“A Soul for Europe” together with Narodowy Instytut Audiowizualny (National Audiovisual Institute, Warsaw) will organise “FORUM WROCŁAW – Culture and Active Citizenship in the Development of Europe”, a one-day-discussion on 10 September 2011 in Wroclaw. Kathrin Deventer, Secretary General of the European Festivals Association (EFA) and Member of the “A Soul for Europe” Strategy Group, will hold the keynote speech in the panel on “European Capital of Culture – A Model for Culture?” The Forum takes place within the framework of the European Culture Congress (8-11 September 2011), as part of the cultural programme of the Polish EU Council Presidency. The project “European Capital of Culture” can be seen as a model and example for the different European cultural programmes. It was originally set up to highlight the richness and diversity of European cultures, to celebrate the cultural ties that link Europe together and foster a feeling of European citizenship. How can this idea be kept alive and given a new impetus? How to give the city its role in Europe? The European Capital of Culture is a European challenge for which the cities and regions in Europe have to take responsibility. The European Capital of Culture has to relate specifically to the special cultural potential of the respective city and its opportunities for development. Furthermore, it has to rely on the achievements and contribution of its citizens, for they define the city with their work. But how can the risks of tensions between national and local politics and artistic independence be limited? A European Capital of Culture has to support the development of Europe – a Europe from the bottom-up. The debate will focus on methods and opportunities, drawing on experiences and will also include other European cultural programmes. Kathrin Deventer will kick-off the session, followed by a discussion with panellists Krzysztof Czyżewski, President of the Borderland Foundation; Jacek Purchla, Director of the International Cultural Centre Krakow, Member of the Programme Council of Cracow 2000; Doris Pack, MEP, Chair of the EP Committee on Culture and Education, Chair of the Parliamentarian Working Group of ASfE; Robert Palmer, Director of Culture and Cultural and Natural Heritage at the Council of Europe, Director of Glasgow 1990 and Brussels 2000; and Rariţa Zbranca, Member of the “A Soul for Europe” Strategy Group / Director of The AltArt Foundation, Cluj. The session is moderated by Nele Hertling, Co-founder and Member of the “A Soul for Europe” Strategy Group, Artistic Director of Berlin 1988. The panel takes place from 1:30 – 3:30pm. It can be follow via live stream on the European Culture Congress website. At Forum Wroclaw, two more topics will be discussed with politicians, representatives of EU institutions, film makers, business people and representatives of civil society: culture and economy in the development of Europe (Panel 1) and the impact of the European Union Cultural Programmes and their future shape (Panel 3). Film maker István Szabó will deliver the opening keynote of Forum Wroclaw. Further participants include: EU Commissioner Androulla Vassiliou, Professor for Economy Pier Luigi Sacco, Minister Michal Boni, Under-Secretary of State at the Polish Ministry of Culture and National Heritage Monika Smolen, and Director-General for Education and Culture Jan Truszczynski as well as “A Soul for Europe” Strategy Group members Gabriella Gönczy and Yuriy Vulkovsky. The event is supported by the Ministry of Culture and National Heritage and the Department for Coordination of Preparation and Operation of the Polish Presidency of the European Union Council at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The project is implemented as part of the European Cultural Programme of the Polish Presidency of the EU Council 1 July – 31 December 2011. Furthermore, at the occasion of the European Culture Congress, the European House for Culture, initiated by the European Festivals Association, is holding a “Check Stop meeting”, a regular gathering of the members and partners of the European House for Culture. Related links and documents: • Speech Kathrin Deventer: "European Capital of Culture: More Europe, More Culture, More Responsibilities!" • Live stream Forum Wroclaw • Programme Forum Wroclaw • A Soul for Europe • European House for Culture • European Culture Congress