Return Candidacy for the title of European Capital of Culture 2015
 

The motto of the Ostrava 2015 project was A place for a happy life. That means a city where we'd gladly stay, or to which we'd happily return, a place we're loyal to - even in times of crisis.

The candidacy project became the common interest of all relevant forces in the city and the region. Its inception was the result of the collaborative efforts of the city of Ostrava, the Moravian-Silesian Region and private parties - especially the company Vítkovice, a.s.

All activities and events of the Ostrava 2015 project had a European dimension. In terms of content, they directly related to vital issues in Europe today; they focused on essential questions confronting Europe now and in the near future.

The project was formulated in keeping with the urban layout of Ostrava. All its parts and had a wider geographical reach.

The four key components of the Ostrava 2015 project were: buildings, which were meant to fill in lacking cultural infrastructure; the cultural programme, which centred on both long-term and one-off special events; education in the field of arts management, which included opening a new department of arts management at one of Ostrava's universities as well as a wide range of related educational seminars; and finally stepping up efforts to improve the quality of life, which is so vital for the Moravian-Silesian Region.

Ostrava 2015 advanced to the second round in the competition for the title of European Capital of Culture 2015 in December 2009. For the second round, like the other candidate city, it prepared an updated version of its application this year. Now, all three parts of the second version of the application can be viewed on our website. The first (white) book of the updated application is a self-contained book meant for the selection round (download here), the second (black) book, contains responses to the recommendations of the selection committee in the pre-selection round and also the cultural programme of the Ostrava 2015 project, along with other additional information (download here). Finally, the third (colour) book, titled Ambitions and Key Points of the Candidacy Project, summarizes the fundamental aim of the project, around which the Ostrava 2015 creative team built the entire candidacy for the title of European Capital of Culture 2015 (download here).

On 8 September 2010, Pilsen was announced as the European Capital of Culture 2015. The Ostrava 2015 project continues, however, in the form of a cultural initiative. To learn more, you can visit the Old Arena, which originated during the candidacy as a cultural and information centre for the project.