COUNCIL OF URBAN CULTURE - European Capital of Culture 1985-2016 : Precedent in pan-European context

i | image

 

FOUNDATION
Cultural Exchange

 

Foundation - Athens 1985

 

The ECOC or ECC programme was initiated by former Greece's Minister of Culture (and actress) Melina Mercouri. The first edition of the ECC was launched in Athens in 1985.

 

'Cultural decentralisation'

 

In the case of Athens, the most important changes brought by the European Capital of Culture Framework consisted in:
1) that ''the concept of culture was broadened from the notion of 'entertainment' to 'education' '';
2) that the ''unification of archaeological sites in Athens'' was effected;
3) that the urban infrastructure was improved.
This was a crucial ''starting point for an approach to 'cultural decentralisation' in Greece, and paved the way for the development of cultural policy in the municipalities'' and ''helped to establish ECOC as an institution''.
The city and the Greek Ministry have helped to finance and host meetings of the Network (in Athens, Delphi and other cities), and have initiated and supported initiatives such as the 'Day of Culture' in May, (an international essay competition between pupils in European schools based on the subject of Europe's Cultural Diversity) and currently a project to mount an exhibition in Patras based on the experiences of ECC since Athens 1985.

 

Role of the Artifact

 

On a side note, Melina Mercouri also asked for the return of the Parthenon Marbles, which were removed from the Parthenon, and are now displayed in the British Museum, to Athens.
This is an ongoing dialogue between the two nation cities.