From local to European identitycase study of Varna, city candidate for
ECoC in 2019
Assoc. Prof. Dr. Vesselina Dimitrova
Scientific Consultant of the Secretariat
of the project ‘Varna – candidate for ECoC 2019’
e-mail: vesselina.dimitrova@yahoo.com
Ms. Stanislava Genkova
Department of Culture, Varna Municipality Expert of ECoC;
28/10/2011
e-mail: stanislava.genkova@gmail.com
Identity
• LOCAL: Accumulation of values for citizens;
• EUROPEAN: Process to live together, integrated;
Identity and funds
• More financial resources before the selection period
for better quality of ECoC programme
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Purpose of the paper:
• To analyze to which extent the financial resources could be useful for
reinforcing the European profile of Varna;
Hypothesis :
• The determining factor of European identity is the possibility of establishing
an intercultural dialogue between diverse cultures of Europe, but their
creativity needs to be found not only on arts, but also on innovation projects
and ideas for sustainable local/regional development.
Methodology:
• Collaborative research between the University of Economics-Varna and the
Municipality of Varna;
NATIONAL SOCIOLOGICAL SURVEY: 610 interviews, carried out in 61 centers in
Varna. 60 % of the interviewees were born in Varna.
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Characteristics of the identity and funds of Varna for ECoC 2019
Varna – the first city, which launched its candidature for ECoC in 2006;
The candidature integrates all cultural institutions and Local government
(Secretariat within the Department "Culture and Spiritual Development" for
the candidacy of the city);
Funds from the local budget are used to support the candidature of the
city;
The budget of Varna for ECoC initiative is formed a year in advance;
The budget expenditures are for administration, promotion and
programming.
 Municipality of Varna is programming to use funds for ECoC under
Culture 2007-2013, Interreg IVC and other national operative programmes
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for regional development.
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Local interpretation of the European identity in
programming ECoC 2019
•Promotion of innovative and original intercultural
dialogue;
• Managing
youth
demands
and
stimulating
the
participation of young people in international projects;
•Making city profiling by including the name “Varna” in the
motto of the campaign, because it accounts the ability of
the city to create and organize local and international
cultural products with high quality.
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European dimensions of Varna as a candidate for ECоC
2019
The respondents accept the candidature of Varna as an opportunity to:
- promote the Bulgarian culture and art at European level (93%);
- enrich the cultural life of Varna with European artists (91%).
ATTENTION: 8 % of the surveyed cannot rate how far the candidature
of the city would contribute to the European integration of the country
and 11% think that Varna is not a part of the European cultural life.
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European dimensions of Varna as a candidate for
ECоC 2019
Low level of willingness of the locals to participate in a cultural
event for ECoC as well as very low degree of readiness for
accomplishment of ECoC volunteering;
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Strengthening “creative environments”
Locals want the city to improve its infrastructure, more
attention to be paid to ecology and cleanliness and to
promote more cultural heritage, museums, theaters and
children’s performances of Varna in the competition on
candidature for 2019;
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Strengthening “creative environments”
Citizens see the greatest benefits of the candidature of Varna for
ECoC in the field of tourism development (88%);
19 % of the surveyed do not think that the prize ECoC brings also
benefits in the social sphere of the city;
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Challenges for Varna: identity- crisis
• Regional choice of integration: useful work between Varna
and the cities in the region of Varna, which have already
signed a Memorandum of cooperation for the candidature
of Varna for European Capital of Culture in 2019
• Revision of the public budget for culture, including also
private sponsors
• Change of the administrative structure for ECoC
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Principal challenge for the city of Varna
• Change in the motivation of the citizens and the
politicians about the meaning and benefits of
Varna's candidacy for European Capital of
Culture in 2019
…Conservative and sceptic attitudes are something
unavoidable and the fight continues even after
the selection for ECoC….
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68 % of the surveyed
consider that Varna has
better chances than other
cities-candidates in the
competition for ECoC
2019;
… Keep the faith …
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