Opening. Maribor will hold its grand opening of the European Capital of Culture on 14th January at Trg Leona Štuklja Square. The basic concept is entitled “Reanimation of the City” choosing an innovative approach opening up some fundamental questions regarding the introduction and fulfilment of cultural substance in urban communities. This will apply to Maribor as well as the cities that have joined up to carry out the programme. “The basic idea of the project is to promote different European cultures and through the consciousness of the value of the cultural diversity strengthen the mutual understanding and the mutual European identity,” said Melina Mercouri, project initiator. The European Capital of Culture is a title awarded according to a certain procedure by the European Union for a period of one year to one or more cities. The city holding this prestigious title carries out number of important cultural events. Due to the nomination the cultural eyes of Europe and the World are focused on those events. The basic idea of the project is to promote different European cultures and through the consciousness of the value of the cultural diversity strengthen the mutual understanding and the mutual European identity.
