With a colorful live show in the open air, Estonia’s second largest city Tartu ceremoniously opened its program as European Capital of Culture 2024 this evening. The central element of the opening ceremony was a multimedia performance entitled “All is one” on the inner-city bank of the Emajõgi River.
The focus of the elaborate performance with music and dance was Tartu, which is considered the spiritual center of the Baltic EU country in northeastern Europe, which borders Russia. After the open-air show, many spectators marched to the afterparty at the Estonian National Museum, where Estonian Culture Minister Heidy Purga also performed.
“Tartu has always been the heart of Estonian culture and its soul over the centuries,” emphasized Estonian President Alar Karis in his opening speech to several thousand spectators. Mayor Urmas Klaas said in his speech: “We have been waiting for this moment for a long time.” Tartu’s Capital of Culture year will be “a positive year for Europe”.
The European Capital of Culture Year in Tartu has the theme “Arts of survival”. By the end of the year, more than 350 projects with over 1000 events are expected to take place in the city and the surrounding region in southern Estonia.
Not just a Capital of Culture 2024
In addition to Tartu, the Salzkammergut and Bodø in Norway will also hold the title of European Capital of Culture in 2024. In the Austrian Alpine region, the Capital of Culture year officially opened on January 20th. The opening ceremony in Bodø is planned for February 3rd.
