European Capitals of Culture 2020
Rijeka (Croatia)
Port of Diversity
Rijeka is the first Croatian European Capital of Culture. Under the slogan “Port of Diversity”, the Rijeka 2020 programme will focus on three core themes of water, work and migration, connected to its identity, but also current issues in the wider world. The opening exhibition will feature Rijeka's famous artist, David Maljković, with other highlights including ‘The Sea is Glowing' exhibition; a world music and gastronomy festival - ‘Porto Etno'; and new permanent installations of contemporary art on the coastline.
Galway (Ireland)
Let the Magic In
Galway is the third city in Ireland to hold the European Capital of Culture title (after Dublin in 1991 and Cork in 2005). Beginning in February to tie in with the ancient Celtic calendar, the Galway 2020 programme is built around the four Celtic festivals of Imbolc, Bealtaine, Lughnasa and Samhain. The ‘Hope it rains' theme will use Galway weather as a source of creativity; while other highlights include a celebration of world literature - with a dramatic interpretation of the world's oldest surviving literary epic, the story of Gilgamesh; and excerpts from Homer's Odyssey, read on Galway beaches. Meanwhile, new installations will celebrate the beauty of Connemara and County Galway.
...and it will be the turn of:
2021
Eleusis (Greece)
Timișoara (Romania)
Novi Sad (Serbia)
2022
Kaunas (Lithuania)
Esch (Luxembourg)
2023
2024
Tartu (Estonia)
Bad Ischl (Austria)
Bodø (Norway)
2025