culture in sustainable urban development. Conference attendance is free of charge.

The organisers offer free meals and accommodation (for two nights) to one participant from each of the first 12 cities that register for the conference. Participants are expected to cover their own travel expenses.

We offer assistance in booking accommodation and meals to all other interested participants (second representatives of the first 12 registered cities and participants from cities beyond the 12 subsidized places).

The Candidates Cities Network First Conference is organised by Cluj Cultural Centre and Cluj Municipal House of Culture.

Confirmed cities (updated on September 18): Guimaraes 2012 (PT) , Košice (SK), Matera 2019 (IT), Eleusis 2021 (GR), Alba Iulia (RO), Arad (RO), Cluj-Napoca (RO), Timișoara 2021 (RO), Sfântu Gheorghe (RO), Târgu Mureș (RO), Plunge (LT), Klaipeda (LT), Debrecen (HU), Belfast (UK), Leeds (UK), Aveiro (PT), Braga (PT)

To book a seat, please send a show of interest to us via email.

Contact person: Alexandra Hoștină, Event Manager – alexandra@cccluj.ro What is this Network? Draft concept paper below First conference of the Network – agenda below