OBJECTIVES & CONCEPT

WHY DOES TARTU WANT TO BE A EUROPEAN CAPITAL OF CULTURE IN 2024?

The title of European Capital of Culture (ECoC) is an immense opportunity and a great challenge for Tartu and Southern Estonia:
  • The project is designed to be carried out by our today’s and tomorrow’s cultural operators: artists, organisers, institutions and creative entrepreneurs. 
  • If Tartu is awarded the title, it is possible to evaluate the impacts of the ECoC process: the increase in the goodwill of the residents who are engaged as audiences and creators, the attractiveness of the city in the eyes of talents, investors, entrepreneurs and the improvement of connections to and from Europe.
  • A well-organised ECoC will greatly benefit region’s economy. Direct benefit will come from the increased number of daily and overnight visitors but also from increased investments from national and international stakeholders.
  • The bidding process supports solving major challenges stated in Tartu and Southern Estonian development and cultural strategies. In addition, a successful candidacy will benefit all the important stakeholders: educational institutions, companies, non-profit organisations etc.
  • One city from Estonia will definitely become the European Capital of Culture 2024. The decision whether it is Tartu or Narva will be announced on 28 August 2019.

TARTU 2024 IN ACTION 


In autumn 2017 the City Council of Tartu voted in favour of initiating Tartu's bid to become the 2024 European Capital of Culture. In January 2018 Tartu 2024 European Capital of Culture Candidacy Team started working as a sub-institution of the Department of Culture of Tartu City Government.

The candidacy team put together the pre-selection and final phase bid books in cooperation with Tartuvians and Southern Estonians, local communities and partners from Estonia and Europe, from the public and private sectors. The team is also responsible for presenting the bids to Jury while also engaging and informing the public.


TARTU 2024 IN PRE-SELECTION PHASE (2017-2018)
  • The pre-selection phase of the Estonian competition for European Capital of Culture 2024 ended on 22-23 October 2018 in Tallinn. A 10-member team of Tartuvians defended Tartu 2024 pre-selection bid in front of an international and independent 12-member panel.
Tartu pre-selection presentation team
  • Tartu and Narva were invited to the final selection phase of the competition for 2024 title. On 26-27 August, the expert panel will visit both Narva and Tartu and on 28 August, both cities will present their bids to the panel and go through a Q&A session.
  • Tartu 2024 pre-selection bid book was based on more than 350 meetings and around 600 people contributed their time, energy and creativity to the bid. 
  • The project ideas for the bid book were collected from the citizens and professional organisers during open calls. Some of the ideas were ignited at the Tartu and Southern Estonia Vision Day "Escape Room to the Future" held in May in Estonian National Museum.
  • Already in pre-selection, Tartu was bidding together with 19 municipalities from Southern Estonia. The mutual conclusion of the first round table of Southern Estonian municipality leaders was: we will cooperate to raise the visibility and profile of our region in Europe! On City Council level, also the City of Pärnu voted on a letter of support for Tartu 2024.
  • The pre-selection activities and events were strongly supported by the trainees from the University of Tartu and by a number of volunteers – special thanks to all of you! 


FINAL PHASE OF THE COMPETITION (2019)

As of Summer 2019, over 1000 people have contributed their time, energy and creativity. Our bid book is 100 pages long and introduces Tartu and Southern Estonia, our challenges and capacity to deliver, our artistic programme for 2020-2024, action plans to carry out Tartu 2024, including management, marketing and international cultural cooperation.

PRESENTING THE BID
  • On 31 July, we submitted Tartu's final bid book to be evaluated by the independent international panel of experts.
  • The experts will assess the bids by both cities according to the assessment criteria, visit both Narva and Tartu thoroughly on 26-28 August, hear both presentations and hold Q&A sessions.
  • The final decision will be made on the afternoon of 28 August. 
  • The city that wins the right to organise the European Capital of Culture 2024 will start preparing for a successful European Capital of Culture and the launch of their proposed programme already this Autumn.

SUPPORTING ACTIVITIES