2010 cultural capital of europe

2010 Cultural Capital of Europe - Istanbul

The European Union Jury has nominated Istanbul as the Cultural Capital

of Europe in 2010, which was competing in the category of "cities

outside the EU" against Ukranian capital Kiev. The verdict will be

approved in November 2006 in Finland. Istanbul was trying hard to win

this prestigious title since 2000. It has been calculated that

millions of Euros in support will help refurbish local infrastructure,

restore museums, create cultural programming, and launch advertising

campaigns. The slogan of the city for this event will be "Istanbul,

city of four elements".

Introduced by Greek Cultural Minister Melina Mercouri in 1985, the

cultural capital program was conceived as a way to bring Europe's

people together and is coordinated by the European Ministry for

Culture. Apart from the stature afforded by the honor, the title

European cultural capital brings badly needed tourist dollars to

cash-strapped cities. People around Europe were shocked to discover

recently what being European cultural capital meant for the modest

Austrian city of Graz, which recorded a 35% growth in tourism when it

held the title in 2003. In essence, being cultural capital is an

invitation to visitors who might otherwise have stayed away. Some of

the important European cities which won this title in the past are:

Athens, Florence, Amsterdam, Berlin, Paris, Madrid, Lizbon,