Trust the Future, Create your City
TRUST
THE FUTURE
CREATE
YOUR CITY
October 2012
Trust the Future, Create your City
WEL
COME
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Utrecht is remodelling the city centre where work on the new Muziekpaleis began in 2010.
Trust the Future, Create your City
October 2012
Utrecht, the most youthful and knowledge-thirsty city in the Netherlands, where almost 40 % of residents are under 27.
ARE
Trust the Future, Create your City
HERE
WE
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AT HOME
AT THE HEART
Trust the Future, Create your City
Dom Tower, a prominent landmark in the heart of the Netherlands since 1382. October 2012
Utrecht is growing. The old city and the new, separated yet connected by the Leidsche Rijntunnel and the Amsterdam Rhine Canal.
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PREFACE
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Dear reader,
Trust the Future, Create Your City is our motto. What we want to say is: have confidence - in yourself, in others, in your city, in Europe. Look around you. Be curious, learn, share your knowledge and experience. Inspire one another. Build your city together: an international city in a dynamic region, a place where everyone can feel welcome, free and safe. With culture at the centre of everything. Because culture is in Utrecht’s genes. Culture is oxygen for a meaningful existence and a key pillar of our economy.
Utrecht is the youngest and most highlyeducated city of the Netherlands. Which says a lot. We are hospitable, social and entrepreneurial. And these are not empty words. The biggest university in the Netherlands and an innovative cultural sector feel at home here. People in the city and the region from all walks of life – artists and students, entrepreneurs and cultural organizations, local residents and scientists – are continually launching fresh initiatives and opening up unexpected new horizons. Their energy and creative powers have spawned surprising connections and a multitude of inspiring projects that are presented in this bid book. Speaking also on their behalf, I cordially invite everyone – from Utrecht, the Netherlands, Europe and other parts of the world – to embrace our city’s adventure and contribute their own personal colour and flavour to Utrecht as the European Capital of Culture in 2018.
Aleid Wolfsen Mayor of Utrecht
Trust the Future, Create your City
Utrecht has set its sights on 2018, the year in which we aim to be the European Capital of Culture. Walking around the city, you can already see enthusiastic citizens wearing ‘I am 18’ badges. An encouraging sign of optimism in these testing times of economic crisis, when many are anxiously asking themselves: where do we go from here, what does the future hold for myself and my children? And for Europe as a whole? Our city is not immune to these worries. Or to the problems confronting so many European cities: people living on the margins; polluted air that needs urgent cleaning; run-down public spaces. Faced with these challenges, Utrecht offers vitality and creativity as the perfect antidote. The city is growing fast, brimming with ideas, and bustling with energy. Two thousand years of history is testimony to the city’s staying power: Utrecht has a strong heart and is ready to fight for the future.
CONTENTS
1 Basic principles Trust the Future, Create your City 1.1 Why Utrecht wishes to be European Capital of Culture: our mission and objectives
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Vision and Concept 1.2, 1.3 Our concept explained; the building blocks; the motto
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City and Region 1.4, 1.5 The City and Province of Utrecht
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Utrecht and Europe 1.8, 1.7, 1.10 The European dimension; collaboration with Valletta 2018; links to other European projects
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City and Citizens 1.9 How Utrecht 2018 will involve residents, artists and cultural operators in the project
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The long term 1.6, 1.13, 1.14 Cultural development in the long term; innovative aspects; what European Capital of Culture will mean for the city
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Utrecht’s application 1.15, 1.11, 1.12 How Utrecht has prepared this application; the target groups; how we establish contact with cultural organizations and individuals
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2 Programme The Utrecht 2018 Programme 2.1 The programme structure; three programme lines: Habitat, Playground and Crossroads
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Programme proposals 2.2 An outline of the programme in 24 ideas; venues and infrastructure; preconditions
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Selection procedure and criteria 2.3
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3 Organization and financing Organizational structure 3.1
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Financing 3.2 The city’s culture budget; budget for Utrecht 2018; investments in the city; financial commitment; timeline
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4 City infrastructure Accessibility 4.1
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Hospitality 4.2
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Infrastructural projects and timetable 4.3
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5 Communications Communication strategy 5.1
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Visibility of the European Union 5.2 How Utrecht will ensure visibility of the European Union
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Utrecht 2018 impact assessment 6.1 How Utrecht will monitor and evaluate the effects of the project
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7 Additional information Strengths and weaknesses 7.1
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Planned cultural projects 7.2
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All project ideas 7.3 Overview of all project proposals for Utrecht 2018
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In compiling this document we have attempted to follow the order of topics given in the ‘proposed application sheet’ as closely as possible. In Chapter 1, we address a number of questions out of sequence in the interests of coherence and brevity. The red numbers in the table of contents refer to the question numbers; the questions are reiterated in the main text. The text in this document is under sixty thousand words in length, or fewer than one hundred A4 pages (Times New Roman 12 pt with standard margins).
Trust the Future, Create your City
Structure of this document
6 Evaluation and monitoring
UTRECHT IN THE WORLD
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UTRECHT October 2012
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INTRODUCING UTRECHT
The fourth largest city in the Netherlands with a population of over 316,000. This is expected to grow to 400,000 by 2035. It is the main city of the Province of Utrecht which has a population of 1.2 million. Founded around 50 AD as a Roman garrison on the Limes, the boundary of the Roman Empire. The religious centre of the Netherlands since the eighth century. The city is the official seat of the Archbishop of Utrecht, while it is also the administrative centre of the Dutch Protestant Church.
The city centre is dominated by the 112 metre Dom Tower, part of St Martin’s Cathedral also known as the Dom Church. Its nave was seriously damaged by a storm in 1674. Utrecht University was founded in 1636. The canals of the city centre were dug in medieval times and incorporate characteristic waterside wharves. The Union of Utrecht, signed in 1579, formed the basis for the unification of the northern provinces of the Netherlands (then under Spanish rule) and the national constitution.
In 1713, dignitaries from all parts of Europe gathered to negotiate the series of treaties which would establish the Treaty of Utrecht and put an end to the War of the Spanish Succession. Utrecht is the main transport hub of the Netherlands. Almost two hundred thousand passengers pass through Utrecht Central Station every day. The Utrecht region is one of the most economically competitive in the European Union.
Utrecht is the ‘youngest’ city in the Netherlands. Almost 40% of its residents are under 27. People of more than 170 different nationalities live in Utrecht. The region has over three thousand listed monuments, five designated ‘national landscapes’ and a rich military heritage stretching from the Middle Ages to the Cold War.
Founder member of the Similar Cities Network, a partnership of mediumsized European cities in which Utrecht is joined by Bologna, Ghent, Aarhus, Edinburgh, Malmö and Stuttgart. Since 2006, Utrecht has worked closely alongside Valletta on the road to being designated European Capital of Culture 2018. An established city of culture. Since the 1980s, Utrecht has invested heavily in a cultural infrastructure which includes neighbourhood arts centres, the new Music Palace concerthall and the ‘library of the future’.
Known for its high level of cultural participation, with a variety of international arts festivals, a flourishing tradition of amateur art in all forms and a burgeoning ‘serious gaming’ sector. A city of knowledge. Almost half of all residents attend or work at an educational institute. The four main institutes of higher education have a total of seventy thousand students. Utrecht Science Park, currently under development, will provide ten per cent of direct employment in the region.
Trust the Future, Create your City
The new city expansion Leidsche Rijn, the largest newbuild development in the Netherlands, will soon provide housing and employment for some 90,000 people.
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The city as playground: the annual Oudegracht Concert.
UTRECHT
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Ours is a place by the river where bricks grow into cathedrals. We live in a ginkgo tree with roots buried in time. We write our wish list for the future on its leaves. We write: Utrecht is an oyster bed full of pearls from the earth, we wear them with pride, we write: listen, music fills the streets, across the water, the street organ’s music book unfolds beneath our feet,
Our tree grows towards the one big bang: to build a bridge. We lay pebbles on its parapet. Yours sincerely. We are 18.
Ellen Deckwitz | Ingmar Heytze
Trust the Future, Create your City
join the parade, walk till you are there, stay until you reach home. The city is bigger than you think, the world smaller.
CHOOSE YOUR
POSITION MAKE A
STAND
EMBRACE THE FUTURE
Trust the Future, Create your City
The ‘eternal hug’, a popular feature of Utrecht’s festivals. October 2012
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CHAPTER 1 BASIC PRINCIPLES
Trust the Future Create your City What Europe needs now is confidence in the future: a new energy which will give the continent thrust and perspective. We need a new unblinkered vision of a world which is undergoing spectacular changes. Utrecht wishes to contribute to that vision through the European Capital of Culture project. We shall look at the world through the eyes of artists, children, visionary thinkers and creative people in all walks of life. In doing so, we shall help to create the ‘City of the Next Generation’. Utrecht 2018 is all about trust in the strength of culture as a driver of urban renewal. It embraces an optimistic vision of our international future, which in fact has already begun. ‘Trust the future, create your city’ is our rallying cry to the people of Utrecht, to our partners in the creative sector, education, the business community and, of course, our fellow Europeans.
Crisis as opportunity If Utrecht is to emerge as a prominent international region of knowledge and culture, it is imperative that we develop the new European perspective sooner rather than later. Europe is in a crisis of confidence. The economic recession has put the solidarity between the member states sorely to the test. Globalization is no longer seen as a challenge but also as a threat. Support for the European ideal is waning. Many people, it seems, would like to ‘pull down the shutters’. They yearn for the local scale; they cherish their own identity and wish to take control of their own lives. It is as if someone has pushed the ‘pause’ button. Everyone is asking themselves how to proceed. ‘Never waste a good crisis’ seems a particularly apt axiom. The current situation provides an excellent opportunity for reflection and change. We wish to work alongside our international partners in rising to the challenges of an uncertain future, moving forward with confidence. We wish to help Europe to remain strong and resilient, and to continue to play a full part on the world stage. Europeans share the same values. We have a common history and a rich cultural heritage which can inspire new, innovative and perhaps even unorthodox ideas for the future. This is the main reason for Utrecht’s decision to vie for the title European Capital of Culture 2018, a decision which has the full support of the surrounding region and the relevant authorities.
A European city in transformation Utrecht is ideally placed to rise to the challenges. We too are in transition. Once a rather unremarkable provincial city with a service-based economy, Utrecht is rapidly emerging as a competitive European region with a bristling cultural life, a thriving creative sector and great potential as a centre of the knowledge economy. Utrecht is taking the leap into the twenty-first century. It is the Netherlands’ most youthful city with an unquenchable thirst for knowledge. Its population is set to double within a few generations. Utrecht is growing in every sense of the word: physically, mentally and culturally. But we realize that there is a long road ahead: we have only just embarked on the exhilarating journey of creating the ‘City of the Next Generation’.
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Why does the city which you represent wish to take part in the competition for the title of European Capital of Culture? 1.1.1
Trust the Future, Create your City 1 Basic principles
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Smart and responsible growth One thing is certain: we must cherish what we already have and build upon it in a responsible manner. It is time to redefine the concept of ‘growth’. The boom years of unchecked economic expansion are over. The sort of growth we have in mind is more concerned with the quality of life and with giving all citizens the opportunity to achieve their full potential. Responsible growth must take into account the physical characteristics of the city and its region, its history and heritage, and the wishes of all the residents and visitors who give Utrecht its unique character.
Connection is the key The key to the vitality of our cities lies in the connection between culture, knowledge and creativity. It is essential to begin close to home, with tangible programmes which bring the future within reach and encourage full social participation. At the same time, we shall continue to pursue cooperation and exchange with other European cities. This is where our future lies: in an alliance of strong cities which together form the driver of innovation and economic growth. Centuries ago, Europe had the Hanseatic League, a network of cities stretching from Flanders in the west to the Baltic in the east. This trading alliance represented a combination of enlightened self-interest and the desire to make the whole greater than the sum of its parts. The very same motives apply today: international cooperation challenges us all to use our knowledge and culture productively to secure the development of our cities and regions.
Trust the Future, Create your City
A call to all city residents during the Festival a/d Werf. October 2012
2000 YEARS UNDER
CONSTRUCTION
Trust the Future, Create your City
Utrecht cherishes its past... October 2012
... and is building its future. The new Muziekpaleis takes shape above the medieval remains of Castle Vredenburg.
Trust the Future, Create your City
October 2012
Why Utrecht?
Because we need it... A region of growth Wherever you look, Utrecht is ‘under construction’. Our centuries-old city has entered a new and exciting period in its history. In recent decades, Utrecht has been undergoing a rejuvenation process, and not only due to the influx of young students. The city is expanding: its boundaries have already been pushed back to include Leidsche Rijn, the largest newbuild development in the Netherlands. The population continues to grow: from 230,000 in 1990 to 400,000 in 2035. As we embark upon a new century, Utrecht is undergoing a huge transformation. Once a city with a service-based economy, it is rapidly emerging as an urban region with a strong international outlook. The narrow streets of the historic city centre can barely cope with the number of cyclists and pedestrians arriving at Central Station every morning. The entire station zone is one huge building site and work here will continue until 2030. In the meantime, Central Station is being expanded to become a fully-fledged Public Transport Terminal. When this phase is completed in 2018, Utrecht will cement its position as the Netherlands’ main intermodal transport hub, at which some two hundred thousand passengers cross paths every day.
People may complain about the dust and disruption but they look on in fascination as the new Music Palace concerthall takes shape. This hypermodern complex arises like a giant Meccano model above the medieval ruins of Castle Vredenburg. In Lombok, a district on the fringe of the city centre with a thriving ethnic community, the equally modern Ulu mosque is now under construction. On the other side of the A2, the motorway which connects Utrecht with Amsterdam, is Leidsche Rijn. Significant investments are being made in Utrecht Science Park on the eastern side of the city, which is growing to become a major cluster of international hi-tech commerce, research, education and innovation. The city boundaries are disappearing. Utrecht and its surrounding suburbs are slowly but surely coalescing to become a single, unified urban region.
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Trust the Future, Create your City 1 Basic principles
This growth offers the city many new opportunities. But it also creates tensions and social problems, particularly in the new expansion districts. Utrecht is not unique in this respect: precisely the same challenges can be seen in other European urban regions such as Ghent or Aarhus. They too are medium-sized university cities in transition. They too have a rich cultural heritage and historic city centres which must be conserved. Utrecht can certainly claim to be a multicultural city: people of no fewer than 167 different nationalities live and work here. This diversity, welcome though it is, can place the traditional social character of the city under some pressure. Similarly, unchecked growth could pose a threat to the traditional spatial qualities of the region. We must always seek a responsible balance between urban expansion and natural values. For Utrecht, this is the ideal moment to ask ourselves exactly how we wish to design and structure the city of the future.
Utrecht is looking ahead Utrecht is centrally located in the Netherlands and has traditionally been the country’s ‘meeting place’. The city’s history goes back to the Roman occupation. Over the course of many centuries, we have learned to trust in the strength of an open society which flourishes by virtue of cooperation and exchange. In 2013, to mark the tercentenary of the Treaty of Utrecht, we shall reaffirm this belief by means of the Utrecht Principles, a modern interpretation of the tenets which in 1713 secured peace in Europe. Our modern principles relate to respect for cultural, ethnic and religious diversity, to the role of culture and multilingualism in creating a sustainable society, and to the exchange of knowledge and experience to underpin social cohesion and renewal. We see these as the values of a ‘good’ city, in every meaning of the word. They are also the values which we wish to develop further in the role of European Capital of Culture 2018. As a city in transition, Utrecht is more than willing to make itself available as an international testing ground for urban renewal in all its forms. Utrecht is already the youngest city in the Netherlands in terms of the average age of its population. By 2018, over fifty per cent of ‘Utrechters’ will be under thirty. Young cities like to look to the future; they wish to explore and expand their horizons. This was
Why Utrecht?
Because we want to...
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amply illustrated in 2005 when the Netherlands held a referendum to decide whether it should ratify the treaty proposing a new European Constitution. The country as a whole voted against doing so (38.5% for, 61.5% against, turnout 63.3%). In Utrecht, however, the electorate voted overwhelmingly in favour. This reflects the outward-looking nature of our city. Utrecht’s universities and colleges ensure a continuous influx of young people. They are of a generation which simply cannot imagine a future without Europe. The process of internationalization has been ongoing in our city for many years, not only in the lecture room and laboratory, but also in the theatres, concert halls, pubs and cafés. There are some seventy thousand students in Utrecht, an increasing number of whom hail from other countries. Their interaction helps to form their attitudes and outlook for the rest of their lives. Utrecht is an important centre of education, at both the national and international level, and hence a vector of the future. Knowledge and culture thrive in such a context. Young people in Utrecht are not content to stand on the sidelines. They want to contribute, to take part. They are keen to see their ideas turned into firm action.
