Wroclaw and San Sebastian: European Capitals of Culture in 2016

Summary:

Wroclaw (Poland) and San Sebastian (Spain) became the European Capitals of Culture as of 1 January 2016, holding the title for a full year.

Further information:

The Polish and the Spanish cities marked the 31st year of this initiative, which was first set up in 1985. The cultural programme officially began on 17 January in Wroclaw and on 23 January in San Sebastian.

The cities are selected on the basis of a cultural programme that must have a strong European dimension, promote the participation and active involvement of the city's inhabitants and contribute to the long-term development of the city and its surrounding region.

• Primary Source

News

The Guardian, 27/12/2015: San Sebastian: in the limelight https://www.theguardian.com/travel/2015/dec/27/san-sebastian-culture-capital

Deutsche Welle, 14/01/2016: Wrocław has a story to tell https://www.dw.com/en/wroc%C5%82aw-has-a-story-to-tell/a-18980501

Deusche Welle, 18/01/2016: Poland's Wroclaw braves the cold to launch Cultural Capital of Europe 2016 https://www.dw.com/en/polands-wroclaw-braves-the-cold-to-launch-cultural-capital-of-europe-2016/a-18985927

The Local (Spain), 20/01/2016: Welcome to San Sebastian: City of culture... and peace https://www.thelocal.es/20160121/welcome-to-san-sebastian-city-of-cultureand-peace

Irish Examiner, 23/07/2016: 2016 European Capital of Culture Wroclaw in Poland is quirky and eccentric https://www.irishexaminer.com/lifestyle/travel/bigread/2016-european-capital-of-culturewroclaw-in-poland-is-quirky-and-eccentric-411976.html

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Official

Website of Wroclaw as 2016 European Capital of Culture http://www.wroclaw2016.strefakultury.pl/

European Commission: Press Release, 30/09/2010: Commissioner Vassiliou congratulates the cities preselected in Spain for the title of "European Capital of Culture 2016" https://europa.eu/rapid/press-release_IP-10-1274_en.htm?locale=en

European Commission: Press Release, 13/10/2010: Commissioner Vassiliou congratulates the Polish cities preselected for the title of European Capital of Culture 2016 https://europa.eu/rapid/press-release_IP-10-1332_en.htm?locale=en

European Commission: Press Release, 28/06/2011: Donostia-San Sebastián to be the European Capital of Culture in Spain in 2016 https://europa.eu/rapid/press-release_IP-11-800_en.htm?locale=en

European Commission: Memo, 10/05/2012: Vassiliou congratulates Donostia-San Sebastian and Wrocław on official designation as European Capitals of Culture for 2016 https://europa.eu/rapid/press-release_MEMO-12-319_en.htm?locale=en

EUR-Lex: L154: Council Decision of 10 May 2012 designating the European Capital of Culture for the year 2016 in Spain and Poland https://eur-lex.europa.eu/LexUriServ/LexUriServ.do?uri=OJ:L:2012:154:0011:0011:EN:PDF

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