Tartu as a European Capital of Culture 2024 Greets German Finalists and Wishes for Good Cooperation
On Wednesday, 28th of October, the German winner of the European Capital of Culture 2025 title competition will be announced. In a recently released greeting, the mayor of Tartu, a European Capital of Culture in 2024, Urmas Klaas wished good luck to the five cities that have reached the final round of the competition and confirmed readiness for future cooperation.
Urmas Klaas noted in his speech that people
in Tartu know how much work it takes to figure out how to raise the value of their cities and solve problems through culture. But hard work from the five German cities was necessary to reach the finals.
“Chemnitz, Hannover, Hildesheim, Magdeburg, Nurnberg – we wish you perseverance and we are open to collaboration! Tartu with Southern Estonia believes that culture and arts, shared experiences and common values can help Europe overcome even the current struggles,” said Klaas optimistically.
Tartu is a European Capital of Culture in 2024 with Southern Estonia. The title year programme is named “Arts of Survival” and is divided into three main programme lines: Tartu with Earth, Tartu with Humanity and Tartu with Europe. The planned Tartu 2024 projects focus on many topics, such as ecologically conscious urban and rural culture, education and smart solutions, physical and mental health, transgenerational connection, promoting local character and critical awareness
that need attention in today’s Europe. All Tartu 2024 projects are transnational, transgenerational and transversial.
Tartu, the second largest city in
Estonia, has been closely tied to Germany through history and culture since the
13. century. For example, in 1280, Tartu became a member of the Hanseatic
League and to this day annual Hanseatic days are celebrated. Tartu is also
known as a university town where among others, the University of Tartu, a world
high ranking institution, is located and moreover, as a birthplace of many successful
start-up companies. In 1992 the German Culture Institute was established in Tartu,
which among other activities introduces German culture in Estonia and develops cultural
ties between Germany and Estonia.
Tartu is one of three European cities
that will hold the European Capital of Culture title in 2024 before Germany’s
title year. The other two are Bad Ischl in Austria and Bodø in Norway. The 2025
European Capital of Culture city from Germany will be announced on the 28th
of October.
Additional information:
Kalle Paas, Tartu 2024
Communications and PR Manager