... and because we can! A city of knowledge and culture Utrecht has discovered its new identity as an urban region of knowledge and culture, a position which reflects the tumultuous growth the city has experienced as a melting pot of culture and education. Utrecht wants to show the world that it will be able to host, on behalf of the Netherlands, the European Capital of Culture. For many decades, Utrecht has worked diligently to raise the quality of its cultural amenities. Despite the current financial constraints, the municipality has maintained its culture budget at a high level. We continue to invest in talent development and in cultural participation, supporting various incubators and cultural hotspots. We support a diverse range of venues, as well as several adventurous festivals. Utrecht is among the top three cities in the Netherlands in terms of the size and scope of its cultural amenities. This is not merely our opinion but the findings of the 2012 Cultuurkaart van Nederland survey, which examined all aspects of culture – from theatre and live music to literature, film, heritage, museums and galleries – in fifty Dutch towns and cities.
The strength of Utrecht’s cultural life lies in teamwork and cooperation. Our ability to organize large-scale public events such as the ‘Cultural Sundays’ is the envy of many other cities. These events attract tens of thousands of visitors, including many from sections of society which are perhaps less known for their interest in cultural pursuits. Utrecht is proud to have achieved a high rate of cultural participation and we shall continue to reach out to all members of society with initiatives designed to attract yet more new visitors. The 2013 celebration of the tercentenary of the Treaty of Utrecht will give us valuable experience in interdisciplinary programming and in forging new alliances within the city, the region and at the international level. The challenge for 2018 will be to anchor the new connections and synergies firmly in the permanent cultural infrastructure of the city.
October 2012 Why Utrecht?
Utrecht is a city of culture with a unique character. We may not have a major international opera house or a megastadium which can house huge rock concerts, but we offer unrivalled diversity on a smaller scale. Utrecht is renowned for daring festivals, for its young talent, for experimentation and for artistic exchange with kindred spirits worldwide. New subcultures are constantly emerging. Many of our established institutions are members of international networks, while various organizations have an artistic director from another country and culture. The Early Music Festival, the Holland Animation Film Festival, the Spring Festival, Het Filiaal Youth Theatre, the BAK Institute for Contemporary Art and Gaudeamus are just a few of the organizations whose name and fame have spread far beyond Utrecht. The vibrancy of Utrecht’s cultural life reflects its status as a leading city of education. Our seventy thousand students make their mark on the city and its life every day. They are not only the eager ‘consumers’ of culture, but they are the organizers of many festivals and events, the producers and performers and – last but not least – enthousiastic volunteers. We shall delve deep into this huge pool of talent to find the young artists, organizers and producers who will ensure the success of Utrecht 2018.
Trust the Future, Create your City 1 Basic principles
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A candidate representing the Netherlands The importance of exchange and curiosity In June 2012, the physicist Robbert Dijkgraaf stepped down as president of the Royal Netherlands Academy of Arts and Sciences to take up a new post as director of the Institute for Advanced Studies in Princeton, United States. In his valedictory address, Dijkgraaf considered the Netherlands’ international position. “Our country is first of all an important centre of knowledge within Europe. (…) The birth of modern science in the seventeenth century was, in essence, a European achievement. Books, ideas, inventions and experiments were all freely exchanged at that time. All the various fields of research were in existence for centuries before they were formalized by the officials in Brussels. Europe was the domain of Erasmus, Huygens and De Groot. The Netherlands has a duty to embrace and perpetuate the vision of Europe as a centuries-old continent of knowledge…”
Dijkgraaf is an alumnus of Utrecht University and the ‘duty’ to which he refers applies equally to our city. It is a duty which we are keen to fulfil. As a city of knowledge and culture, Utrecht will continue to invest in the Netherlands as a freeport, of original thoughts and ideas. Europe has a long tradition of cooperation and exchange in scientific research, and in many other areas of human endeavour. The composers, painters, architects and philosophers of the past did not feel confined by national boundaries. Many found a very warm welcome in the Low Countries. This tradition of openness, tolerance and acceptance remains extremely important in times of crisis. Our city carries the DNA of the Low Countries in its blood and is a worthy representative of the national culture. One example of that culture is the famous ‘polder model’, whereby seemingly irreconcilable conflicts of interests can be overcome through negotiation to arrive at a workable and acceptable compromise. It is no coincidence that so many national trade unions have their headquarters in Utrecht, or that religious leaders of all denominations regularly convene in the city to hold their discussions.
What aspect of the title does your city consider most important?
1.1.2
The title of European Capital of Culture would enable Utrecht to explore the character of the Netherlands in the European context, and to give yet greater lustre to our country’s international reputation.
In 2003, the Dutch Ministry of Education, Culture and Science named Utrecht as the national ‘Culture City of the Year’. It did so in recognition of the quality, diversity and unique character of our programme, venues, museums, festivals and everyone involved in Utrecht’s cultural life. Today, nine years later, we present our proposal for hosting the European Capital of Culture 2018. We wish to build on past successes to make the move onto the European stage. We are eager to share our dreams and ideas about Europe and the role of its cities, and we welcome the ideas and reactions of our fellow Europeans. We see the creation of a common European future as the most important aspect of the title. It is with great pleasure and curiosity that we open our city and region in 2018 as a Trust Factory to explore the strengths and value of culture, knowledge and diversity.
Why Utrecht?
A common European future
Trust the Future, Create your City 1 Basic principles
The Dutch are an inventive people. Ever since the first dikes and dams were built, we have worked tirelessly to give form to our surroundings and to shape society itself. It is an ongoing process. The Dutch traditions of technical innovation and social design are both firmly rooted in Utrecht. In 1934, architect and designer Gerrit Rietveld created his iconic Crate Chair using scrap wood from packing cases. It was a radical answer to a radical time: the Great Depression. Today, Utrecht Manifest revolves around the latest developments in social design. The city authority is experimenting with new strategies in welfare, environmental management, social participation and safety in order to ensure that Utrecht remains a pleasant, attractive and ‘liveable’ city for everyone.
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SHARED CONFIDENCE
October 2012
FOCUS
Kytopia is a colourful collective of music studios and artists’ ateliers. In a former sawmill in the city centre, the project initiator – young trumpeter and bandleader Colin Benders, known professionally as Kyteman – set up a recording studio. He was soon joined by fellow artists of various nationalities who live and work together in this innovative musical ‘playground’. The location is temporary and the musicians know that they will eventually have to move somewhere else. “This encourages us to seize the opportunities of the moment,” says Benders, who is to take his ‘Kytopia Caravan’ on a European roadtrip in search of musical inspiration and new collaborators for Utrecht 2018.
Trust the Future, Create your City
Kytopia: a musical playground
Our Objectives
We want to present the concept of a common European future through exceptional cultural projects in which the local and international perspectives are intertwined, and in which Utrecht is brought into the European context alongside other cities. And we will show that cooperation opens up a wealth of new views.
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Offering perspective, building trust In a world of political uncertainty in which the established institutions are losing ground, we nevertheless remain optimistic. We want to demonstrate what culture can mean to the future of our city and that of Europe itself. We shall draw upon the cultural wealth of Europe and the quality of its communities, in which respect for the European ideals is firmly embedded. Our children and grandchildren should live, work and think in an international context of confidence and mutual trust. They must be able to make their own contribution to the city of the future: their city. Our Utrecht 2018 programme, with active participation by everyone in the city, will demonstrate how culture can create cohesion and meaning, and hence trust in the strength of the city. A precondition is that this process begins close to home. We must therefore seek the input of the general public from the very outset. People must be able to identify with the form and content of the programme; they must be actively engaged.
Artists and ‘creatives’ have an essential role to play: they feed our imagination, they tempt and seduce us, they spark our emotions and dispel our complacency. In other words, they continually create new perspectives. Utrecht and Europe come together in the Utrecht Principles, formulated as a result of the celebration of 300 years Treaty of Utrecht and encapsulating our key values: 1. Respect for cultural, ethnic and religious diversity 2. The strength of art and multilingualism in terms of social sustainability 3. The sharing of knowledge to promote social cohesion and renewal. They form the common denominator of all programme components. These principles underpin Utrecht’s education policy and social policy and inform the dialogue between people of different religions and cultures. They also form the foundation of Utrecht’s cultural policy, which attaches great importance to participation, cultural education, connection and cohesion.
October 2012 Our Objectives
What objectives will your city pursue as European Capital of Culture?
1.1.3
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Translating smart growth into firm action We shall show how Utrecht can combine growth, responsible urban development, a good quality of life and all the measures which will allow knowledge and creativity to prosper. New connections within the city, the Netherlands and Europe We shall demonstrate how Utrecht’s transformation can draw strength from the new alliances forged by Utrecht 2018. There will be various new partnerships between the creative sector, education and the business community, not only at the local level but also nationally and internationally. Utrecht will strengthen its ties with its European partners and form new bonds with a host of other European cities. If Europe wishes to retain its influence on the world stage, it must dare to trust in its own innovative strength. This is the challenge facing Europe, and hence the challenge facing Utrecht. We wish to create ongoing, sustainable cooperation between the cultural sector, education and the business community. Through our European Capital of Culture programme, we shall encourage organizations and individuals to develop approaches which will bring about a new balance between People, Planet and Profit, thus injecting fresh vitality into our society and bolstering its resilience. It is important to share knowledge and experience, not only within Europe but at the global level. The financial crisis and the emergence of other global economies force us to reconsider the qualities which set Europe apart. We must re-examine the essence of the European dream. What makes it different from the American dream... or the Indian or Chinese dream? Utrecht is eager to take on the role of ‘urban laboratory’: an incubator for new and inspiring ideas.
Utrecht is pursuing growth but at the same time we must maintain and preserve the quality of the human environment. This is no easy task, particularly in times of economic constraints and uncertainty. We must be ‘smart’ and circumspect, taking the wishes and requirements of local residents fully into account. We have selected a number of transition zones within the city and the wider region as development sites at which various creative and artistic projects can be developed, planned, produced and presented. These are the ‘testbeds’ at which the future of Utrecht will be presented to the general public in 2018. ‘Utrecht is a wonderful city in a beautiful garden,’ commented the visiting curator of a Chinese museum when looking out over the city from the Dom Tower. Utrecht is indeed surrounded by extensive open spaces and a historic landscape strewn with villages and small towns which have remained virtually unaltered for centuries. The region has numerous castles, forts and defence works which attest to its strategic military importance in bygone days. There are many country estates with magnificent houses. Rivers and canals run through the entire province, connecting the city to the sea and to the European hinterland. This precious green belt is becoming ever more intertwined with the urban fabric. The farmhouses of yesteryear have become ‘city farms’ with new urban functions alongside traditional agriculture. As European Capital of Culture, Utrecht will exploit the strengths of its outlying region to the full. We shall highlight the cultural heritage of the entire region and improve access to the many interesting sites (and sights) it has to offer.
TO
TOMORROW
Trust the Future, Create your City
October 2012
LONG-TERM AMBITIONS
LOOKING
FORWARD
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VISION AND CONCEPT
Utrecht 2018 the city as the basis of trust and confidence
Utrecht’s programme as European Capital of Culture 2018 will strive to build trust and confidence in the city and in Europe. In our concept, the city is seen as a human environment in transition, a creative learning environment, and an international meeting place for culture and knowledge. This vision has been translated into three programme lines: Habitat, Playground and Crossroads. The key building blocks of each line are imagination, connection and the young generation.
Explain the concept of the programme which would be launched if the city were to be nominated European Capital of Culture.
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The city as a human environment in transition The world is changing rapidly. One of the most visible developments is urbanization, a trend which raises enormous challenges and calls for a fundamental re-examination of the economic, social and cultural context of our cities. In this light, the cloud of the economic crisis has a silver lining: it offers opportunities for change. It forces planners to rethink their approach to urban growth and development. In Utrecht, after many years of large-scale physical growth, attention has now shifted to the quality of life in the urban setting: ‘liveability’ as experienced by residents themselves. The city is now seen more as a public space: a meeting place where people come together and interact.
New concepts such as temporary usage, re-usage and organic growth are entering the vocabulary of the urban planners. The current economic uncertainty has created opportunities for greater openness and flexibility in the development of urban districts. Utrecht has several transition zones in which the old, traditional functions are disappearing. To avoid the degeneration of these districts, with buildings standing vacant for years, temporary functions and re-use are practical options. An account of Utrecht’s demographic and physical development says little about how we wish to see the city develop as a community and as a home for the individual citizen. After all, it is the people, with all their differences and diverse backgrounds, who make a city. They form its social and cultural capital, the very heart and soul of the city. Cultural diversity is the hallmark of a vital urban region. The challenge is to ensure that pluriformity is productive, and that all groups and generations can create a place for themselves within the complex urban context. All residents must be able to take an active part in designing the human environment – their ‘habitat’ – so that they feel thoroughly at home in their own neighbourhood and street.
Trust the Future, Create your City 1 Basic principles
The programme for Utrecht 2018 will be structured to maximize the potential of culture and creativity in creating trust in the city, and to do so in a tangible way. This intention can only be achieved if there is a clear connection between the overall vision and the programme itself, with which local residents and visitors can identify. We have therefore selected three perspectives which correspond with the ongoing developments in our city as a part of Europe and the world. These perspectives underpin the structure, themes and content of the programme.
Vision and Concept
The city seen from three perspectives
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Cultural participation and cooperation have proven themselves a powerful means of strengthening the ties between groups and generations in the city. In Utrecht, this process has started to develop with the spontaneous emergence of bottom-up cultural and social initiatives. The city and region have a flourishing volunteer culture and a wealth of artistic platforms involving all sorts of partnerships and alliances. For many years, the municipality has invested in the infrastructure of neighbourhood cultural facilities, public art and amateur art. Community arts have become yet another essential component of the cultural ecology of our city. Local initiatives are a very effective means of involving everyone, including newcomers, young people at risk of social exclusion and those who have yet to develop a personal bond with the community, in the development of their neighbourhood and city. The city as a creative learning environment The city is a large, open playground in which one learns lessons for life. The culture of the city makes a significant contribution to the broad personal development of its residents. Individual success depends not only on personal effort or a good education: the atmosphere in which a person grows up is just as important. That atmosphere is determined by the proximity of concert halls, and parks, pop venues, museums and even restaurants and cafĂŠs where one can engage in conversation with the entire world.
What cultural baggage do people need in order to hold their own in our rapidly changing world? This is a relevant and topical question, especially in a region in which so many people spend their days in the classroom or lecture room. We find ourselves in times of great uncertainty. Citizens of all ages must learn to deal with that uncertainty. They must prepare themselves to face a complex and unpredictable future, and must be able to form their own ideas about life and the world they live in. They must be able to balance their own interests and perspectives against those of their fellow citizens. In short, we need a contemporary version of the nineteenth-century Bildungsideal: Utrecht wishes to offer its young residents every opportunity, both in the classroom and beyond to develop into responsible citizens with a broad outlook and wideranging interests. Utrecht is bringing that ideal within reach through its development as an attractive and open European city. It is an international centre of education with a full cultural programme and an economy which centres on knowledge and innovation. In our vision, culture and economy are closely intertwined. A vital artistic climate acts as the driver of innovation and economic development. It is a key factor in the attractiveness of the city as a business location, and thus helps to create jobs. Utrecht is well on the way towards achieving its ambitions. In the Randstad conurbation, which the city is a part of, the economic importance of the creative industry is already visible and continues to grow.
The city as the international meeting place of culture and knowledge Europe’s ability to visualize the future is rooted in the cultural and creative dynamic of its cities. Those cities are among the most vital and vibrant cultural centres anywhere in the world, symbolizing freedom of thought. We can detect the typical ‘European touch’ in many artistic disciplines, in architecture, philosophy and science. With its strong profile of knowledge and culture, Utrecht is the epitome of an internationally oriented city. And with its creative and higher education sectors it increasingly becomes a serious player on the European stage.
October 2012 Vision and Concept
In recent decades, Utrecht has established a promising position as the ‘breeding ground’ of new artistic initiatives, from new start-ups in the creative sector to artistic research and social design. The challenge is now to build upon the foundations we have laid to create new coalitions and greater synergy between the creative sector, the field of education and research and the business community in our region. This is the key to unlocking our ‘innovation capital’. It will provide the basis for new forms of learning, living and creating. Knowledge, creativity and economic endeavour are still too often regarded as separate entities. They must be fused into one.
Utrecht and Europe are no strangers to each other. Our city was founded as a garrison on the boundary of the Roman Empire. It owes its name to the ford, or trajectum, at which the Romans could cross the Rhine. For centuries, the Archdiocese of Utrecht represented a religious power of world importance. And three hundred years ago, in 1713, a colourful gathering of envoys and emissaries converged on the city to prepare and sign the treaties which all together would establish the Treaty of Utrecht, a milestone in European history. To this day, there are countless threads which tie us to our neighbouring regions and countries: art and politics, sport and science, tourism and trade. Moreover, we continue to welcome new ‘Utrechters’ – including many researchers, scientists and students – from all corners of Europe. Utrecht’s international orientation is based in part on well-intentioned self interest. The Utrecht region, which forms part of the north-western wing of the Randstad conurbation, is among the strongest in Europe in economic terms, and has everything needed to cement its long-term standing as a driver of the European economy. Our thousands of scientists, researchers, artists, teachers and students represent an inexhaustible pool of creative innovators. They are members of a generation which is already cooperating at the international level to secure the future of the generations yet to come, in areas as diverse as climate, energy, demographics, health, social cohesion and the financial markets.
