Plzeň is, from today, the European Capital of Culture

Plzeň - From today, Plzeň becomes the European Capital of Culture for the Czech Republic for the year 2015 (ECOC). The ceremonial opening will take place on January 17. It will offer over 600 events, mostly two a day. People can look forward to a new circus festival, with over 60 performances taking place in circus tents around the city, as well as in theaters and among apartment blocks. The project's conclusion, which has a budget of around 430 million crowns, will be on December 12.
    The season of new circus is one of the eight main program lines of ECOC. Unique exhibitions are prepared dedicating to the Plzeň native Jiří Trnka, portraits of New Zealand Maoris by Gottfried Lindauer, a large exhibition of contemporary European design, as well as theater, dance, public integration projects, and more.
    Hundreds of performers from abroad will arrive, and the prestigious EU-Japan Fest will showcase both traditional and modern Japanese culture. American band Lynyrd Skynyrd, which has never played in the Czech Republic before, will perform at a major concert in Plzeň. There will also be a special edition of the Rock for People festival, with organizers expecting participation of up to 20,000 people, featuring musicians from all 28 EU member states. The detailed program can be found at www.plzen2015.cz.
    The goal of the ECOC project is to change the perception of Plzeň from a conservative industrial town to a city that is a good place to live and visit. This year, Plzeň has already begun to attract more tourists thanks to the title. There has been an 18% increase in visitors compared to last year. In 2015, the city hopes to increase the number of visitors by 30%, and by one-tenth in the following two years.
    The decision to award the ECOC title was made by an international jury in 2010. This year, Plzeň represents European culture alongside the Belgian city of Mons.