European Capitals of Culture – The Day After

What remains when the circus leaves town? This question will serve as the foundation for a conversation between Saša Poljak Istenič and the anthropologists Giustina Selvelli and Jaro Veselinovič, who have conducted research on European Capitals of Culture (ECOC) across various regions in Europe – including Plovdiv, Novi Sad, Rijeka, and Nova Gorica. We will discuss the design, implementation, and enduring impact of these projects, examine the roles of local stakeholders and the participation of diverse groups in the program, and consider the European Union's influence on the formulation of the ECOC program. How did cities envision their future when they submitted their applications for the project? What remains after the ECOC comes to an end? What lives on in the cities – and what disappears?

The discussion will be held in Slovenian and Italian with simultaneous interpretation into both languages.

Participants: Jaro Veselinovič, anthropologist (ZRC SAZU), Giustina Selvelli, anthropologist and linguist, and Saša Poljak Istenič, ethnologist (ZRC SAZU).