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Utrecht welcomes Europe: envoys negotiate the Treaty of Utrecht in the city hall, 1711–1713.
THE TREATY OF UTRECHT, 1713
Utrecht will commemorate the Treaty of Utrecht with an extensive cultural programme under the motto, The Art of Making Peace. It will actively involve many other European states and cities. The tercentenary has inspired us to formulate the modern-day Utrecht Principles. which encapsulate our key values: 1. Respect for cultural, ethnic and religious diversity 2. The strength of art and multiculturalism in terms of social sustainability 3. The sharing of knowledge to promote social cohesion and renewal. These three principles form the basis for the development of a local human rights policy and culture. The celebration of the Treaty of Utrecht will provide much valuable experience and inspiration for Utrecht’s role as European Capital of Culture 2018.
Trust the Future, Create your City
In 2013, the City of Utrecht and the Province of Utrecht are to celebrate the tercentenary of the Treaty of Utrecht, a series of agreements signed on 11 April 1713. These agreements brought an end to the War of the Spanish Succession, establishing a new balance of power in Europe. The effects were also felt in the colonies of North and South America. In essence, the Treaty of Utrecht was at global peace agreement, paving the way for European cooperation and conflict management for centuries to come. Suddenly, Utrecht became the diplomatic centre of Europe. Envoys from France, Great Britain, Portugal, Savoy, Brandenburg-Prussia and the Republic of the Netherlands met in the town hall. Their negotiations went on for some eighteen months. The people of Utrecht provided lavish entertainment – balls, parties, theatrical performances and extravagant dinners – to create an atmosphere which would bring the parties together. The events of 1712 and 1713 set the tone for a tradition of international diplomacy. The long period of peace which ensued enabled Europe to flourish both socially and culturally.
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Mindmap for the Treaty of Utrecht tercentenary celebrations.
Trust the Future, Create your City
October 2012
Utrecht 2018 Trust Factory
We present Utrecht 2018 as a cultural, mental, economic and physical building project: a ‘Trust Factory’, a workshop for building trust and confidence, in ourselves, each other, the city and Europe. From the many discussions we organized about the development of our city we distilled three clear themes. These themes form the texture of our immediate future and are a programmatic translation of the three earlier described city perspectives. We have named them Habitat, Playground and Crossroads. In combination, they represent the energy and courage we need to do things differently.
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Playground
Crossroads
Exploring the strength of culture and knowledge The city is an open playground in which one learns about the world. The culture of the city makes a significant contribution to the Bildung, or éducation permanente, of each successive generation. The city is a campus, a seedbed of talent, a school for life, both inside and beyond the classroom.
Investing in the strength of Europe The city is also an international meeting place, a centre of convergence and collaboration, of cultural exchange and cross-fertilization. Mutual trust in the European context relies on awareness of our cultural commonality and shared values, our shared history and our shared future. Human rights and ‘unity in diversity’ are among the key values of Europe.
Trust the Future, Create your City 1 Basic principles
Experiencing the strength of the city The urban fabric consists of buildings, streets and squares, parks and canals, industrial sites, railways and waterways and many areas of indeterminate usage, if any. This is the physical environment in which people give form to their lives, pursue their dreams, live alongside each other and collaborate. It is here that they raise their children and develop their talents. The ‘Habitat’ theme is all about the city as a human environment. It is about how we structure that environment to provide a comfortable home, how we can make productive use of cultural differences, and how we can strengthen local democracy.
Vision and Concept
Habitat
Freeport for imagination Programme building blocks Culture as oxygen “We should broaden our definition of culture to find new support, by letting the public know that culture is not like some overprized bottle of champagne but like oxygen, something that helps us, in one way or another, to breathe life into our own existence, making it possible to cross boundaries, embrace different viewpoints, and share common experiences with strangers.” So said Bas Heijne, Dutch writer and cultural commentator, at the Eurocities Culture Forum held in Utrecht in April 2012. We can offer another quote, this time by Maria Hlavajova who is director of BAK, the Utrecht centre for contemporary art which works alongside sister institutes in all parts of Europe: “Before the transformative momentum of today settles, art must not let go of the possibility and responsibility to contribute its imaginings of how the world of tomorrow will be. Chances are, however, that imagining the world otherwise will need to remain an imperative function of art for all time.”
We thoroughly endorse these viewpoints, which go to the core of Utrecht’s candidacy. Without the imaginative power of artists and creatives, our cities have no future. They will simply shrivel away. Art shows us who we are; it can move people, hold up a critical mirror to society, and it can inspire change. Artists confront us with unexpected perspectives. They can set us in motion. Art allows the city and its people to breathe; it gives them colour and character. Trust the Future, Create the City – the motto of Utrecht 2018 – could be the motto of art itself. After all, without trust in the future there is no curiosity, no inquisitiveness, no experimentation, no confrontation and no risk. There is no room for large-scale failures, but there is also no room for artistic achievements of the first order. Utrecht 2018 will provide an open setting for the artistic visualization of the city of the future.
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Youth centre stage
The Utrecht 2018 team is working closely alongside the universities and other institutes of higher education, their student organizations and the Dutch National Youth Council, which has its headquarters in Utrecht. The Council has formed a ‘trend team’ to act as advisors and mediators between the professionals and its members throughout the Netherlands. Our close contacts with international student organizations such as AEGEE (motto: ‘Some call it Europe, we call it home’) enable us to establish connections with creative young people elsewhere in Europe. Utrecht is building upon the partnerships forged through its involvement in the Antwerp European Youth Capital 2011 programme, its links with past youth capitals (Rotterdam 2009 and Turin 2010) and we will also link up with the European Youth Capital 2013, the city of Maribor. Our collaboration enables us to gain valuable expertise and experience in programming for younger target groups in a European perspective.
Vision and Concept
To establish connections is itself an art, and one which can demand years of investment and preparation. In recent years, Utrecht has gained much valuable experience in promoting cultural participation, and in using art and culture to strengthen the city’s neighbourhoods. We have mobilized the ‘happy many’. It is no coincidence that we have designated the Treaty of Europe tercentenary celebrations as an essential stepping stone on the way to Utrecht 2018. In preparing for the tercentenary in 2013, Utrecht has developed an approach which relies on the input and full participation of cultural organizations, schools, universities, the private sector, social organizations and the general public. We have assembled a small army of ‘connectors’ and ‘bridgebuilders’: local organizations and individuals who know their city inside out but are also thoroughly familiar with Europe and the world of art, culture and festivals. They know how Utrecht’s heritage is intertwined with European history. They know how to bring people together: the public with artists, the cultural sector with schools and the business community, and the young with the not-so-young. Our approach is one of co-creation, co-production and co-financing. We shall apply this approach in our preparations for 2018, when the ‘bridgebuilders’ will once again form an essential link in the chain.
Utrecht is the most youthful city in the Netherlands, and seems set to remain so for the foreseeable future. Utrecht 2018 will therefore devote considerable attention to the next generation. Young people from Utrecht and their contemporaries in Europe will be invited to devise a substantial part of the European Capital of Culture programme, and to organize the relevant activities themselves. However, Utrecht 2018 will not be all about young people. It will also examine how the various generations can learn and draw inspiration from each other in these dynamic times. The master-apprentice principle will play an important part in all our preparations, and in as many programme components as possible. But let us remember that the ‘master’ is not necessarily the most senior in years. In 2018, we shall all be 18!
Trust the Future, Create your City 1 Basic principles
The art of connecting
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Could this programme be summed up by a slogan?
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UTRECHT, CITY OF EDUCATION
One of the Utrecht Principles calls on the city to pursue ‘the exchange of knowledge to promote social cohesion and renewal’. Representatives of all types of educational institute, from primary school to university, have endorsed this objective and have joined forces in the Utrecht Education Agenda organization. It places the development of young people’s talents (where ‘young’ is defined as from birth to twenty) in a broad framework of social cohesion, the neighbourhood, cultural amenities and youth welfare work. The Utrecht Education Agenda is fully involved in Utrecht’s bid to become European Capital of Culture 2018.
Regional Training Centres The Province of Utrecht has two large regional training centres – ROC Midden Nederland and ROC ASA – which provide intermediate vocational education and a wide range of courses for adults. They have a total of 28,000 students.
Utrecht University Utrecht University has seven faculties which cover the entire spectrum of academic and scientific endeavour in both education and research. Since its foundation in 1636, the university has developed to become a thoroughly modern institution with a high international reputation. According to the most recent Academic Ranking of World Universities (the ‘Shanghai Ranking’) it is number one in the Netherlands and number 12 in Europe. The university has 30,000 students, some of whom attend the prestigious international honours graduate programme offered by University College, which has its own campus in the city. Universiteit voor Humanistiek The Universiteit voor Humanistiek (Humanist University) is a small institute with four hundred students. Its buildings are located in the very centre of Utrecht. The university conducts research and provides educational programmes based on the humanist philosophy which espouses a secular state and equal treatment in law and policy, regardless of religion or belief.
Trust the Future, Create your City
Utrecht’s position as a city of education is already strong, and compares favourably with other large cities in the Netherlands. Ours is one of the very few cities in which both population and employment opportunity will continue to grow in the decades ahead. This means that we shall remain a relatively youthful city, with increasing demand for education at all levels. The city’s employment market is notable for having the highest proportion (54%) of graduate positions in the country, with a particularly marked concentration of knowledge workers. The current population of just over 300,000 includes no fewer than 137,000 children and young people in education. The city’s primary schools have 27,000 pupils, secondary schools have 10,000 students, with a further 28,000 in intermediate vocational education. Between them, the universities and other institutes of higher education account for no fewer than 70,000 students.
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Hogeschool Utrecht Hogeschool Utrecht is better known as HU University of Applied Sciences, Utrecht. It has six faculties providing professional training in Education, Healthcare, Society and Law, Economics and Business Management, Applied Technology, and Communication & Journalism. The institute offers eighty undergraduate programmes (with a total of 34,000 students) and 27 postgraduate programmes (with approximately 4,300 students). Utrecht School of the Arts Arts education is also at a high level in our city thanks to the Utrecht School of the Arts (HKU). Its 3,800 students represent almost every imaginable discipline, from the visual arts and design to music, theatre, gaming and interactive IT, media and arts management. HKU has campuses in Utrecht, Hilversum and Amersfoort. Utrecht 2018 Utrecht’s knowledge institutes are involved in the preparations for Utrecht 2018 on various fronts, and have contributed to many of the programme proposals in this bid book, including the Museum of the Future project and the international education programme, Your kids and theirs. All student music societies have agreed to take part in the first performance of the large-scale composition, A European Puzzle.
The future of science Utrecht University plans to hold a series of international symposia on the future of science, concluding in 2018 itself. Like other social institutions, the world of science and research is in something of a crisis of confidence. Internet users consider scientific articles to be no more reliable than other less academic sources. How can we pass on our trust in the authority and integrity of science to future generations? The established scientific spearheads of Utrecht University will form the basis of international symposia on: — The future-proof city — The future of institutions — The youth of tomorrow — The future of health and healthcare.
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‘Tools for survival in the twenty-first century’
“Education is not all about knowledge and facts. Given the rapid changes in our society, it is difficult or even impossible to predict young people’s future career prospects. For this reason, we have opted not to focus solely on examination results and diplomas. Our students’ personal growth is equally important. We use art and culture as a vehicle for learning. The involvement of creative professionals, artistic institutes, musicians and dancers is an integral part of the curriculum. This is one reason that we are so enthusiastic about the Utrecht 2018 project. Our school is taking part in the ‘Create your City’ project, and students are producing their own version of the bid book in which they present their ideas for the city of the future. We want our students to feel part of Utrecht itself. We are trying to bring the old city into our new district by forming various creative alliances. We must give our youngsters the ‘tools for survival’ in the uncertain world of the twenty-first century. What sort of citizens do they want to become? How can they avoid being overwhelmed by the social media? They must learn to manage risks. Open the windows, look outside, meet the future – that is the challenge!”
FOCUS
Go Ape in Science Park Utrecht Science Park, which is home to HU University of Applied Sciences and many of Utrecht University’s faculties, will be an important venue for activities in 2018. The proposed programme includes the Beschaving (‘Civilization’) festival and a special edition of the annual Cultural Sundays event, presenting art, knowledge and theatre to a broad public. The university’s Botanical Gardens will form the ideal location for APE, the Artistic Energy Park. Here, an area the size of several football pitches will be devoted to mobile installations powered by visitor interaction: pulling, pushing, lifting, rolling, dancing and jumping. Visitors will see at first hand how much energy their movements can generate. Without the people, there will be no art and without participation, no energy. The Energy Park will be a growing project based on an initial installation in 2012 and a ‘testbed’ event in 2013. It will culminate in 2018, the year in which Utrecht hopes to host the European Capital of Culture. The organizers (the Artistic Energy Park Foundation) can already count on the support of a long list of partners, including artists, scientists, schools and neighbourhood groups.
Trust the Future, Create your City
Jeanine Vlastuin is principal of Amadeus Lyceum, Utrecht, a secondary school in the new district of Vleuterweide (Leidsche Rijn) which attaches considerable importance to art and culture in its curriculum.
BILDUNG
3.0
CONNEC ING CONNECT
CULT L URE LT & KNOWLEDGE
Trust the Future, Create your City
The city is an open playground where you learn for life. October 2012
Utrecht, city of education: the Science Park welcomes thousands of students every day.
Trust the Future, Create your City
Utrecht has been the Netherlands’ top university for ten consecutive years, according to the University of Shanghai’s Academic Ranking of World Universities. It is in joint twelfth place in Europe. October 2012
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CITY AND REGION
Wonderful city in a beautiful garden
The city of Utrecht is the capital of the province of the same name. City and province are closely linked, both geographically and historically. Much of the history of Europe can be seen in our roads, rivers and ancient defence lines. The local and provincial authorities have long worked together to build a future as a strong and prominent European region of knowledge and culture.
European crossroads in city and region Take a Sunday afternoon bike ride in the countryside around Utrecht (as many people do) and you may form the impression that there is space to spare in our province. You may be surprised to discover the ‘wonderful garden’ which surrounds the hectic city. Our province has an extremely varied landscape. However, the cycle routes and impressive country estates do not tell the whole story. With 1.2 million people occupying an area of just 1,450 square kilometres, ours is the most densely populated region in the Netherlands. The city and province of Utrecht are inextricably linked, and not just in name. Together with Amsterdam, Rotterdam and The Hague, Utrecht forms the western conurbation of the Netherlands known as the Randstad. Utrecht’s central location places it at the hub of the country’s road, rail and waterway networks. The city and region therefore play an important role in the nation’s economic wellbeing. There are constant efforts to improve accessibility and connections with the delta region, the mainports of Rotterdam and Schiphol Amsterdam Airport, and the European hinterland. However, growth and accessibility must never be allowed to impinge on the unique historic and topographical qualities of the region, or detract from the attractiveness of the villages and smaller towns. Urbanization brings clear risks and disadvantages. Our province wishes to meet the ongoing demand for housing, employment and recreation, not only today but far into the future. At the same
time, we must ensure that enough land is reserved for agriculture and nature. An active policy is required, one which can reconcile the interests of the city and its youthful urban population with those of the region as a whole, in which the average age continues to rise. Our challenge for the twenty-first century is to find an appropriate balance between these sometimes conflicting interests. This is one reason why the city and provincial authorities, already close partners in so many areas, have decided to join forces in applying to be European Capital of Culture 2018. The attractiveness of the city as the home base of students and researchers, as a key business location and as a partner in international exchanges relies in no small measure on the proximity of the oasis of green just beyond its boundaries. The region as a whole flourishes by virtue of the dynamics and innovative strength of its capital and its second largest city, Amersfoort. Town and countryside, previously separate worlds, are becoming ever more intertwined. On the one hand, the rural areas are being urbanized. On the other, more greenery and green areas are being introduced into the city itself. Utrecht and its surrounding region are growing into each other in an entirely new way. Other regions in Europe face the challenges of growth and will see a similar transition. For this reason, the ‘symbiotic’ growth of the city and its surrounding region forms an important theme of the Utrecht 2018 programme.
October 2012 City and Region
Which geographical area does the city intend to involve in the European Capital of Culture event? Explain this choice. 1.4
Trust the Future, Create your City 1 Basic principles
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UTRECHT PROVINCE
UTRECHT CITY
City and Region
AMERSFOORT
Trust the Future, Create your City 1 Basic principles
Motorway
Railway
Water
Built-up area
Wood/nature area
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Two thousand years of European Stories Two thousand years of history have left their mark on the typical Dutch landscape of the Utrecht region. The province has 26 separate municipalities (local authority areas), each representing a town or city with its surrounding villages. The two largest cities in the province are Utrecht and Amersfoort. The various settlements are interlinked by a system of roads, waterways and historic defence lines which traverse the central Netherlands. We intend to involve all cities, towns and villages in the Utrecht 2018 project, when the history of the local infrastructure will once again come to life through theatre, animations, computer simulations and games. Many of today’s major roads follow exactly the same route as those which crossed the province centuries ago. The Limesweg is a good example: it forms part of the largest archaeological linear structure in Europe, marking the boundary line of the Roman Empire. It runs from Woerden in the west, through Utrecht’s historic city centre and Leidsche Rijn to Wijk bij Duurstede in the east. Another example is the Via Regia, part of the centuries-old road to Cologne, alongside which many wealthy Utrecht citizens built their country retreats in the late eighteenth century. There is a belt of over one hundred luxurious country estates and manor houses known as the Stichtse Lustwarande. To protect Utrecht and the Netherlands against foreign invaders, the Dutch devised an ingenious system of defence lines. There were not only stone walls and forts from which to repel the enemy, but water defences and large tracts of land which could be flooded at will. Much of this ‘New Dutch Water Line’, including some 45 forts, can still be seen today running through the province from north to south.
