Mayors of Katowice and Cracow, Piotr Uszok and Jacek Majchrowski, signed today a letter of intent for cooperation in the area of culture between both cities. Consequently, Cracow – the European Capital of Cutlure of the year 2000 – formally starts to support Katowice efforts in a race for the European Capital of Culture’s title in 2016.
As can be read in the letter of intent, the cooperation will be based on joint projects in the area of design, film, contemporary art and stimulation to activity of local societies. The projects will be conducted aside from the final decision of jury. A name of the European Capital of Culture in 2016 will be known on 22nd of June this year. Katowice competes with Gdańsk, Lublin, Warsaw and Wrocław.
“Several cities wanted Cracow to support their candidatures. We chose Katowice, because we know that these two important agglomerations – Upper Silesian and Cracow’s – have to cooperate closely not only in the area of culture but in general” – said Jacek Majchrowski, Mayor of Cracow.
The cooperation is to be benefited by both cities which are going to share experiences and implement the joint projects. Among already planned events are “Discover Katowice”, a photography initiative organized by Cracow’s foundation “Imago Mundi” where known Polish photographers will create a photo-image of Katowice. Additionally, a concert of the National Polish Radio Symphony Orchestra from Katowice, Nord Deutcher Rundfunk Big Band, Robart Gambarini, Tomasz Stańko, and Vladyslav Sendecki will take place in Cracow in July.
Also, Katowice started to promote its candidature abroad. Last days, 352 artificial sunflowers (the symbol of Katowice candidature) creating a heart (the logo of Katowice 2016) have been arranged at the square in front of the European Parliament’s seat in Brussels.
