Bergen – a City of Culture

Bergen – a Capital of Culture

• Norway: 4,7 mill people in a ”large geography” on the northern edge of Europe. Not an EU member.

• Bergen – Norway's second city – urban area 350 000 people– Marine and maritime clusters, oil and gas, research and education,

tourism, public and private services.

• UNESCO World Heritage site and Memory of The World.• Strong and broad professional cultural and artistic life:

– In all genres, of national and european relevance.– Successful European Capital of Culture in the year 2000 – with

“Eurocities” Bologna, Helsinki, Brussel, Praha, Reykjavik, Krakow.– Current city culture budget of ca 27 mill. euro/ 2,9% of total budget.

International plan – the ”whys”• A need for a structured approach:

– Using local resources well – “bigger bang for the buck”– Coordinating partners locally & a platform for national financing.– Political visibility and viability on a local level.

• A need for internationalisation:– Strenghtening our professional cultural life with new challenges on a

European level.– Ensuring quality and “the new” for local audiences.– Visibility for Bergen in Europe, bypassing the national level.

• A need for long term quality partnerships:– Best results, in the right partnerships, in the right places.

The plan • A first essay for us – a starting point for future policy.

– An opportunity for us to learn from Europe.

• A short strategic document – with a 4 year plan.

• Based on 5 strategic areas & 33 actions.– The 5 areas: New contemporary arts, network and process focus,

participation in international organisations, better coordination and collaboration locally, broad intercultural will.

• Ca. 400 000 euro in extra city financing per year.– As support for projects run by professionals in the arts and culture