The city and region also share the common heritage of Utrecht’s historic city centre and many museums. Moreover, they share many national and European stories which have unfolded here. The eighteenth-century writer Belle van Zuylen lived in a castle alongside the river Vecht, from where she maintained a regular correspondence with the great minds of Europe. As a young law student, James Boswell fell madly in love with her while on his ‘Grand Tour’ of Europe. Napoleon built an entire road for his army to complete their invasion. In the closing days of World War I, Kaiser Wilhelm II sought refuge in Doorn. These and many other European stories played out against the backdrop of Utrecht. They will be retold in 2018. The region in 2018 If designated European Capital of Culture 2018, Utrecht will eagerly seize the opportunity to revisualize its twothousand-year history and the region’s long-standing links with Europe. We shall demonstrate how we conserve our heritage, based on the Dutch approach to urban planning and landscape management, even in the face of rapid growth. Recent decades have seen significant investment in our stewardship of cultural heritage and natural values on behalf of future generations. In the run-up to 2018, we shall redefine and revalue this important cultural capital, giving it a new life and significance by placing it in the European context.
Trust the Future, Create your City
A new life for our regional heritage: Soestdijk Palace, former home of Queen Juliana, an exciting location for exhibitions and theatrical performances. October 2012
Farmer and philosopher Jan Huijgen, winner of the European Sicco Mansholt Prize 2007 and champion of the regional food culture.
Trust the Future, Create your City
FARMER BUSINESSMAN PHILOSOPHER
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Please confirm that you have the support of the local and/or regional political authorities. 1.5
Support of local and regional authorities As long ago as the year 2000, Utrecht’s municipality expressed the ambition of hosting a future European Capital of Culture, the next time when the Netherlands would be invited to deliver a candidate. It then implemented a long-term strategy designed to strengthen the cultural infrastructure of the city and its international profile, and accordingly, the annual programme budget has noted and made provisions for this ambition. It gave focus to the municipality’s culture policy and more recently also to its urban development and city marketing strategies.
The provincial authority aligned itself with the ambition in 2004, leading to a Letter of Intent which was later formalized in a cooperation agreement. The celebration of the tercentenary of the Treaty of Utrecht in 2013 forms part of the joint preparations for 2018 and of the international profiling of Utrecht as a ‘city and region of knowledge and culture’. The municipality is the lead partner in the European Capital of Culture project, and will assume overall responsibility for all activities should the title be awarded to Utrecht. In 2005, the two authorities were jointly responsible for setting up the Treaty of Utrecht Foundation to prepare for both the tercentenary celebrations and the application for the title European Capital of Culture. The foundation works closely alongside representatives of the cultural sector, education and the business community, as well as with the elected officials and staff of various municipal and provincial departments. Utrecht 2018 is therefore a project involving the entire city, other towns in the province, and a host of regional cultural organizations.
Trust the Future, Create your City
Local businesses support Utrecht’s ambitions. October 2012
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EUROPE AND UTRECHT
European Dimension
Connection, research, exchange and a constructive dialogue: these are the key ingredients of renewed trust and a vibrant, modern European culture. Cities have a vital role to play in establishing that culture. They have both a local and a global outlook; they connect the small-scale with the entire world. With Utrecht 2018 we wish to connect the world of a Dutch city and region with the future of Europe.
Explain how the event could fulfil the criteria listed below. In terms of ‘the European dimension’, state how your city intends to contribute to the following objectives:
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Trust the Future, Create your City 1 Basic principles
Windows and doors wide open Despite the open attitude and international orientation of Utrecht as a city, there is still some way to go in ensuring that all citizens hold Europe in such high regard. The European Capital of Culture title has nothing to do with European politics as such, and can therefore do little or nothing to resolve scepticism with regard to the political processes. Nevertheless, being European Capital of Culture can indeed help to foster involvement in Europe, particularly in terms of shared values, history and culture. This process begins by focusing on the community in our own city, which brings together people of so many different cultures, languages and backgrounds. However, more is needed: the city cannot survive without external stimuli. In 2005, Utrecht hosted the annual conference of the International Network for the Contemporary Performing Arts (IEPM), attended by some six hundred delegates from 43 countries. The theme was ‘bonding and bridging’ under the motto, ‘If you close all the windows and doors, a house will very quickly start to
smell’. Wise words, which take on even greater significance in times of crisis. On its way to 2018, Utrecht will throw all its windows and doors wide open. We shall invite artists, creative thinkers, cultural operators and producers from all parts of Europe and the world to join us in imagining the Europe of the future. We shall do so through projects and events which appeal to a broad public. All will highlight both the cultural diversity of Europe and the common bonds which all Europeans share. We shall exploit the cultural richness and European history of the city and region, and we shall make full use of the many international networks to which our creative sector, educational institutes and private sector companies belong. The concept of connectivity – in the sense of networks which facilitate connection and cooperation – is all the more urgent in these times of financial crisis and uncertainty about the future of Europe. Hosting the European Capital of Culture will enable us to strengthen our connectivity with Europe, but also with the emerging economies in other parts of the world. We firmly believe that this will benefit Utrecht, the region and Europe as a whole.
Europe and Utrecht
— to strengthen cooperation between the cultural operators, artists and cities of your country and other member states, in all cultural sectors; — to highlight the richness of cultural diversity in Europe; — to bring the common aspects of European cultures to the fore. Please explain how the event can help to forge closer ties between the city and Europe.
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How is the European dimension reflected in the Utrecht 2018 programme? Cooperation between artists and cultural organizations in Utrecht and other parts of Europe — The Summer of 18 festival will involve cooperation between various European youth organizations. Thousands of young people will converge on Central Park Soesterberg, the former Soesterberg military airbase, for this ten-day event at which artists will present their vision of the European Dream. — In Former West, various European art institutes examine the changing position of the West following the fall of the Berlin Wall in 1989. — The ten festivals of the Port Europa project will bring the cultural dynamic of other countries to Utrecht. The guest curators will be given carte blanche. — Hacking Habitat, directed by Ine Gevers, will bring politically engaged artists and organizations from all over Europe together in a project with an ‘activist’ tint. — The theatre company Het Filiaal is to invite young theatre producers from various European countries to devise and present the Podium 18 programme.
Highlighting the cultural diversity of Europe — Local musician Colin Benders, who works under the stage name Kyteman, will undertake a European roadtrip in search of new inspiration. He will invite fellow musicians, from Spain in the west to the Baltic states in the east, to join him in creating a new ‘European fusion’. — Writers and poets from Utrecht will join their European counterparts in a festival examining the literary identity of cities. — The Amazigh Festival will celebrate the Berber culture (which originated in North Africa but can now be found in various parts of Europe) in Utrecht and beyond. — In the Cultural Village of Europe project, young people from European villages will meet in a village near Utrecht to share their thoughts and ideas about the future of the rural areas.
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Highlighting the common aspects of European cultures — Several European museums and cultural operators in various disciplines will be involved in projects celebrating Caravaggio and his significance to European art. The programme is being developed by Utrecht’s Centraal Museum in association with sister institutions in Valletta, Edinburgh and Toledo.
— The European history of Utrecht lies concealed at various locations in the city and province. The Hidden Museum of Europe will give this heritage a new dimension through visualizations by cinematographers, computer games designers and artists. — A major exhibition about Pope Adrian VI will illustrate Utrecht’s special place in both the history and future of religion in Europe.
— The Expo Create your City project will involve European cities in ongoing research examining the significance of culture in terms of urban development. — An exhibition entitled The future of Rietveld will place the work of this great Utrecht designer in the international context of the modernist movement. — The Utrecht Manifest Biennale will invite international artists and worldrenowned experts in social design to contribute ideas which can help Utrecht and other European cities to achieve its urban renewal objectives.
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The relationship between the city and Europe
Trust the Future, Create your City 1 Basic principles
— The Christian martyr Saint Martin of Tours has been part of the shared European heritage since the fourth century. There is a European Cultural Route which links many European towns that were part of the life of Saint Martin, as well as those with a significant architectural heritage linked to his veneration. In 2018, a lamplight procession will pass through Utrecht. All countries along the Saint Martin route will be invited to take part.
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Similar Cities Network For Utrecht 2018 we will draw much inspiration from the Similar Cities Network (SCN). This informal alliance was formed in 2008, with Utrecht as a founder member. It now includes Aarhus, Bologna, Edinburgh, Ghent, Malmö and Stuttgart. These are cities with much in common: all have a historic city centre, a large university and a dynamic cultural climate which welcomes experimentation. Moreover, all face similar issues in terms of urban development, mobility and sustainability. Local government staff from the member cities maintains close contact, sharing knowledge and experiences with regard to common policy themes, European legislation and subsidies. There is a full programme of annual exchange visits and conferences. Each year, up to ten officials from Utrecht spend time in another city as part of the ‘Europe-proof’ exchange programme. The Similar Cities Network also offers opportunities for professional artists and cultural organizations to meet their European counterparts and gain international experience. In 2011, for example, a delegation of festival organizers from Utrecht met with their festival colleagues in Edinburgh, while a Utrecht youth theatre group made their European debut at the Edinburgh Fringe.
The Similar Cities Network is still relatively young. In the years ahead, we intend to consolidate the exchange of ideas about urban development, and will launch a number of cultural initiatives. In 2012, the network partners joined forces in two projects which will provide valuable input for the Utrecht 2018 programme. First, and at the initiative of Utrecht itself, the seven partners will develop a joint strategy for ‘The City as a Creative Place – Urban Development and the Creative Sector.’ Once again, this will involve sharing knowledge and experience, particularly that relating to the use of culture and creativity in strengthening the transition zones in the city. The keywords are temporary usage, sustainability, flexibility and ownership. We will link this strategy to activities which promote the mobility of art and artists, and which establish a relationship with research and education in all member cities. This could be given form through an exchange of artists, scientists and teachers ‘in residence’ within our transition zones.
Sensing Similar Cities is a project launched by Aarhus which is now taking form in close collaboration with Utrecht. Other cities will join as the project progresses. Artists, creatives and academics from various disciplines will act as ‘creative commentators’. They visit the Network cities and, based on their experiences and observations, create joint visualizations to illustrate their ideas. This project will give rise to various public events and exhibitions, especially if both cities succeed in their bids to become European Capitals of Culture. Utrecht shall also participate in another project launched by Aarhus, Cultural Institutions of Tomorrow. As Aarhus describes it, “the project aims to develop models for cultural institutions for 2025. Participating institutions will include local museums, theatres, community centres, galleries, and sports halls. (…) The project has a strong European dimension: EuroCities is an active partner in the project, and eight cities will participate through seminars and design programmes.” Utrecht will be one of them.
EUROPE
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UTRECHTERS AND EUROPE Dick Bruna (1927 is a graphic designer, illustrator and writer of children’s book. In his early years he was influenced by designers and artists of De Stijl. He became world famous with his children’s books about Miffy. The adventures of the white rabbit have been translated into more than fifty languages.
Pope Adrian VI, born Adriaan Floriszoon Boeyens (1459-1523), the son of a ship’s carpenter. He was a professor at the University of Leuven and advisor to Charles V. In 1522, Adrian became the first (and so far only) Dutch pope.
Anthonius Mor van Dashorst (c. 1519-1575), also known as Antonis Mor, the most celebrated portrait painter of sixteenthcentury Europe. He was court painter to Charles V, where his subjects included such luminaries as Philip II, Margaretha of Parma, the Duke of Alba and William of Orange.
Nobleman, musician and composer Jacob van Eyck (c. 1590 -1657). As an expert in bell casting and tuning, he was appointed Utrecht’s ‘Master of the Carillons’. He also composed a huge number of works for recorder which proved so popular when performed at the Janskerkhof that church authorities increased his wage. His epic Fluyten Lust-hof (The Flute’s Heavenly Pleasure Garden), published between 1644 and 1649, remains the largest work for a solo wind instrument in European history.
Belle van Zuylen (1740-1805), also known as Isabelle de Charrière, spent her early life at Slot Zuylen near Utrecht before settling (at the age of 31) at Neuchâtel in Switzerland. She also spent much time in Geneva and Paris. Mme de Charrière was a writer, philosopher and composer. She conducted an extensive correspondence with the ‘enlightened thinkers’ of the day, including James Boswell.
Three prominent figures of the De Stijl movement hailed from Utrecht. Designer and architect Gerrit Rietveld (1888-1964) spent his entire life in the province, where much of his work can still be seen. Theo van Doesburg (1883-1931) founded the journal De Stijl in 1917. Piet Mondrian (1872-1944) was born in Amersfoort, in a house attached to the school at which his father was head teacher. The school and house are now the Mondriaanhuis Museum of Constructive and Concrete Art.
Anton Mussert (1894-1946) played a far less auspicious role in European history. He was founder and leader of the National Socialist Movement (the Dutch arm of the National Socialist German Workers Party) which had its headquarters on Maliebaan in Utrecht. During the Nazi occupation, Mussert was acknowledged (by the occupiers at least) as the leader of the Dutch people. He was executed for treason in 1946.
Herman van Veen (b. 1945), singer, performer, producer, writer and painter. Van Veen is the creator of the cartoon duck Alfred J. Kwak, star of a television series which has been broadcast in at least twenty countries (and languages) worldwide. Van Veen has championed children’s rights for over fifty years. He is the founder and patron of several foundations and a UNICEF ambassador.
In 1999, Gerard ’t Hooft (b. 1946) and Martinus Veltman (b. 1931) won the Nobel Prize in Physics for “elucidating the quantum structure of electroweak interactions”.
Prince Willem Alexander, heir to the Dutch throne, was born in Utrecht in 1967 and spent his youth at Castle Drakensteyn, also in the province. His grandmother Princess (formerly Queen) Juliana lived at Soestdijk Palace in nearby Baarn, and it is here that Queen Beatrix grew up.
Janine Jansen (b, 1978), noted violinist and founder of the annual Utrecht International Chamber Music Festival. Jansen has performed throughout the world with leading orchestras such as the Berlin Philharmonic, the London Symphony Orchestra and the New York Philharmonic. In 2005, her recording of Vivaldi’s Four Seasons was the first classical release to enter the iTunes Top Twenty downloaded albums in the United States.
EUROPEANS IN UTRECHT
René Descartes (1596-1650) spent several years in the Netherlands, of which at least two in Utrecht. It was here that he wrote most of his renowned Discours de la méthode. Following a ‘difference of opinion’ with the theologian Voetius, his works were proscribed by the city fathers. It was not until 2005 that Utrecht University officially announced his ‘rehabilitation’, thus lifting the ban. In 2007, the university opened the Descartes Centre for the History and Philosophy of the Sciences and the Humanities.
George Frideric Handel (16851759) was a German-British composer of the baroque period. In 1713, the English royal family commissioned him to write the Utrecht Te Deum and Jubilate to celebrate the signing of the Treaty of Utrecht earlier that year. The work has since become the centrepiece of the annual Treaty of Utrecht Concert and was recorded by the Netherlands Bach Society in 2010.
In 1806, Louis Napoleon Bonaparte (1778-1846) was appointed King of Holland by his brother Napoleon Bonaparte (1769-1821). In 1807, Louis chose to establish his court in Utrecht. A grand palace was hastily built, but a year later he decided to return to Amsterdam. In 1811, his brother the emperor spent three days at the Utrecht palace during a tour of inspection. The building now forms part of Utrecht University Library.
Although pianist and composer Franz Liszt (1811-1886) gave only one recital in Utrecht (at the Schouwburg theatre in 1842), his name is forever linked to the city by the International Franz Liszt Piano Competition which is held in Utrecht every three years.
“Musizieren tue Ich weiter nur in Utrecht”, remarked Johannes Brahms (1833-1897) after a rather disappointing concert in another city. Brahms visited Utrecht on a number of occasions to conduct the city’s orchestra in performances of his own works. The noted pianist Clara Schumann (1819-1886, wife of composer Robert) was also a frequent visitor to Utrecht.
The German musician and composer Julius Röntgen (1855-1932) spent the final eight years of his life at Villa Gaudeamus in Bilthoven, where he composed over two hundred works in the ‘music wing’. The house is now a national monument.
Wilhelm II (1859-1941) was the last German Emperor (Kaiser) and King of Prussia. He abdicated in November 1918 and fled to exile in the Netherlands. Not one to travel light, he arrived with 59 railway wagons full of possessions. He lived for one year in Castle Amerongen before moving to Huis Doorn, a stately pile set amid the hills of the Utrechtse Heuvelrug. Huis Doorn is open to the public and its interior has been preserved exactly as it was when Wilhelm died there in 1941.
