15 January 2010
Pécs, European Capital of Culture in 2010
Series of cultural events related to "The Year of the Pecs 2010" began with a spectacular opening ceremony
The year of the Pécs2010 European Capital of Culture Programme began with a spectacular production built upon the forces of openness, receptiveness, tradition, innovation and community effort. 450 of the city’s students, artists and celebrities connected to Pécs brought to life together the various facets of the city’s cultural history, during the ceremony held in the refurbished Széchenyi Square: all the values, results, and the two-thousand-year-old cultural heritage that will be a vital part of the year-long series of events.
Thousands of visitors from Hungary and abroad came to see the opening ceremony on Sunday, 10 January also inspite of the bad weather conditions. The Hungarian Prime Minister opened the event and said that after long time of anonymity, Pécs can finally take up its role that is entitled to have in the country and in the region. He also added that "With the series of events planned for 2010 will Pécs become the Capital of Hungary and the Capital of European Culture".
In 2010, a number of colourful, exciting events await visitors in Pécs. Among the 30 art festivals and major events, the numerous classical and contemporary music events, musical productions – pop, folk and world music alike -, the theatre and dance performances and screenings, the exhibitions of fine art and applied art, the scientific and literary programmes, the “cultural export” events organised together with the other capitals, and the countless programmes about the city and its residents, everyone can find an event that they are interested in. Great emphasis will also be placed on the programmes organized by the NGOs and on the programmes organized by Pécs’s institutes and organizations, just as on the regional partner programmes, and the events of the other Hungarian cities that applied for the European Capital of Culture title.
More information can obtained from the official website: http://en.pecs2010.hu/
(Source: http://en.pecs2010.hu/ & http://www.centropolitan.eu/)