Kaunas - European Capital of Culture 2022

Kaunas –​ European Capital of Culture 2022

European Capital of Culture 2022 Selection Panel’s final report issued

The Selection Panel of the competition for the 2022 European Capital of Culture title in Lithuania produced the final selection stage report containing a general assessment of both applications of Kaunas and Klaipėda, following the final selection in Vilnius on 29^th of March 2017 as well as visits to both pre-selected cities on 27^th (Klaipėda) and 28^th (Kaunas) of March. 

The Selection Panel assessed both candidate cities on the basis of their revised applications and hearing against the objectives of the European Capital of Culture action and the specified criteria in all six categories: contribution of the programme to the long-term strategy of the city development; European dimension; cultural and artistic content; capacity to deliver; outreach; management. The report also contains recommendations to the city concerned regarding the progress to be made by the year of the title.

Kaunas has been recommended for the 2022 title in Lithuania and is pending the official nomination by the relevant Lithuanian authorities. The Selection Panel also recommended the authorizing officer of the European Commission to award the Melina Mercouri prize to this city, which amounts to 1,5 mln. Euro. The payment of the prize will occur no later than end of March 2022, provided that the city designated continues to honour the commitments it made at the application stage, still complies with the award criteria of the action, and takes into account the recommendations contained in the selection and monitoring reports of the panel.

The Selection Panel’s Final Report

Kaunas to be the European Capital of Culture 2022 in Lithuania

Kaunas has been recommended for European Capital of Culture 2022 in Lithuania by the selection panel of 10 independent experts, appointed by EU institutions and bodies.

There will be two European Capitals of Culture in 2022: one in Lithuania and one in Luxembourg.

The selection process has two rounds:

• pre-selection round, following which a shortlist of candidate cities is drawn up
• final selection round nine months later (one city is recommended for the title).

The selected cities are then officially designated by the country concerned.

The selection criteria state that cities should prepare a cultural programme with a strong European dimension. The programme should involve city's residents, stakeholders and neighbourhoods and attract visitors from the whole country and Europe. The programme should contribute to the long-term development of the city. The cities must demonstrate that they are supported by the public local authorities and have the capacity to deliver the project.

The Culture Ministry of the Republic of Lithuania invited applications from interested cities in July 2015. Six cities applied – Anykščiai, Jonava, Kaunas, Klaipėda, Plungė, Rokiškis.

The pre-selection meeting took place in June 2016 and Kaunas and Klaipėda were shortlisted. They were given until February 2017 to complete their applications and then invited to a final selection meeting in Vilnius on 29 March, with the preceding city visits to Klaipėda on 27 March and Kaunas on 28 March.

The selection meeting for the European Capital of Culture 2022 in Luxembourg will take place this autumn.

Bidbooks of final selection round:

Kaunas

Klaipėda

Bidbooks of pre-selection round:

Kaunas

Klaipėda

Bidbook of the European Capital of Culture 2022 candidate city Kaunas published

Following recommendation of the Expert Panel’s report, ECOC 2022 candidate city Kaunas published the pre-selection bidbook. The Expert Panel strongly believes that publication of the bidbooks online should endorse public‘s engagement and discussion on city‘s cultural development.

The Expert Panel’s report announced

The Expert Panel of the competition for the 2022 European Capital of Culture title in Lithuania produced the pre-selection stage report containing a general assessment of all the applications as well as recommendations to the short-listed cities of Kaunas and Klaipėda.

The Expert Panel evaluated applications from 6 Lithuanian cities – Anykščiai, Jonava, Kaunas, Klaipėda, Plungė and Rokiškis, following criteria in all six categories: contribution of the programme to the long-term strategy of the city development; European dimension; cultural and artistic content; capacity to deliver; outreach; management.

The deadline for submission of revised applications is 28 February 2017.

The final selection meeting will be held in Vilnius on 29 March 2017.

The Selection Panel’s report. Pre-Selection Stage

Kaunas and Klaipėda have been shortlisted for the title of the European Capital of Culture 2022 in Lithuania

The pre-selection meeting for the European Capitals of Culture 2022 Lithuania took place in the Ministry of Culture on 20-21 June 2016. The panel of independent experts evaluated applications from 6 competing Lithuanian cities – Anykščiai, Jonava, Kaunas, Klaipėda, Plungė and Rokiškis. The pre-selection resulted in the shortlisting of two candidate cities: Kaunas and Klaipėda.

The final decision to award the title of the European Capital of Culture shall be taken in spring 2017. The outcome of the selection process of the European Capital of Culture Union action is twofold:

• The award of the title of the European Capital of Culture;
• The award of a prize of 1.500 000 € in honour of Melina Mercouri funded from the “Creative Europe” Programme established by Regulation 1295/2013 from the European Parliament and the Council.

On April 20, 2016, the Strategic Committee of the Lithuanian Government approved allocation of national budget funds for the implementation of the programme “European Capital of Culture – 2022”, provided that the governmental financial assistance would account up to 50 per cent of the approved operating budget (not including capital investment), and will not exceed 10 million euros.

Decision No 445/2014/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council, establishing a Union action for the European Capital of Culture for the years 2020 to 2033

Guiding documents:

Guide for cities preparing to bid

Guidelines for the cities' own evaluations of the results of each European Capital of Culture

ECoC Policy Group Report (good practices and recommendations for research and evaluation by cities hosting the title)

Study:

European Capitals of Culture: success strategies and long-time effects