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Saint Willibrord (c. 658-739), a Northumbrian missionary who converted the Northern Netherlands to Christianity. In 695 he became Bishop of the Frisians and today is recognized as the first Archbishop of Utrecht. His throne was located in the former Roman Fort in the historic city centre. A reliquary procession takes place in Utrecht each year, a tradition revived in 2002.
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Dick Bruna, creator of the world-famous Miffy, at work in his studio.
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Miffy, part of Dutch childhood and the national culture. October 2012
UTRECHT the Exploring accaborum legacy ofvellacommodi designer Gerritatibus Rietveld, leading light of the De Stijl movement.
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Rietveld’s Red and Blue Chair, on display in Centraal Museum. October 2012
Utrecht 2018 – Valletta 2018
Utrecht has already established close ties with Valletta, Malta, which is also a candidate for the title European Capital of Culture 2018. Since 2006 we have developed an active shared network and, based on a feeling of ‘kinship’, have devised many ideas for joint programming in 2018. The central themes of our partnership are: cultural and religious heritage, restoration and re-use of historic forts, cultural education, performing arts, creative industry and design.
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To what extent do you plan to forge links with the other city to be nominated European Capital of Culture?
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The success of this north-south cooperation is no accident. Malta and Utrecht have much in common. The number of Maltese inhabitants is roughly equivalent to the number of inhabitants that the city of Utrecht will have in 2030; in square meters Malta more or less equals the province of Utrecht. We share a historical past which is a significant part of Europe’s history and identity: from Roman presence and chivalric orders to religious art (the Caravaggists) and military forts. Moreover, we both acknowledge the importance of culture as a driver of broad social development, whether urban or rural.
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VALLETTA
Letter of Cultural Cooperation The first official meeting between representatives of Utrecht and Malta took place in June 2006. The purpose of this meeting, hosted by Utrecht, was to explore opportunities for long-term cooperation in the period leading up to 2018. Our talks were both pleasant and successful. In 2007, a Letter of Cultural Cooperation was signed by the president of the Malta Council for Culture and the Arts, the City of Utrecht’s alderman for Culture, and his counterpart on the provincial council. There have been many exchange visits by official delegations, representatives of cultural organizations and artists ever since. From both sides, the teams in charge of preparing the European Capital of Culture application have maintained close contact, discussing both the bid book process and opportunities for a joint programme line. In 2012, the Treaty of Utrecht Foundation, being the legal entity to which the Utrecht 2018 team belongs, and the Valletta 2018 Foundation signed a Memorandum of Understanding which sets out a broad programme of cultural exchange in the years ahead.
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Joint programmes and projects Various plans for the period leading up to 2018 have already been set in motion or are in an advanced stage of preparation. — Centraal Museum Utrecht and Heritage Malta have set up an exchange programme to support exhibitions about their respective cultural icons such as Rietveld, orders of chivalry, temples and archaeology. They are also sharing knowledge and experience in practical matters such as collection management and infrastructural improvements. In 2018, the partnership will give rise to two major exhibitions: Caravaggio and the Caravaggists (which will also involve museums in Edinburgh and Toledo) and The Roman Empire: Centre versus Periphery (working title) in association with museums in Bonn (Germany) and Syracuse (Italy). Sandro Debono, senior curator at the National Museum of Fine Arts in Malta, is a member of the international committee responsible for planning the Caravaggio exhibition. — Since 2010, the City of Utrecht and the Museum of Fine Arts in Valletta have organized performances by Utrecht ensembles and soloists during Malta’s annual Notte Bianca festival. The programme has included everything from baroque music to jazz.
— St James Cavalier Centre for Creativity and the youth theatre company Het Filiaal are working together to promote cultural education. Het Filiaal has taken its productions to Malta, appearing at the first Ziguzajg Kids & Youth Art Festival 2011, and has explained its approach to various Maltese cultural organizations. — Heritage Malta, Council Paola, the City of Utrecht, the New Dutch Water Line Foundation and several private sector partners are developing strategies for the restoration and reuse of historic forts. There is an ongoing programme of advisory meetings and site visits. — Young representatives of Utrecht’s creative and design industries are acting as advisors to the Maltese INVEX subsidy programme, and as coaches to their counterparts in Malta. — Valletta 2018 and Utrecht 2018 have confirmed their intention to cooperate in evaluating and monitoring their respective European Capital of Culture programmes. The relationship between Utrecht and Valletta (and the entire island of Malta) is already much closer than anyone could have hoped or imagined. We inspire each other and wish to make a significant joint contribution to the Europe of the twentyfirst century.
Trust the Future, Create your City
UNIQUE SHARING
POINTS
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Fort Vechten in Utrecht (left) and Fort Saint Elmo in Valletta. Utrecht and Malta are developing a joint strategy to secure the future of their historic forts.
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Creative Europe
Utrecht and the Europe 2020 strategy The creative industry represents an important source of economic growth in Europe. Culture and creativity therefore deserve a central place in the Europe 2020 strategy. This contention is echoed by various European policy documents and is a standpoint that we wholeheartedly endorse. We attach great importance to a broad definition of ‘culture and creativity’ and would like to see greater cohesion between the arts, cultural heritage, the media, entertainment and the creative services sector. An integrated approach is required.
Creative Europe, the proposal for a new EU programme for the cultural and creative sectors (2014-2020), makes some stimulating steps towards achieving such an integrated approach. This is particularly relevant in our city and region: Utrecht has a strong cultural sector and a rapidly developing gaming industry. The two are becoming increasingly intertwined. To promote synergy between the sectors, Utrecht is now developing a Creative Utrecht Strategy, which will involve both public and private sector parties and educational institutes. It represents yet another way in which Utrecht will pursue ‘smart’ growth: growth which is innovative, sustainable and inclusive. Our motto for 2018 is Trust the Future, Create your City. These are not empty words. We are convinced that cities can play a key role in the cultural development of Europe. They are the powerhouses of an innovative and enterprising Europe. It is at the level of the city that people can exert greatest influence over their own environment and ‘habitat’. In recent years, organizations such as Kosmopolis and Mira Media have devoted considerable attention to the role of active citizens, as well as to fostering cultural diversity and intercultural dialogue in our city. We see a European Capital of Culture nomination as a major opportunity to emphasize the importance of culture for urban development.
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By organizing the Eurocities Culture Forum in April 2012, Utrecht became an active participant in the European debate about the role of culture for city devlopement. We shall continue to contribute to that debate. With the help of our partners in the city, we intend to examine the relationship between culture and economy by means of an annual series of international debates. We shall invite the input of our partners in the Similar Cities Network, and will make full use of the contacts we have established with Malta. We shall also draw upon the knowledge and experience gained by past European Capitals of Culture.
In 2018, we hope to welcome the European Forum on Cultural Industries to Utrecht for a symposium on the future of Creative Europe. This will also be an opportunity to review the progress made since the publication of the European Commission’s green paper, Unlocking the potential of cultural and creative industries, in 2010. That document recommends the adoption of “a common cultural policy and a European legislative framework for a sector which provides five million jobs and generates 2.6% of GDP in all EU member states.” Has this recommendation been implemented and, if so, what have been the effects? Institutions such as Utrecht University and the Utrecht School of the Arts (HKU) will continue to contribute to European policy through their research, as they did in 2010 with the study The Entrepreneurial Dimension of the Cultural and Creative Industries.
October 2012 Europe and Utrecht
How does your city plan to get involved in, or create synergies with, the cultural activities supported by the European institutions?
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Utrecht and European cultural programmes The programme of Utrecht 2018 will be in keeping with European policy and the various activities to which it gives rise. Our programme will focus on the culture and history of Europe, our special European heritage, cooperation between artists and creatives from different member states, the mutual loan of artworks, the use of new technology and the creation of surprising new art forms. It will also devote attention to cultural education, particularly for young people, and to social cohesion not only within Utrecht itself but throughout Europe. The basis for this European orientation will be provided by the cultural sector itself. Culture Programme Many of Utrecht’s cultural organizations already operate internationally and have programmes designed to promote the mobility of art and artists within and beyond Europe. Some institutions have attracted funding under the European Union’s Culture Programme to co-finance activities such as festivals, co-productions and participation in European networks. In 2011, for example, Centraal Museum was awarded a grant for its exhibition Peace was made here. Other recipients of European funding included BAK (Former West), the Tweetakt youth theatre festival, Festival a/d Werf (innovative theatre and dance) and the Gaudeamus Music Week, an international competition for young composers. Gaudeamus also received funding to support its membership of the Ulysses network for contemporary music. Utrecht offers regular guest residencies for European
artists, while our own artists find a warm welcome in other European cities. In 2011 and 2012, for example, a group of young artists from Utrecht had the opportunity to present their work at the Il Carnevale dei Ragazzi youth festival in Venice. Interreg IVB and Urbact The City of Utrecht is lead partner in the EU Cultural Heritage project, Portico, which also involves Ghent, Cologne and Chester. The partners are studying ways in which to reveal our hidden heritage, such as the archaeological remains under Domplein, placing the past in a contemporary context. The new Leidsche Rijn development area includes a cultural heritage centre, Castellum Hoge Woerd, in the form of a Roman fortress. It will provide an innovative and interactive visitor experience which combines history, performing arts and environmental education. Funding has been provided under the Interreg IVB programme. The Portico project also includes a ‘students challenge’ contest. The most recent winner is an augmented reality application entitled Aelius & the Time Portal developed by students at Utrecht University and HKU to teach local schoolchildren about the Roman Limes. In 2012, the project was the Netherlands’ entry for the European Parliament’s annual Charlemagne Youth Prize.
And... education, sustainability and environment Various educational institutes in Utrecht are developing programmes which address the ambitions of the European Union’s Life-long Learning Policy. In 2010, the Advanced Thematic Network in European Women’s Studies, coordinated by Utrecht University, won the European Award for Life-long Learning. Alongside Bologna, Funchal, Gdansk and Tallinn, Utrecht is working to enhance the sustainability of city transport as part of the Civitas Mimosa programme. The city is also a partner in European projects to increase energy efficiency and promote sustainable renovation in social housing (Cash) and reduce energy consumption in the transport sector (Segment).
Europe and Utrecht
European Regional Development Fund Grants from sources such as the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) have enabled Utrecht to undertake a series of projects designed to promote innovation and knowledge-sharing to strengthen our position and profile as a ‘creative city’. Recent and ongoing projects include ProtoSpace (a laboratory in which starting entrepreneurs, artists and students can literally visualize their ideas and transform them into actual products), the new restoration workshop at Museum Speelklok (one of the world’s largest collections of musical automata), the Designer Café (a new ‘concept store’ where talented young fashion designers produce and sell their collections), the restoration of Villa Jongerius, the Dutch Game Garden (a platform for the gaming sector), Utrecht Science Park, the Máxima Park in Leidsche Rijn, and the Trajectum Lumen trail (along which important buildings in the historic city centre feature artistic light shows and effects).
Trust the Future, Create your City 1 Basic principles
Utrecht has also received funding under the Urbact Repair programme with which it will develop new uses for two historic forts which form part of the New Dutch Water Line. The Dutch government intends to nominate the Roman Limes and the New Dutch Water Line, both of which can be seen within the province of Utrecht, for inclusion on the UNESCO World Heritage list. Utrecht itself intends to nominate the Treaty of Utrecht for a European Heritage Label in the ‘intangible heritage’ category. The Utrecht School of the Arts (HKU) is a research partner in the Interreg IVB project CURE (Creative Urban Renewal Northwest Europe), in which its Faculty of Art and Economics is working alongside counterparts in a number of European cities, including Bruges, Hagen, Lille and Edinburgh. Over the next two years, the partners will formulate strategies for area development based on creative enterprise. CURE draws on the ‘Creative Zones Innovator’ model, which was co-developed by HKU. In early 2012, Utrecht was named lead partner in the CityLOGO project, in which various European cities will share knowledge and experience in ‘city branding’ and in particular the design of a strong city logo. Part of the Urbact programme, this project addresses the need for cities to profile themselves as effectively as possible in these times of economic crisis and growing international competition. Utrecht is joined in the project by Genoa, Zaragoza, Coimbra, Krakow, Dundee, Aarhus, Vilnius, Alba Iulia and Oslo.
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WE
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DREAMS
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Urban expansion challenges artists: the Beyond arts programme in Leidsche Rijn (1997-2007).
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Leidsche Rijn, a new district in the making, will soon be home to 90,000 Utrechters.
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City and citizens
Utrecht 2018 connects the local world of our city with the world of Europe. Based on the local Utrecht context, we shall share knowledge, experience and ideas about the city as a ‘Trust Factory’. The programme will be devised in close collaboration with artists, cultural organizations and citizens of the city and region. It will connect the growth of Utrecht itself with the future of Europe, thus being of significant interest to our fellow European citizens, many of whom live in medium-sized cities like our own. Sustainability is a key concept in Utrecht’s policy and strategy in all areas, including the European Capital of Culture project.
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How will your city ensure that the programme of the event:
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Much of the programme will be developed in consultation with our European partners. The ongoing exchange in the years between now and 2018 will undoubtedly lead to even greater mutual interest and inquisitiveness on the part of the artists and cultural organizations concerned. Moreover, the cooperation with other European cities will highlight Utrecht’s status as an international city of culture and knowledge. The public will have a good many reasons to visit Utrecht in 2018. Some might come for the Summer of 18 youth festival, a truly European event held on the runways of the former NATO airbase in Soesterberg. Others might come for Expo Create your City, examining the city of the future (and of the next generation). Yet others will wish to visit the international exhibition devoted to the work of Gerrit Rietveld, or the exhibition about the life of Pope Adrian VI.
Trust the Future, Create your City 1 Basic principles
A ‘testbed’ for Europe With Utrecht 2018 we will present our city and region as a depository of European stories and an international ‘testbed’ for new urban solutions. There will be inspiring public programmes at various locations throughout the city and region, from former factories to historic forts and chateaux. Our chosen themes will appeal to many Europeans, whether their interests lie in cultural heritage such as the work of Caravaggio and his followers, the latest developments in urban culture, or the visualization of the city of the future by professional artists and children. The programme will feature renowned artists and performers from home and abroad; creative young talent from Utrecht will be given a European platform and the chance to work alongside their European colleagues. Young people from all parts of Europe will be invited to help devise, produce and present the programme.
City and citizens
— sparks the interest of the entire European population; — encourages all artists, socio-cultural operators and citizens to take part in the event; — is sustainable and forms an integral part of the long-term cultural and social development of the city?
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City and region working together Co-creation, personal initiative and social participation are all firmly anchored in the cultural life of our city and region. Many of the regular events which have proven their lasting value – including the major festivals, the varied pop circuit and the church concerts – were originally devised and produced by passionate citizens, sitting around their kitchen tables or enjoying a drink in the local café. Networking and cooperation are the lifeblood of Utrecht and its people. That applies equally at the neighbourhood level. Utrecht has a strong tradition in amateur art, community arts and cultural participation. Co-creation is an important pillar of Utrecht 2018. We invited 1,500 people from throughout the region to think about the three programme themes and the content of this bid book. We received over 160 programme ideas. In fact, at least 95% of the programme presented here was devised by local artists, creatives, cultural and social organizations, educational institutes, private sector companies or members of the public. We consider this crucial to the success of Utrecht 2018. The entire event must be ‘owned’ by the people who live and work in Utrecht.
Sustainable networking and knowhow Although Utrecht has considerable experience in organizing cultural events, the Utrecht 2018 project will offer many additional learning opportunities. We wish to ensure that the connections between the creative sector, education and private sector become as meaningful as possible. We are particularly looking forward to the input of other parts of Europe with their different perspectives and ‘fresh pair of eyes’. Our wish to host the European Capital of Culture in 2018 and the intended programme therefore fit seamlessly into the long-term strategy of the city and region. It will create room for innovative ideas and will strengthen the hardware and software of our creative infrastructure. The programme must enhance the public’s sense of involvement in the development of their city as an intrinsic part of Europe. It must also encourage a very diverse group of partners and stakeholders to work together in creating our common European future.
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FOCUS
Barely a month goes by in which Utrecht does not stage a ‘Cultural Sunday’: a large public event with a different theme each time. Since the first Cultural Sunday in 2002, the series has become a successful and original part of our city branding. These events attract thousands of visitors to the city’s cultural institutions and are the drivers of cultural diversity. Live music venues, museums and galleries, ensembles and theatre companies: all are regular partners of the foundation – Stichting Cultuurpromotie – which organizes and publicizes our Cultural Sundays. Relationships beyond the cultural field are of growing importance. The organizers have forged links with social organizations, neighbourhood initiatives, churches and mosques, sports clubs, retailers’ associations and the education sector. In 2018, the Cultural Sundays will take on an extra European dimension.
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Cultural Sundays
What will the city of their children and grandchildren look like?
Trust the Future, Create your City
IMAGINE THE NEXT
GENERATION
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Jos van Veldhoven conducting the Netherlands Bach Society.
