The role of culture in the regional development process. Sibiu - European Capital of Culture 2007 (original) (raw)

Ten years of cultural development in Sibiu: The European cultural capital and beyond

This study presents the results of a ten year monitoring programme on cultural and tourism development in the city of Sibiu. The programme was initiated by Ilie Rotariu and his colleagues from the Lucian Blaga University in 2001. Over the ten year research period the programme expanded to cover a wide range of data sources, including resident and visitor surveys, stakeholder interviews and secondary statistical data. The research started at a fairly low level with studies of single events in the cultural agenda of Sibiu. The programme was significantly expanded in 2007 thanks to the staging of the European Capital of Culture in the city. Support from the ECOC allowed the scale of the research to be increased. Since 2007 the Lucian Blaga University has continued to collect data using its own resources. This study is unique as it is probably the first long-term study of the cultural and tourism development of a city in a former Socialist country in Central and Eastern Europe. The data in the current report build on and extend the anaysis provided in the earlier report “The Impact of the 2007 European Cultural Capital in Sibiu: A long term perspective”, published in 2010.

Managing urban and regional development through European Capital of Culture programme and creative industries

European Capital of Culture is a thriving cultural programme of the European Union, with benefits for the cultural life of cities and regions and also for the economic development of some of the titleholders. Development of cultural and creative sector – cultural and creative industries – is an integral part of the economic development of cities who decide to run for the European Capital of Culture title. (Cultural) tourism and the overall economy of the region are also developed directly through the project. In 2020, for the first time in history of the project, one city from the Republic of Croatia will hold the European Capital of Culture title. This is a great opportunity for Osijek as a regional center – there is a possibility of redefining and reprogramming city development strategies and the possibility of a new positioning within the European Union. The paper provides an overview of the connections of the European Capital of Culture and urban and regional development through the growth of the cultural and creative sector, and also brings a draft of a successful development strategy for Osijek and the region in the context of this programme. The purpose of the survey is to identify trends in the development of the creative sector within the European Capital of Culture, and the attempt to forecast what would be the positive effects of the programme on Osijek. It provides an overview of the possible directions of development in the city's independent candidacy, regional and macro-regional candidacy (Osijek - Eastern Croatian – Pannonian candidacy).

Long term effects of the European Capital of Culture

This study presents further results of a long-term monitoring programme on cultural and tourism development in the city of Sibiu. The programme was initiated by Ilie Rotariu and his colleagues from the Lucian Blaga University in 2001 with the help of Greg Richards from ATLAS. Over a 14 year research period the programme has expanded to cover a wide range of data sources, including resident and visitor surveys, stakeholder interviews and secondary statistical data. The research started at a fairly low level with studies of single events in the cultural agenda of Sibiu. The programme was significantly expanded in 2007 thanks to the staging of the European Capital of Culture in the city. Support from the ECOC allowed the scale of the research to be increased. Since 2007 the Lucian Blaga University has continued to collect data using its own resources, although the Municipality of Sibiu contributed funding of 9500 euro in 2007 and 3000 euro in 2010 for data collection. This study is unique as it is probably the first long-term study of the cultural and tourism development of a city in a former Socialist country in Central and Eastern Europe. The data in the current report build on and extend the analysis provided in the earlier report “The Impact of the 2007 European Cultural Capital in Sibiu: A long term perspective”, published in 2010 and “Monitoring Cultural Development in Sibiu”, published in 2014.

The Impact of the 2007 European Cultural Capital in Sibiu: A long term perspective

2010

This study of the impact of the European Cultural Capital in Sibiu in 2007 is part of an ongoing programme of research initiated by the European Association for Tourism and Leisure Education (ATLAS) in 1999. This programme of research aims to examine the implementation and effects of this increasingly popular event throughout Europe. The European Capital of Culture staged in Sibiu during 2007 was a unique event.

European capital of culture

The opinions expressed in this document are the sole responsibility of the author and do not necessarily represent the official position of the European Parliament.

Sibiu - The European Cultural Capital and Beyond

2011

Sibiu on the cultural profile of tourists during and after the European Cultural Capital Programme (ECOC). This paper focuses on gender, age, education, occupational profile, usual holiday type , visitor origin, previous visits to Sibiu, relationship with the 2007 ECOC, sites visited and their valuation, and spending. The overall conclusion is that the cultural tourist profile in Sibiu has improved during the period, bringing substantial benefits to the city.

Urban transformations resulting from being designated European Capital of Culture

International Seminar on World Events and Urban Change, 2012

"The title of European Capital of Culture brings an opportunity for physical and symbolic transformation of designated cities and it is increasingly accompanied by urban marketing strategies that exceed the duration of the events programme. Not only does the designation have a positive effect on citizens pride and media coverage, but it is also seen as a means of attracting inward investment and increasing the number of visitors. Nominated cities also take advantage of some of these benefits. Such approaches also involve a political economy in which the concepts of culture and creativity have come to assume a central role. This paper presents a review and critical appraisal of the variety of urban transformations involved through selected case studies. In this competition, cities put culture at the heart of regeneration and become a centre of entertainment and exhibition, where, according to Urry and McCannell, there is almost no limit for a city to transform all its social, historic and natural elements into attractions. This process implies the construction of a number of cultural facilities and projects, it also involves the restoration of historic monuments and the regeneration of run-down neighbourhoods including historic cities, the waterfront or former industrial sites."