Plzeň has announced its candidacy for European Capital of Culture

Plzeň - Plzeň today officially announced its candidacy for the title of European Capital of Culture 2015. It is currently the only city in the Czech Republic that has publicly confirmed it will compete for this title. At the same time, it has launched an extensive campaign costing more than 27 million crowns aimed at raising awareness of the candidacy among the public. People can already get involved in projects prepared by the city starting in October. This was announced to journalists by the city council leadership.
    "Billboards, posters, and leaflets will appear in the streets, and other forms of promotion are being prepared, continuing until 2010. The media communication plan was designed for us by the Ogilvy group, which successfully met our criteria," said Deputy Mayor Marcela Krejsová. The campaign, for which the city obtained 8.8 million CZK from ROP, focuses on the residents of Plzeň, then aims to reach out to regional inhabitants, and later will target the government, which should decide on the selection of the Czech city next year. Final confirmation will come from Brussels in 2010.
    "Already in 2006, when Brussels decided that the title would be held by one Czech and one Belgian city, we adopted our first resolution to go forward with the project. So far, we only know that Ostrava has mentioned a possible participation somewhere," Krejsová added.
    According to her, Plzeň now has an integrated plan that includes investments to enhance cultural infrastructure; they have also designed a logo and a theme for the candidacy. "The first impulse was that Plzeň is the meeting point of four rivers, the phenomenon of water is inspiring. We are now working with what water brings, namely the idea of some kind of refreshment and revitalization," said Roman Černík, who is responsible for the program aspect of the candidacy project. According to him, after 100 years, the city has an opportunity to give culture a new role, which is also related to the construction of facilities.
    Citizens should continue to be involved in the development of the program framework for the event, which will culminate in 2015. The next opportunity will be on October 13 at a public meeting that will connect them with professionals. "They can participate in working groups that will actively work on the cultural development program," stated Petr Šimon, the project manager for the candidacy. An event called One on One will follow at the end of October, where every citizen can discuss with a pre-selected personality. "From Friday, an online forum dedicated to the project will also start operating," Šimon added.
    The city wants to use its candidacy to also pursue the construction of much-needed facilities at a cost of around one billion crowns. "We are planning for the realization regardless of whether we succeed," Krejsová stated. The city plans to invest 600 million in building a new theater, the new city library is expected to cost 120 million, and there are plans for a new gallery, a sports and relaxation center in Štruncovy Sady, and a large park in Roudná. The city is prepared to apply for European funds for the first of these projects.