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Just one of many enthusiastic youngsters taking part in the Treaty of Utrecht schools project. October 2012
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THE LONG TERM
Cultural development in the long term
The strategic aim of the European Capital of Culture project is to strengthen Utrecht’s development as an urban region of knowledge and culture which has a distinct international orientation. For at least forty years, Utrecht has applied a consistent cultural policy which devotes particular attention to artistic quality, diversity, accessibility and social participation. Utrecht believes in culture as the driver of urban and regional development. We therefore see Utrecht 2018 as an investment in our long-term future.
Bottom-up initiatives The opening of Muziekcentrum Vredenburg in 1979 marked a milestone in Utrecht’s cultural development. Prior to this date, there was nothing which could be described as an official long-term strategy. Theatre, visual arts, literature and (in particular) music were flourishing, but largely due to the efforts of the student community and a few dedicated individuals. The municipal authority had little input, but little was needed. The city had its theatres, concert halls and exhibition rooms; it had the university and a thriving arts education sector. Initiatives were largely ‘bottom-up’ and the municipality provided financial or practical assistance only where necessary. The result was a cultural programme which could be described as full, and certainly popular, but it was hardly challenging or innovative. There was a distinct lack of flair and too few incentives to raise the artistic level.
Muziekcentrum Vredenburg changed all that overnight. The hypermodern concert hall complex, designed by renowned Dutch architect Herman Hertzberger, opened its doors to all genres of music. The building had a logical physical connection with Hoog Catharijne, the largest indoor retail and office complex in the Netherlands, and with the nearby Central Station. The official opening was certainly spectacular, stretching over ten days and including circus acts with lions, acrobats and dancers. The location, design and programming of this new public amenity emphasized the accessibility of our new ‘temple of culture’. Muziekcentrum Vredenburg quickly proved to be an enormous success with the public, drawing full houses for most performances. It became an example for other large concert venues to emulate. It quickly established a connection with the wider city, the country and the entire world, setting the tone with its innovative programming concepts.
October 2012 The long term
How does the event fit into the long-term cultural development of the city and, where appropriate, of the region?
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Investing in culture is investing in the city In the four decades since Muziekcentrum Vredenburg opened, Utrecht’s cultural life has been given a substantial boost, not least due to the active involvement of the artists, performers, festival directors and those who devise and produce the diverse events. The municipality invested significantly in the permanent venues and the festivals, in theatre companies and music ensembles (professional and amateur), in production houses and experiments, in neighbourhood centres, and in community art and cultural education in the broadest sense of the term. The overall artistic quality is high and continues to rise, as confirmed by the findings of independent advisory committees and the success with which the various organizations’ applications for European funding have met. Between 2003 and 2018 alone, the city will have invested a total of over 400 million euros in its physical cultural infrastructure, from the neighbourhood centres to the new Music Palace which will open in 2014. This successor to Vredenburg Music Centre represents the largest cultural investment ever made by the city. Like the building it replaces, it will capture the public imagination with its innovative programming.
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In short, Utrecht has reached cultural maturity. With its strong creative atmosphere, it is among the most attractive and ‘liveable’ cities in the country, rivalled only by Amsterdam. Over the past decade, the municipal authority has published a number of policy documents on culture. Their titles (given here in translation) bear witness to the growing realization that a good cultural climate enhances the city’s ability to attract business investment and new residents. From Festival City, the profile of the 1990s, we moved on to City of Makers and Public (2001-2004). Next, Culture is Capital became the motto for the period 2005 to 2008. A broad-based action plan for the period 2008 to 2018 then followed under the title The Discovery of Utrecht. It states our primary objective: to strengthen the cultural infrastructure and international profile of Utrecht within Europe. It also states a very clear ambition for 2018: to be designated European Capital of Culture.
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CITY OF KNOWLEDGE & CULTURE
The provincial authority and national government also make a (financial) contribution towards culture in the city. It is recognized that cultural operators in Utrecht serve a large regional public, while several are also of national and international importance. The cultural policy of the Province of Utrecht has been set out in a number of documents, such as Culture is Strength and Your Culture, as well as the overall ‘vision document’ Utrecht 2040: Sustainably Attractive. Sustainable planning In its most recent culture policy document, Open Space, the municipality looks beyond 2018 to 2022, the year in which Utrecht will celebrate the 900th anniversary of its city charter. Open Space calls for ongoing investment in culture as a driver of urban development, despite the current financial constraints. It also calls for ‘unorthodox’ connections to be established between the domains of culture, education and commerce.
This theme was central to the Eurocities Culture Forum hosted by Utrecht in April 2012, which took as its title Connectivity – The Art of Creating Partnerships. We regard this strategy as essential if we are to achieve our long-term ambition of becoming a city of knowledge and culture with international significance. The long-term cooperation between the municipality, provincial authority, Utrecht University and HU University of Applied Sciences has been formalized by means of a covenant which covers the period to 2018 and beyond. The Utrecht 2018 project will offer artists and cultural operators the opportunity to intensify their partnerships at the international level and to raise the artistic level yet further. The European Capital of Culture project provides a marvellous incentive for the city and region to strengthen their existing alliances and to forge new links at all levels. It also encourages us to pursue increased social participation, thus strengthening mutual trust and self-confidence.
The long term
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UTRECHT THE CREATIVE CITY
The creative industry is a growth sector which makes an important contribution to the regional and national economy. It already accounts for 25,000 jobs, over 4% of employment in the province. The creative business-to-business services sector and the arts sector are particularly well represented, accounting for some ten thousand jobs. Utrecht’s ‘ecosystem’ of arts education programmes, performance venues, museums, festivals and creative enterprise has created a relatively informal and accessible atmosphere for all forms of cultural activity. Utrecht has an excellent knowledge infrastructure, and the many companies of all sizes have created a significant cluster of creative industry in and around the city. There are no strict dividing lines between education, artistic practice and cultural enterprise. The Dutch Game Garden, the Grafisch Lyceum (Utrecht College of Art and Design), HKU, the various festivals, Utrecht University and the two Regional Training Centres all work alongside each other on a regular basis, as well as with other national and international cultural operators. Artistic disciplines flow seamlessly into each other. Producers of culture seem keen to explore the artistic potential of digital gaming technology, with which many venues and festivals are now experimenting.
Since 2009, Utrecht has devoted particular attention to creative education at both primary and secondary level. An increasing number of schools have integrated art and culture into the curriculum and have formed creative partnerships with cultural institutions in the city or even further afield. The emphasis is on drawing out the full creative talents of both students and staff. Gaming Within the creative sector, the area showing most rapid growth is ‘serious gaming’. Utrecht has already established a global reputation as a centre of research into all aspects of gaming, largely due to the efforts of Utrecht University, HKU and the Netherlands Organisation for Applied Scientific Research (TNO). In 2011, the Dutch government identified nine ‘top sectors’ which are of particular importance to the national economy and which therefore warrant special attention in national innovation policy. Creative Industry is one such top sector, within which Gaming has been designated a ‘centre of gravity’ in the Utrecht region. Many creative enterprises and knowledge institutes in our region are part of the national innovation network CLICK: Creativity, Learning, Innovation, Co-creation and Knowledge. The digital culture is a spearhead of municipal and regional policy. It will be given an enormous boost by the ambitions of Utrecht 2018.
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‘Digital media could create total upheaval’ Jeroen van Mastrigt is the chairman of the Dutch Game Garden, a Utrecht initiative which provides facilities for some forty games developers. His colleague and fellow gaming pioneer Viktor Wijnen is its commercial director. Together, they are working to create a gaming museum in the city, to be known as PLAY.
FOCUS
Cartesius Museum The Cartesius Museum (CAMU) is not a museum in the traditional sense. It does not have a collection of rare and interesting exhibits. Rather, it is a meeting place. “CAMU brings together companies, organizations, knowledge and culture to arrive at creative and sustainable solutions to topical social issues. CAMU invites individuals to act as ‘guest curators’ by submitting their own project ideas, or to comment on the ongoing projects. For example, how can we help young people who want to start their own business? How do you set up an urban farming project? How do you involve consumers in food safety? Contributing to a project is always on a voluntary basis.” Project initiative: Erik Uitenbogaard
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“One large empty hall. That’s all we need. Gamers, designers, production companies and end users should all be able to meet each other, not least because an increasing number of games now combine the real world with the virtual world to form ‘virtual reality’. Our living lab of the future will do much to promote the development of the digital culture. Children will bring their grandparents along to make a video clip together. We are now seeing a digital revolution. It is almost impossible to predict how prominent a role the social media and digital culture will play in the transformation of our society. They could bring about total upheaval, with everything seen in a completely different light. And that is what traditionalist, over-regulated Europe needs. The ‘playful culture’ will allow us to examine the most complex and obstinate issues in a new way, thus arriving at new solutions. Gamers and designers will join researchers, artists and consumers in finding a new, extremely flexible approach. PLAY must be a place where you can play and design without rules and restrictions.”
Mixing music: Monobanda’s Bandjesland at the opening of Tweetakt 2011.
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Funky Forest, where children create trees with their bodies and collect water to make them grow. October 2012
Utrecht, city of festivals: the central square Het Neude.
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Innovative aspects
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We consider our proposal for hosting the European Capital of Culture innovative in at least six respects: Programme — The concept and format of Expo Create your City. The cultural programme is linked to ten locations at which the growth and transformation of Utrecht to become the ‘City of the Next Generation’ is visible. Attention will also be devoted to the rural culture as part of the urban development process. — The link between the programme and the demographics of the city. We have a particularly youthful population and young people will play an active role in devising, producing and presenting the programme, often based on the ‘master-apprentice’ principle. — The sustainable connection between the domains of culture, education and commerce. One example is the Gaming meets Heritage project, which incorporates European heritage with location-specific gaming and digital design.
Process — The holistic approach, whereby culture is used as a vehicle to improve the quality of the city as a place in which to live and learn (habitat), and as an international meeting place (crossroads). The development of the concept and programme, funding arrangements and communications are all based on the principle of co-creation. At the municipal level, various departments – urban development, culture, economic affairs, education, internationalization and communications – are working closely alongside each other to prepare for this large-scale, long-term project. In this respect, Utrecht 2018 is the perfect test case for a new, fully integrated organizational approach to urban development (in the broadest sense of the term), which relies on active participation by the people with the local authority in the role of facilitator.
— The celebration of the tercentenary of Treaty of Utrecht in 2013, which acts as a stepping stone, learning opportunity and dress rehearsal for 2018. As 2013 draws closer, we shall intensify our contacts and partnerships with relevant organizations in education, the societal midfield, the private sector and the cultural domain. The Dutch Centre for International Cultural Activities (SICA) has already held a number of masterclasses for local cultural organizations, examining topics such as international cooperation, co-production and European funding opportunities. — The focus on ‘unique sharing points’ rather than unique selling points. Utrecht founded the European Similar Cities Network based on shared interests and shared characteristics. Eventually, we hope to expand the network to include cities beyond Europe. The entire process is concerned with sharing knowledge and experience about the quality of life in creative cities which are seeing the same rapid development as Utrecht itself. Even during the preparation of this bid book, Utrecht sought the input of fellow candidate Valletta and the partners in the Similar Cities Network.
October 2012 The long term
In what way is the proposed project innovative? 1.13
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What the title will mean in the longer term
The process of producing this bid book has brought the various parties in the city and region closer together. We now know where to find each other. In this respect, we have already derived some benefits from the project. In terms of the common interests, we see Utrecht as a tolerant, hospitable and outward-looking city, which pursues growth in a responsible manner and which attaches great importance to education and creativity. The title of European Capital of Culture will give Utrecht an enormous feeling of pride, which in turn will foster great energy and enthusiasm as the city and region strive to make 2018 a year to remember.
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If your city is awarded the title of European Capital of Culture, what would be the medium and long-term effects of the event from a social, cultural and urban point of view? Does the municipal authority intend to make a public declaration of intent concerning the period following the year of the event?
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Cultural and social — There will be a broad support for culture, reflected by higher approval ratings for cultural amenities and permanent (financial) support for an innovative production climate in the form of both hardware (physical accommodation and facilities) and software (research and production). — Primary and secondary schools will enter into long-term partnerships with organizations in the creative sector, from theatre companies to games developers.
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The new connections and alliances on which Utrecht 2018 is built will give the entire region new insights and ideas for its future, and will thus contribute to even ‘smarter’ growth in subsequent years. We are confident that the stronger links between culture, education and commerce will greatly enhance social vitality and innovative strength. They will stimulate economic activity and thus help to cement Utrecht’s position as a strong region of European importance. In short, we expect Utrecht to remain a resilient region after the event, and one in which culture will continue to thrive and develop. It will be a region which can boast a high degree of cultural participation, many international visitors, and one which displays its European identity with conviction and pride.
International — Utrecht’s ties with (cultural) institutions elsewhere in Europe will be visibly stronger and more numerous. — Utrecht will enjoy greater visibility within Europe and the world. It will be an even more attractive city in which to live, study, work, hold a conference or stage an exhibition. A far greater number of people will have discovered Utrecht as a tourist destination.
The long term
We have formulated a number of objectives for the period following 2018, all of which must lead to visible and measurable results.
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— Local cultural amenities (in the neighbourhoods) will have seen further professionalization and will attract a broad public from all sectors of society. Utrecht will enjoy an international reputation for local cultural development and community arts projects, through which it will continue to promote social inclusion. — The cultural heritage of the city and region will take on a new and topical significance for young people and the wider public, largely through the creative efforts of the gaming sector. The outlying rural areas will have established a more permanent place in the cultural infrastructure of the region. — In 2018, Utrecht and its partners in the Similar Cities Network will have signed the joint manifesto, ‘Creative Europe and Urban Development’. This significant step will be celebrated with large public events in the cities concerned. The manifesto itself will incorporate the results of research and exchanges conducted in the run-up to 2018, thus forming a solid basis for further European cooperation in the years which follow.
Urban and regional development — The city and regional authorities will use the new combinations of knowledge and creativity produced by Utrecht 2018 to promote further development, and will facilitate new developments generously and with as few restrictions as possible. They will do so in close cooperation with semi-public and private partners such as education and knowledge institutes, societal organizations, commercial companies and community initiatives. — Some of the transition zones in the city and region will be earmarked as (semi-) permanent locations for creative development, production and presentation. — The public domain – parks, squares, canalside wharves and semi-rural areas – will undergo significant improvement to allow their use as meeting places and event venues. There will be a greater number of both permanent and temporary performance venues, including bandstands. Byelaws governing public events will be simplified and made more transparent. The number of public artworks in the city – already substantial – will be increased. After 2018, the municipality together with the province will continue to invest in a high-quality creative infrastructure of culture and knowledge. We shall do so with all parties who have made Utrecht 2018 possible. Needless to say, we shall continue to build upon the local, regional and national partnerships which will already have been given a significant boost by Utrecht 2018. And by this time we shall be working towards the next milestone event and reference point, the celebrations marking the 900th anniversary of Utrecht’s city charter in 2022.
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Industrial heritage, the former rail depot in Amersfoort, as the setting for Holland Opera’s production of Bluebeard. October 2012
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UTRECHT’S APPLICATION
Preparing the application
In 2000, Utrecht first stated the ambition of hosting the European Capital of Culture. The preparations for this application commenced in earnest in 2006. As is traditional in Utrecht, the entire process has been based on the principle of co-creation.
How was this application designed and prepared?
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Since 2005, Utrecht has worked on: — formulating the Utrecht Principles, which present the key values of this region of knowledge and culture. — involving and engaging local residents in the ambitions of the city and region. — building a region-wide network of cultural operators, societal organizations, educational institutes and private sector companies. — developing a cultural programme for, and with the input of, local residents and visitors from the Netherlands and other parts of Europe; this has been a process of co-creation involving cultural and social institutions in the city and region, as well as our partners in other countries. — expanding and extending contacts between Utrecht’s cultural institutions and their counterparts in other countries; this has involved organizing workshops on internationalization and co-funding various exchange visits. — promoting close cooperation between the provincial authority, the City of Utrecht and all other local authorities in the region.
Utrecht’s Application
The Treaty of Utrecht Foundation In 2005, the two authorities decided to establish a non-profit organization to prepare for both 2013 and 2018. It is formally known as the Stichting Vrede van Utrecht, which translates directly as the Treaty of Utrecht Foundation. Its remit is twofold: 1. to develop a programme for the celebration of the tercentenary of the Treaty of Utrecht in 2013. 2. to prepare Utrecht’s application for nomination as European Capital of Culture 2018. At first, the foundation’s activities inevitably focused on the preparations for the tercentenary celebrations. In 2009, however, it devoted full attention to the ambitions for 2018, whereupon an action plan was produced and an initial effects assessment was conducted. Based on the plan and assessment results, the city
and provincial authorities awarded a budget to cover the costs of producing this bid book and the initial public information campaigns. Although undertaking the two processes simultaneously has sometimes caused practical difficulties, there are enough points of similarity and synergy to justify this approach. Both events are based on the same principles in terms of social and cultural development. The preparations for the tercentenary celebrations have given rise to a tightly-meshed network and a strong infrastructure, and therefore offer a useful stepping stone for the European Capital of Culture project.
