Umeå2014 praised in EU evaluation

According to a report from the monitoring and advisory panel for the European Capital of Culture, Umeå2014 has met the criteria for receiving the 1.5 million Euro Melina Mercouri Award. The work with making Umeå a Capital of Culture receives high scores by the assigned experts monitoring the process. Umeå2014 is seen as a role-model for Europe to follow.

“The Monitoring and Advisory Panel fort the European Capital of Culture (ECOC) 2014” is the group of experts that are assigned by the EU-commission to monitor Umeå and Riga as upcoming Capitals of Culture. In April the group met with delegations from both cities and today the following report from that meeting was published.

The panel commends the Umeå2014 strategies concerning Open Source and co-creation. Umeå’s methods are regarded as both innovative and far more advanced than earlier Capitals of Culture. The jury also encourages Umeå to share their experiences of the methods to the rest of Europe.

The panel also appreciates that Umeå2014 commits to making the capital of culture year something sustainable with a clear and forward looking approach. The report states that the Cultural Policy for Umeå and the Umeå2014 marketing plan are both considered as “best practices” examples for other cities and European Capitals of Culture to follow.

The European tour “Caught by Umeå” travelling through eight bigger European cities is also seen as a good way to emphasise the European dimension. The expert group advices Umeå2014 to further reinforce the European aspects as well as prioritise the work on securing the rest of the national funding.

In conclusion, the panel states that they are confident that Umeå has good potential to become a successful and very innovative Capital of Culture.

“We want Umeå2014 to take a leading position in Europe regarding co-creation. With the expert group acknowledging and appreciating our way of running the Capital of Culture efforts, this of course feels really good,” says Marie-Louise Rönnmark, chairwoman of the Capital of Culture Committee at Umeå municipality.

Artistic director Fredrik Lindegren is also very pleased with the report.
“It spurs us to keep substantialise everything we believe in. Our dialogue with Brussels is a very valuable asset to be able to build a Capital of Culture year that will really make an impression, both here and in Europe.”

According to the evaluation, Umeå will receive the award of 1.5 million Euro that has been established in honour of Melina Mercouri. Melina Mercouri was the Greek minister of culture and the one who initiated the idea of having an annual European Capital of Culture. 1985 Athens was the first Capital of Culture and as of 2000 two cities are designated as European Capitals of Culture.

Read the full report here (PDF)

Contacts
Marie-Louise Rönnmark
mayor of Umeå
Chairwoman, Capital of Culture Committee, Umeå municipality
+4690-16 14 12
+4670-655 64 84
marie-louise.ronnmark@umea.se

Sven-Olov Edvinsson
Vice Chairman, Capital of Culture Committee, Umeå municipality
+4670-602 66 34
sven-olov.edvinsson@umea.se

Fredrik Lindegren
Artistic Director
Umeå2014
+4670-603 25 19