The city of Aveiro delivered its final bid book for the European Capital of Culture in 2027. The document was handed in Lisbon by José Pina, responsible for the Candidacy Executive Committee. José Pina states that “a work of more than three years of preparation, planning, outlining, dialogue and consultation has been carried out, which involved people and institutions from the most diverse areas, from specialists to ordinary citizens, which marks an important moment in the city’s journey in its relationship with culture.
For the Mayor of Aveiro, Ribau Esteves, who is the main promoter of this candidacy, “this is a very symbolic moment not only of Aveiro’s settlement in the cultural panorama of the country but also of the city’s commitment to the European project. We want to be on the map of these two lines of action and thought, with long-term strategies that are implementing on a daily basis over these last few years. We have an ambitious, inclusive and transversal project, which considers society as a whole and where culture appears linked to all areas of our lives. Culture is art and heritage, it has social and economic value, it should be enjoyed both in an individual and a collective way. It unites and distinguishes a community. Because we know we have such a rich territory and because we want to enhance what we have best, we decided to take on this candidacy for the European Capital of Culture”.
The preparation of this application began in 2019, with the outline of the Strategic Plan for Culture 2019-2030. A work process that involved not only the cultural and creative sector of Aveiro, but also other sectors of activity, from education to health, including the environment, tourism or innovation, as well as the communities of the City and Region.
During this journey, challenges, needs and desires were identified, strategies, partnerships and priorities were established and projects were designed at a local, regional and international scale, to lay the foundations for a more sustainable, competitive City and Region of Aveiro, to make attractive on a European scale, having Culture as a transforming asset.
The next step will be the visit of the international jury to the city, next November, followed by the presentation and defence of the candidacies in early December, when the final result will be presented. At that moment it will be announced which city will be European Capital of Culture in 2027, sharing the that year the title with Liepaja, from Latvia.
The Candidacy of Aveiro for European Capital of Culture 2027 is promoted by the Aveiro City Council, together with the Intermunicipal Community of the Region of Aveiro (CIRA), University of Aveiro, and AIDA CCI – Chamber of Commerce and Industry of the District of Aveiro. The Candidacy Honor Committee, presented in November 2020, is chaired by the former European Commissioner and current Mayor of Lisbon, Carlos Moedas.