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It was in 2000 that the (then) alderman for culture proposed that Utrecht should apply to be European Capital of Culture. Originally, the Netherlands was scheduled to deliver a candidate in 2013; this was later changed to 2018. In the first instance, Utrecht’s ambition had strategic motives. By setting a target on the distant horizon, the municipality would be able to implement a long-term policy for Utrecht’s cultural and international development. The ambition has been consistently reiterated in every subsequent municipal policy document and budget proposal, and was given a significant boost by the decision to celebrate the tercentenary of the Treaty of Utrecht in 2013. It soon became clear that the city and the province shared similar ambitions, and that cooperation between them would be extremely fruitful.
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2009 The Action Plan In 2009, the foundation produced an Action Plan, based on a number of brainstorming sessions attended by representatives of cultural and educational institutions, the City of Utrecht and the Province of Utrecht. 2010 European Capital of Culture exhibition: ‘Work in progress’ In the spring of 2010, an exhibition was staged at Het Gebouw in Leidsche Rijn, presenting the history of the European Capital of Culture programme and why it exists. In a separate area, a series of sixty public workshops were held. They were attended by over seven hundred people, including representatives of cultural, social and educational institutions, the private sector, individual artists and creative entrepreneurs, municipal staff and members of the public, all of whom were invited to contribute their thoughts and ideas about the course and vision for Utrecht 2018, and indeed whether the city should pursue its ambitions at all. A report of each workshop was produced and forwarded to the participants. Those who did not have an opportunity to speak during the workshop itself could leave their comments in the suggestion box or could record a short video in a booth provided for the purpose. The results of all meetings were collated and incorporated into the ‘mission and vision statement’ which was later published in the Work in Progress brochure.
2011 Make no little plans In 2011, the key message was further refined and initial project ideas for 2018 were conceived. A ‘kick-off’ meeting was held on 14 February, at which the vision and themes for the event were discussed. This was followed by a number of conference sessions and regional meetings, each considering a specific theme of the overall programme, at which anyone wishing to do so could submit a project proposal. The criteria for these proposals were set in the booklet Make no little plans. Informal gatherings – the Utrecht 2018 Cafés – then took place once every other month to keep everyone informed about developments and progress. The artistic director held a weekly ‘open door’ session at which anyone was welcome to suggest ideas, no appointment necessary. Eventually, over 160 programme proposals were submitted. 2012 The bid book In 2012, the concept and programme were further refined and the draft version of this bid book was written in close consultation with the city and provincial authorities. National and international experts were then invited to comment on the draft version, while regular feedback was sought from those attending the Utrecht 2018 Café and in individual conversations. March 25 saw the official launch of the Ik ben 18 (‘I am 18’) public campaign, further details of which are given in Chapter 5 (Communications).
City of Utrecht Renée Heijnen (text and editing) Gerard Derksen (communications advice) Province of Utrecht Thomas Nova (programme manager) Harry Louwenaar (communications advice) ... and many others, including all projectowners, staff of the City of Utrecht, the Province of Utrecht, the Treaty of Utrecht Foundation. Treaty of Utrecht Council In 2011, ten national and international companies based in Utrecht came together to form the Treaty of Utrecht Council. Its members endorse the Utrecht Principles and are keen to help promote Utrecht’s development as an international region of knowledge and culture. The Council is supporting the city’s ambitions for 2018 with both practical expertise and sponsorship, thereby laying a firm foundation for sustainable and constructive cooperation in the future. The companies which have committed themselves to the project until at least 2014 are ASR Nederland,
The next generation The younger generation has played a special and important role in the preparation process. Since 2010, almost six hundred students and schoolchildren have completed assignments connected with Utrecht’s application. Their activities have included: — Three hundred Communications students at HU University of Applied Sciences designed a multimedia campaign to support Utrecht’s bid. — Under the guidance of the AORTA Centre for Architecture, 150 students at the Amadeus Lyceum produced their own bid book for the city of the future. — Forty students from the Fine Arts programme at HKU devised a number of concept projects for the Utrecht 2018 programme. — Twenty students at HKU devised alternative funding strategies for the Capital of Culture project. — Ten students from HU University of Applied Sciences visited ten European cities to seek inspiration for Utrecht, reporting their findings accordingly. — Eight students from HU University of Applied Sciences produced plans for ‘Line 18’, a new bus service to promote Utrecht 2018. — Six students from HU University of Applied Sciences devised ways of using social media in community arts projects. — Eleven children who will turn 18 in 2018 are taking part in Michiel van Erp’s documentary series Tijd van je leven (‘The time of your life’), talking about their lives and dreams.
Utrecht’s Application
Treaty of Utrecht Foundation Peter de Haan (director) Han Bakker (programme development) Bram Buijze (internationalization) Twan Geurts (text and editing) Lieke Hoitink (bid book coordination) Daniel Melse (programme development asst) Petra Orthel (head of communications) Lonneke Laurant (press liaison) Gillian Engel (campaign)
Bouwfonds Ontwikkeling, CMS Derks Star Busmann, Corio, Jaarbeurs Utrecht, NS, ProRail, PwC, Rabobank Utrecht and SHV. We gratefully acknowledge their support.
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Who is working on the Utrecht 2018 candidacy?
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PR & Communications The Dom Church is the venue for the annual Treaty of Utrecht Concert, held each May since 2006. The underlying aim of this concert is to strengthen links with all stakeholders and to build an international network in the run-up to the tercentenary celebrations in 2013. The concerts, a joint initiative of the Province of Utrecht, the City of Utrecht, Utrecht University and the Treaty of Utrecht Foundation, have already established themselves as an important event in the city’s cultural calendar and a successful public relations exercise. This is largely due to the efforts of Jos van Veldhoven, artistic director of the Netherlands Bach Society, who each year devises a unique programme in keeping with the special location and the principles represented by the Treaty of Utrecht. The website www.utrecht2018.eu was launched in 2010. It has recently been revised and updated to include a short video entitled The Pitch, which takes a light-hearted look at Utrecht’s bid to become European Capital of Culture, and the video Ik ben 18 (I am 18) in which local people explain why they wish to see Utrecht being designated the title.
The digital newsletter Nieuwsbrief Utrecht 2018 informs subscribers about the progress of the application process, the various activities being undertaken, news from other Capitals of Culture, collaborations between Utrecht artists and institutions and their counterparts elsewhere in Europe, and relevant news about European cultural institutions and projects. Brochures Work in Progress (2010) describes the visions and theme’s of Utrecht’s application, reports on the workshops held in 2010 and provides a guide for anyone wishing to help devise the programme for Utrecht 2018. Het verhaal van Utrecht (‘Utrecht’s Story’; 2011): a summary of Utrecht’s ambitions for the benefit of all stakeholders. Support Utrecht: We geven je 18 redenen (‘Support Utrecht: We give you 18 reasons; 2011): Utrecht’s ambition in 18 key points. An adjunct to the public campaign. The Supporter’s Kit has also been developed to underpin the public campaign. It includes materials such as badges, posters, stickers and banners with which local residents, institutions and companies can demonstrate their support for Utrecht’s bid to become European Capital of Culture 2018. The Utrecht 2018 promotion bus will visit various festivals and other public events throughout 2012 and 2013.
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FOCUS
Other Capitals of Culture In preparing our application, representatives from Utrecht visited several past European Capitals of Culture, as well as cities whose nominations have been confirmed: Bruges, Graz, Maribor, Lille, Liverpool, Turku, Linz and Essen/ Ruhr. The visit to Linz (Austria) was undertaken by a delegation from Utrecht’s cultural sector, while those to Lille and Essen also involved officials from the city and provincial authorities. There have also been collaborative projects or exchanges with a number of European Capitals of Culture, including Linz, Essen/Ruhr, Istanbul and Kosice. Since 2006, Utrecht has worked closely with Valletta, our fellow candidate for the title European Capital of Culture 2018.
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In 2010, performer Tjerk de Ridder set out with his caravan to visit the three European Capitals of Culture, Essen, Pécs and Istanbul. But he did not take a vehicle to pull the caravan. Rather he relied on the goodwill of passing motorists with a tow bar to give him a ‘lift’. He managed to cover 3,700 kilometres through eight countries on this ‘artistic exploration’ in preparation for Utrecht 2018. The international press showed much interest in Tjerk’s adventure, which has since formed the basis for a book and a DVD. Tjerk de Ridder has also written a stage show about his expedition, which he performed for the first time in the Utrecht pavilion at the 2011 World Expo in Shanghai.
Utrecht’s Application
Tow bar needed!
Het Gebouw, main ‘brainstorming’ location for Utrecht 2018. This exhibition centre in Leidsche Rijn was designed by Stanley Brouwn in cooperation with Bertus Mulder.
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CO CREATION
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Utrecht 2018 workshop: first sparks of inspiration. October 2012
Sixty workshops in spring 2010.
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Over seven hundred contributors. October 2012
Young people in Europe
As European Capital of Culture, Utrecht intends to highlight the immediate future and the ‘City of the Next Generation’. It is therefore only logical that the programme for 2018 devotes extra attention to young people, both in the Netherlands and throughout Europe. Young people were invited to submit programme ideas and many have done so. Some students completed their internships with the bid book team, helping to devise appropriate funding and communications strategies. Pupils at the Amadeus Lyceum produced their own version of the bid book. Young people will continue to be involved in the process in various ways. The Dutch National Youth Council (NJR) will take a full part in the discussions about the final programme. We shall seek cooperation with the education sector wherever possible.
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We propose a broad programme targeting young people. It includes: — Podium 18 – international cultural performances, programmed, produced and presented by young people from all parts of Europe. — Your kids and theirs – from 2014, children from Utrecht schools and their partner schools in other European countries will design the ‘City of the Next Generation’ with the help of artists, architects and researchers. — Roots & Routes – young urban artists from all European countries will converge on Utrecht European Capital of Culture, where they will spend three weeks working on a multidisciplinary art project. — St Martin’s Day – children will be the main players in the closing ceremony of Utrecht 2018: a procession of lantern sculptures made by the children themselves. — The Summer of 18 – will welcome some ten thousand young people from the Netherlands and other European countries to the former military airbase at Soesterberg. — European Puzzle – young European composers will each write a section of a spectacular piece of music, which will be performed by various student music groups from Utrecht and other European cities.
Are some parts of the programme designed for particular target groups (young people, minorities, etc.)? 1.11
All generations are 18 Although the programme has a special emphasis on the young, Utrecht 2018 will of course be for everyone. The aim is that the young and energetic programming will appeal to local residents and Europeans of all ages and from all sections of society. We attach particular importance to the exchange of ideas between all visitors and participants, regardless of age. In these dynamic times of online communication and
Young people and their seniors will come together in various projects, including: — The Generation Band – children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren will play music for, and alongside, residents of care homes for the elderly, under the guidance of the professional musicians of Fort van de Verbeelding. — Don’t look back – a large-scale new production by Holland Opera, based on the myth of Orpheus and combining the music of Monteverdi, well-known pop tunes and modern compositions. Children will play the gods, their seniors will take the roles of the demigods. — Media4Me – a social media project in various local neighbourhoods. — PLAY, the new Game Museum – children will take their grandparents along to build a virutal city. Further details of these projects can be found in Chapter 2 and in the list of project proposals (section 7.3).
Utrecht’s Application
‘job-hopping’, the generations can learn a lot from each other. It is for this reason that the ‘master-apprentice’ principle will be applied in as many programme components as possible. The master could be 81 or 18 – and could of course be a ‘mistress’!
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— Camping Europa – the area around the Jaarbeurs Utrecht conference and exhibition centre in the heart of Utrecht will be transformed into an enormous campsite for young people from all parts of Europe. — The Hidden museum of Europe – European stories will be retold as a source of inspiration for young people. — Cinetik – a programme of films, selected by young people and presented in the Bibliotheek++, the new library complex. — Kathy’s Choice – in the run-up to 2018, Centraal Museum is to stage a special exhibition in which young contemporary artists present their commentary on the Old Masters of the Chiaroscuro style. Guest curators, all aged 18, will select works from the museum’s extensive collection.
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The time of your life Their names are Sardan, Kamil, Hannah and Tanay. One is the daughter of a professor, another the son of a road maintenance worker. They either love school or they hate it. Some live in the city centre, others in the outlying districts. In 2011, film director Michiel van Erp interviewed eleven children who had been born in 2000 about their lives, dreams and aspirations. As children, they speak candidly. At the same time, they already have one foot in the adult world. In the years ahead, Van Erp intends to revisit the children at various crucial moments of their young lives. In the year in which Utrecht hopes to be European Capital of Culture, these ‘millennium babies’ will be all 18 years old. Michiel van Erp will then film the last interviews for his series as they all enter adulthood. Initiative/owner: Cultuurpromotie Utrecht and RTV Utrecht
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eleven millennium babies
Cultural operators Cultural operators in the city and region Representatives of the cultural and creative sector, of education and research, of the private sector and the societal midfield have all been involved in the application process from a very early stage, as have individual citizens from the city and region. In 2010, the various parties were invited to contribute their ideas about the vision and concept of Utrecht 2018. In 2011, they were invited to submit ideas for the programme itself and many of these cultural operators have indeed done so. All cultural sectors were well represented. They included: — the Utrecht museums (working as an alliance) — the Utrecht festivals — the main performance venues in the city: the Music Palace and the Stadsschouwburg theatre — festivals and performance venues in Amersfoort, the second largest city in the province — the forts, castles and historic country estates in the region — neighbourhood culture centres and arts development projects — the creative sector: gaming, animation, design — visual arts institutions — music ensembles and theatrical producers — the local education sector, from primary schools to the university
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Cultural operators in the Netherlands — The International Architecture Biennale Rotterdam (IABR) is conducting a long-term research project examining the development of the urban regions and is a partner in the Create your City exhibition project. — The Dutch National Youth Council (NJR) will play a key part in organizing the Summer of 18 international youth festival. — Marmoucha and Forum are proposed partners for the Amazigh Festival. — The Limes Trail project involves the National Museum of Antiquities in Leiden and Museum Valkhof in Nijmegen. — Utrecht 2018 will also seek collaboration with Premsela, the Netherlands Institute for Design and Fashion and De Waag Society, Institute for art, science and technology. Cultural operators in other countries Many cultural operators in Utrecht have extensive international networks. Needless to say, we intend to make full use of these networks. We can list a number of important partners with whom we have already made agreements or intend to approach shortly. — The National Gallery of Scotland in Edinburgh is Centraal Museum’s partner in the exhibition about the Caravaggists in Europe. — Utrecht’s ten international festivals will invite guest curators from other countries to devise their programmes in 2018.
— cultural operators in the city? — cultural operators based outside the city? — cultural operators based outside the country?
— The European Brass Band Championships are to be held in Utrecht in May 2018. — The French Centre Culturel Europeén de Saint Martin de Tours is our partner for the closing programme. — The Utrecht youth theatre company Het LAB has contacts in many countries. It has invited De Kopergietery (Ghent), Dschungl (Vienna) and Tanzhaus (Dusseldorf) to perform during the Podium 18 event. — For the Hacking Habitat project, curator and artist Ine Gevers has enlisted the help of Moderna Galerija (Ljubljana), Weltkulturen Museum (Frankfurt), the Liverpool Biennal and the Istanbul Biennal. — The Spoffin street theatre festival in Amersfoort will feature performers and experts from Romania, Turkey, Sweden, Poland, Macedonia, Bulgaria, Lithuania and Kyrgyzstan. — We plan to bring the French Royal de Luxe street theatre to Utrecht to take part in the World Station project. — The Roots & Routes urban festival will invite artists from the Balkan which are expected to have acceded to the EU by 2018. — PLAY, the new gaming museum, has made contact with Ars Electronica (Linz), Computer Spiele Museum (Berlin) and the Manga & Animé Museum (Hangzhou).
Our contacts with cultural operators in Malta are described in the chapter Europe and Utrecht.
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— Matthijs van Lieshout, who hails from Utrecht, is currently artist in residence in Kosice, Slovakia. Utrecht intends to invite Slovakian artists for an exchange visit. — Utrecht will establish contacts with European Youth Capitals, including Antwerp and Turin, and whichever city is awarded the title in 2018. — Utrecht will seek cooperation with organizations such as A Soul for Europe, Les rencontres and the International Network for Contemporary Performing Arts (IETM), with a view to organizing symposia and conferences in 2018. — The contemporary arts institute BAK has entered into long-term partnerships (covering the period 2009 to 2018) with Reina Sofia Museum (Madrid), Akademie der bildende Kunste (Vienna), Haus der Kulturen der Welt (Berlin), Secession (Vienna), Museum of Modern Art Warsaw, Afterall (London) and the Istanbul Biennal. — The Domplein project and the Centraal Museum’s work on the Limes Trail will involve the Römisch-Germanisches Museum in Cologne. — Museum Catharijneconvent has a number of partners in mind, including the Vatican archives, archives in Valladolid and Madrid, Biblioteca Communale Siena, the Belgian National Library (Koninklijke Bibliotheek), Museum M (Leuven) and the University of Leuven Library. — The Music Palace intends to invite international partners to collaborate in the Connect! project. They include the Barbican Creative Learning department (London), Carnegie Hall and the Weill Music Institute (New York) and The Sage (Gateshead).
