Six Belgian cities officially compete for the title of European Capital of Culture 2030
Six Belgian cities have officially submitted their bids for the title of European Capital of Culture 2030. The contenders include Flemish cities Ghent, Leuven, Kortrijk, and Bruges, along with Sint-Jans-Molenbeek and Namur. This information comes from the culture department of the Wallonia-Brussels Federation (FWB).
While these cities had expressed their intention to apply earlier in August, they were required to formalise their candidacies by submitting official applications by 17:00 on Monday. "Six cities have taken this mandatory step and have therefore officially applied for the title of European Capital of Culture in 2030," confirmed a representative from the FWB.
The next phase of the selection process will take place on 21, 22 and 23 October, when the cities will present their bids to an international panel of experts at the Royal Library of Belgium in Brussels. The jury's chairperson will announce the finalists on 24 October.
The European Capital of Culture initiative aims to enhance the international profile of European cities by showcasing their cultural richness and diversity. This endeavour first took place in 1985, with Athens at the forefront. Since then, more than 60 cities have been honoured with the title, including Belgian cities such as Antwerp (1993), Brussels (2000), Bruges (2002) and Mons (2015).
Ghent © IMAGEBROKER
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