These two very different urban centers share one important achievement: both earned the title of 2014 European Capital of Culture after a rigorous selection process.
Launched in 1985—often traced to conversations between Melina Mercouri, former Greek minister of culture, and Jacques Lang, former French minister of culture and education—the European Capital of Culture program has become a sought-after designation among EU nations. The European Commission oversees the competition and the program’s objectives of promoting cultural diversity, exchange and visibility across Europe.
Called “the gem of the Baltics,” Riga is a UNESCO World Heritage city celebrated for its architecture. The Latvian capital contains one of the world’s largest collections of Art Nouveau buildings and preserves an architectural history that stretches from its founding in 1201 to the present.
Riga’s year as European Capital of Culture begins on January 17. The following day, residents and visitors will mark the transition from old to new with a human chain that passes books by hand from the old National Library of Latvia to the new Gaismas Pils (Palace of Light). That event also launches “The Book: 1514–2014,” a year-long exhibition marking 500 years of the printed word.
Throughout 2014, Riga’s program includes a wide range of cultural highlights: a series of four operas commemorating the bicentenary of Richard Wagner at the Latvian National Opera; exhibitions at the National Museum of Art reflecting on the centenary of World War I; a season of plays staged at The Boulevard of Theatrical Collision and directed by five international directors; summer solstice celebrations; the World Choir Games; contemporary art festivals; the Staro Riga Light Festival; and an exhibition at the Museum of Fateful Objects inviting residents to present items that have changed their lives or reflect the city’s history.
Founded in 1622, Umeå is a young, energetic city and the largest in Norrland, the northern region of Sweden. Home to Umeå University, the city has a student population of about 36,700—nearly one-third of its residents—and permanent inhabitants from nearly 100 different nationalities. This cultural diversity contributes to Umeå’s reputation as an open-minded and tolerant city, a character the city highlights during its year as European Capital of Culture.
Umeå’s program is built around the principle of “co-creation.” The city’s cultural centers, institutions and partners collaborate on initiatives designed both to engage people across communities and to lay the groundwork for lasting cultural activity beyond 2014. Events are intended to spark curiosity, encourage cross-cultural exchange and strengthen partnerships among cultural organizations, the university, local businesses, volunteer groups and public agencies.
If you enjoy these 2014 programs in Riga and Umeå, consider following the next Capitals of Culture: Mons, Belgium, and Pilsen, Czech Republic, which hold the title for 2015.