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What contacts has the city or the body responsible for preparing the event established, or what contacts does it intend to establish, with: 1.12
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OLD CONTINENT
NEW
IDEAS
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Former West is an ongoing research and exhibition project on the future of art and politics, coordinated by BAK, the Utrecht-based contemporary arts foundation. October 2012
‘Urban drifting’: dancers and performers take to the streets as Austrian choreographer Willi Dorner briefly disrupts city life.
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TRAVEL DIARY OF TWO VISITORS
It is 2018. Two visitors from Germany report on their visit to Utrecht, European Capital of Culture. First day: 1 July 2018 08.45 On the ICE train from Dusseldorf to Utrecht we use our tablets to study the programme online. With one click, we can see exactly what there is for us to do over the coming two days. We read the reviews of previous visitors and decide on our own ‘Expo Route’. 11.10 We arrive at Utrecht Central Station and wait for the local train that will take us to the Utrecht 2018 reception centre. Suddenly, an antique Orient Express train pulls into the platform and the doors swing open. A brass band from the Balkans emerges playing random snippets of folk tunes in a cacophony of sound. Before we can work out exactly what is happening, the band disappears, the doors close and the train pulls back out of the station. Slightly bewildered, we find our train and board it ready for the last leg of our journey.
12.20 At the Basecamp Cartesius visitors’ centre we find all the information we need. We rent some electric bicycles and set out on our Expo Route. A little later, we find ourselves in a disused factory where we ride though the ‘activist art’ exhibition Hacking Habitat. 12.50 We ride through Leidsche Rijn where we see various neighbourhood art projects before arriving at a wide open area which has been given over to part of Expo Create your City. There is a fascinating interactive exhibition about the Roman history of this latest addition to the city of Utrecht. 14.20 On to Rotsoord, a former industrial site close to the historic city centre. Here we visit the Social Design Workshop, which offers an intriguing combination of exhibition, workshop and education. Virtual reality takes us into both the past and the future of this soon-to-be creative hotspot.
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Day two: 2 July 2018 09.30 The brand new Public Science Tram brings us to the university campus at De Uithof. Here we see a huge exhibition about art and energy and are encouraged to apply our own energy to bring the exhibits into motion. The nearby Botanical Gardens form the backdrop for another exhibition, this one by Chinese artists, together with a multimedia show about how Chinese and European universities are working together in the field of the Life Sciences.
20.30 In the evening, we return to the city centre and cycle around the medieval canals. Excerpts from cultural festivals in all parts of Europe are being projected onto the walls of the buildings. We then visit a concert at the brand new Music Palace, and later hear yet more live music played on the canalside wharves. We spend the night in one of the caravans at the campsite alongside the nearby Jaarbeurs Utrecht.
14.00 We return to the Basecamp Cartesius visitors’ centre to pick up the electric bicycles. Then it’s on to the Summer of 18 festival in Central Park, Soesterberg. This ten-day festival is similar in concept to the annual Burning Man festival in Nevada. It is being held on and around the runways of a former military airbase, surrounded by trees and nature. What an explosion of creativity! There are thousands of youngsters here, some great live music, interesting discussions and sensational artistic structures. We really don’t want to go home: if only we could stay a few more days. Reluctantly, we make our way to Amersfoort station to catch the last train back to Dusseldorf.
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16.50 In the late afternoon, we stop to take a few photos of ourselves clambering over the giant Rietveld chair outside Centraal Museum. We then visit the Railway Museum, which is one of Utrecht’s ‘Museums of the Future’. Hordes of children are looking at the futuristic trains and carriages in openmouthed amazement!
12.30 We have lunch at Villa Jongerius, formerly a Ford car dealership which has now been given a new life as a restaurant specializing in local produce. We use the Utrecht 2018 smartphone app to tell future visitors about our experiences so far.
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CHAPTER 2 PROGRAMME
The Utrecht 2018 programme
In this bid book we proudly present our vision of the event as a whole, together with descriptions of some proposed programme components. This section offers a selection of project proposals, illustrating the diversity of artistic disciplines, themes, topics and manifestations that they represent. We shall invite a broad public from the Netherlands and the rest of Europe to visit our city in 2018. All programme proposals are intended to make the central theme ‘Trust the future’ fully tangible, whereby we shall begin close to home in the streets and individual districts of Utrecht itself. A full list of the proposals can be found in Chapter 7.
The central programme component will be Expo Create your City, running from April to October 2018 at ten key transition zones. It is here that the physical changes to our city are already most evident. The event will give visitors an impression of the ‘city of the future’, cast in an artistic light. The various locations will provide a stage for performances, debates and other forms of cultural expression. The Museums of the Future will be open throughout the year, presenting exhibitions such as the Future of Money, the Future of Religion, the Future of Public Transport, and so forth. There will be art exhibitions at unexpected locations. Utrecht’s European history will be brought to life at various heritage sites in our province through film, gaming simulations and musical theatre.
Ten international festivals will give their guest curators from all parts of the world carte blanche in devising and presenting the programme. It goes without saying that there will be spectacular theatrical productions, concerts, parades and performances throughout the year, many at unconventional locations in the city and elsewhere in the province. Amersfoort, as the next largest city in the province, will be the second podium for the Capital of Culture events. There will be community arts exhibitions in the various neighbourhoods and outlying areas. In May 2018, Utrecht’s parks will host the European Brass Band Championships.
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What structure does your city intend to give to the year’s programme if it is designated European Capital of Culture (guidelines, general theme of the event)? How long will the programme last? 2.1
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Three programme lines In this bid book, we present the programme according to the three themes or ‘lines’ described in Chapter 1: Habitat, Playground and Crossroads. These three themes encapsulate the overall development of the city and provide a cohesive framework for the programme. Habitat Experiencing the strength of the city ‘Habitat’ is about the city as a human environment. It looks at the quality of both the physical and social environment. How can we structure the city so that everyone feels ‘at home’ and can peacefully co-exist alongside each other? How can we take advantage of cultural differences in a productive way, while also strengthening local democracy? Concepts such as temporary usage, redesignation of use and urban diversity will inspire developers, planners, artists, creative researchers, the private sector and the general public to engage in a new dialogue. Together they will seek out new meeting places and will strive to upgrade public areas with the help of art and culture. They will try to find a new balance between ‘liveability’ and economic growth, between global influences and local wishes. The Habitat theme is also concerned with the quality of the outlying rural areas: what can the villages and historic landscapes add to the development of our city?
Playground Exploring the strength of culture and knowledge The city is an open playground in which you learn about the world. The culture of the city makes a substantial contribution to the Bildung or ‘éducation permanente’ of future generations. The city is a campus, a breeding ground for talent, a school for life, both within and beyond the classroom. The Playground theme is concerned with the ‘baggage’ that people need to form their own insights and opinions in our rapidly changing world. It presents and explores the exciting connection between culture and knowledge. As European Capital of Culture 2018, Utrecht will invest heavily in the city as a creative learning environment. We shall forge new and unexpected links between generations, social groups, institutions and disciplines. Crossroads Investing in the strength of Europe The Crossroads theme looks at the city in its role as international meeting place: a point of convergence, of cultural exchange and cross-fertilization. Trust in Europe and in each other relies on a sense of cultural unity, of shared values, a shared history and a shared future. How can we best present the common stories hidden within our heritage: how can we use them to inspire future generations? Crossroads is about the sense of community, not only close to home but within Europe as a whole. It is about creating awareness of Utrecht’s role in the culture of Europe, and of the European view of the world.
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Events & Festivals Expo Ongoing programme Jan
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Events, Exhibitions and Festivals: A large number of special one-off events and festivals will be held throughout the region at all times of the year. The programming will take the European tourist season fully into account. Expo: Expo Create your City will be open for six full months during the warm (or warmer) summer season.
The city and region’s regular cultural programme: All disciplines will be represented: performance arts, film, art trails in the public domain, and permanent exhibitions in the museums, castles, country estates, forts and other heritage locations. Many activities will be adapted and upscaled to form part of the overall European Capital of Culture programme.
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The programme structure in outline
VJ on the Dom, 2011.
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The Holland Animation Film Festival, Impakt, the Netherlands Film Festival and Born Digital transform Domplein into a dance event with spectacular visuals.
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PROGRAMME PROPOSALS
Opening and closing ceremonies
Utrecht 2018 belongs to everyone. Our ambition is that the opening and closing ceremonies should be a musical and multimedia celebration for all generations and all sections of society.
What main events will mark the year? For each, please give a description, the date and place, project partners and financing arrangements. 2.2
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Saint Martin
Utrecht 2018 in pictures and sound The official opening of the European Capital of Culture programme, on 18 January 2018, will take ‘Trust the Future, Create your City’ as its theme. We shall show Europe the very best that Utrecht has to offer through music and artistic visualizations in various forms. The main components of this event will be: — A multimedia, musical performance of international allure, composed and directed by internationally renowned artists such as Jacob TV and many other well-known and emerging talents who call Utrecht home. — All forms of art will be represented, as will all musical genres from classical to pop, performed by professionals and amateurs. — The opening ceremony will illustrate the connections between Utrecht, the Netherlands and Europe..
Saint Martin (c. 316-397) was bishop of the French city of Tours. He was something of a European avant la lettre, travelling throughout the continent. He later became one of the most venerated saints of the Middle Ages. His pilgrimages are commemorated by the Saint Martin Route which crosses much of modernday Europe, from the Balkans to Denmark. Saint Martin is undoubtedly part of the collective consciousness of Europe, his tradition living on in many countries. His saint’s day, 11 November, is marked in the many towns and cities which form the Alliance of St Martin de Tours. Initiative/owner: Muziekhuis Utrecht- Margreet Melman Partners: Fort van de Verbeelding – Peter de Boer (co-owner), Zimihc, Cultuurhuis Stefanus and Vorstelijk Complex, Council of Saint Martin, HKU and HU University of Applied Sciences, Eugene van Erven – Utrecht University & Community Arts Lab Utrecht, Utrecht Campanologists Guild, CCE de Saint Martin de Tours (France), Propere Fanfare van de Vieze Gasten in Ghent (Belgium), Allstar Refugee Band in Prague (Czech Republic), St James Cavalier Centre for Creativity in Valletta (Malta), Sound Invention (United Kingdom).
Trust the Future, Create your City 2 Programme
Trust the Future, Create your City
Saint Martin de Tours is the patron saint of Utrecht, to whom the Dom Church is dedicated. Utrecht will close the European Capital of Culture on his saint’s day, 11 November 2018, with another city-wide celebration and a procession illuminated by lanterns, light sculptures and projections. This will be our contemporary version of the medieval torchlight procession traditionally held on this day. Everyone will be welcome to join the musicians and artists, and our guests from other countries which have a strong link with our patron saint, including Belgium, France, Malta and the United Kingdom. Saint Martin symbolizes the ‘active citizen’, a concept developed by the Centre Culturel Européen de Saint Martin de Tours, with which Utrecht’s Council of Saint Martin has close links. Traditionally, children carrying lanterns visit their neighbours on Saint Martin’s day, hoping for a gift of sweets. In 2018, however, the procession will symbolize the coming together of citizens of all ages and from diverse backgrounds, and the sharing of knowledge, culture and values. We invite people from all the countries along the Saint Martin Route to join us, inspired by the question, “to whom will you pass the mantle? ”
Programme Proposals | Opening and closing ceremonies
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Main project
Expo Create your City Create your City is the central project in which the three programme lines of Utrecht 2018 – Habitat, Playground and Crossroads – come together. Utrecht is now undergoing a ‘growth spurt’ which is changing our city socially, culturally and physically. We intend to make this transition and all the attendant dilemmas fully visible through a series of exhibitions and events in and around the city, at the very locations at which the changes are already evident. In the city centre, for example, former industrial sites are now being given new functions. Elsewhere, Utrecht is growing outwards, encroaching upon the rural areas and slowly but surely creating green ‘enclaves’. In these days of economic crisis and spending constraints, the concept of ‘growth’ is taking on a new meaning in which there is a greater emphasis on quality
rather than quantity. This new approach to urban development includes an important role for art and culture. In 2018, Utrecht will therefore partner the International Architecture Biennale Rotterdam (IABR), which is currently undertaking a long-term research project examining all aspects of urban development. The theme of the 2018 biennial conference will be Making City with Culture. Alongside various reference cities in Europe and elsewhere, Utrecht will explore the role that culture can play in ensuring smart and responsible growth. Researchers, artists, architects, the private sector and the general public will be invited to devise the preconditions for the sustainable and attractive transformation of urban areas. Expo Create your City will comprise ten transition zones, all interlinked by pedestrian routes, cycle paths and public transport
services. Each location will have its own programme, but visitors can expect artistic presentations, symposiums and debates held in marquees, temporary structures, vacant buildings and on derelict sites. Each location will also feature part of the large-scale art project, Hacking Habitat. Utrecht is to host a conference in 2013 to ‘kick-start’ the Expo Create your City process. In 2018, the results will be presented to the public in the form of exhibitions and various artistic presentations. Initiative/owner: City of Utrecht (Department of Urban Development) and IABR. Partners: AORTA, Utrecht Manifest, international partner cities and institutes (to be confirmed). The IABR has entered into a partnership with the public broadcaster VPRO.
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FOCUS
Rotsoord
A notable component of Expo Create your City will be the ‘satellite’ exhibitions staged by various European cities in the many forts and other defence works of the region. Utrecht is flanked by a ribbon of defence works which form part of the New Dutch Water Line, built in the 19th century to protect the economic heartland of the Dutch Republic against foreign invaders. It combines various man-made structures with natural water features which enable large tracts of land to be flooded and made impassable. In fact, the New Dutch Water Line was never given an opportunity to prove its worth. It was only ever partially operationalized on three occa-
sions, the most recent being the outbreak of World War II, when it was of little use against modern tanks. Most of the historic forts survived. Each is unique and has its own special history. Utrecht will invite its European partners, including Malta, to ‘occupy’ these forts and present an exhibition about the role of culture in the development of their respective cities. Initiative/owner: Arnoud van Mosselveld, Projectbureau Nieuwe Hollandse Waterlinie. Partners: province(s), local authorities, Stichting Liniebreed Ondernemen, Staatsbosbeheer (Forestry Commission), water management authorities, City of Utrecht (Department of Urban Development) and IABR, Similar Cities & Valletta, Malta.
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Come to Europe, visit Utrecht
We can illustrate the concept of Expo Create your City using the example of Rotsoord, a smallscale industrial estate just to the south of the city centre. The municipality has designated Rotsoord as an area in which creative activity will be encouraged. Since 2005, the former Pastoe furniture factory has been the venue of Utrecht Manifest, a biennale for social design. Utrecht Manifest is closely involved in the development of the neighbouring areas, inviting internationally renowned social design specialists to cast their expert eye over Utrecht. Another noteworthy initiative in Rotsoord is ‘Rotslab’, a brand new workplace for anyone who wishes to work on plans for a sustainable future for our city. This ‘public factory’ takes the concept of Create your City literally: participants are encouraged to design their own human environment. The process is one of learning by doing: a modern, twenty-first century craft. Rotslab’s partners are the local residents, schools, community centres, festivals, (creative) entrepreneurs and artists who have turned their attention to urban development in the broadest sense of the term. The Rotsoord district also includes a large water tower which is to be given a new lease of life as a centre for creative entrepreneurs, with offices, studios and exhibition rooms. The restaurant at the top of the tower offers a splendid view of the city.
Programme Proposals | Main project
and the ‘Rotslab’ public workshop
EXPO LOCATIONS CREATE YOUR CITY
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Utrecht 2018 centre Basecamp Cartesius
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University Area
Expo Basecamp Cartesius this former industrial area will be the creative nerve centre of Utrecht 2018 E2 Expo New Town Leidsche Rijn the largest newbuild development in the Netherlands E3 Expo Rotsoord a former industrial site, now a ‘city workshop’ E4 Expo Utrecht Science Park educational and scientific activitie E5 Expo New Dutch Water Line defence works become bastions of culture E6 Expo City periphery local residents become nature managers E7 Expo Central Park Soesterberg a former military airbase, now a nature reserve and centre of culture and history E8 Expo Amersfoort centring on the Oliemolen Quarter and former railway maintenance depot E9 Expo Station Zone the busiest transport hub in the Netherlands, a ‘work in progress’ E10 Expo Merwedekanaal former military barracks transformed into a creative hotspot E1
Utrecht Science Park
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New Dutch Water Line
Programme Proposals | Expolocations
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Utrecht 2018 Center Info, Camping, Fietsverhuur Central Station
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Amersfoort
A new use for historic industrial heritage: Cereol, a former soy processing plant, is being transformed into a vibrant community centre, complete with school, theatre and library.
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TRANSITION EXPEDITION
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Utrecht Manifest: looking for craftmanship that supports the local economy.
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Opening of Utrecht Manifest 2012; this social design biennale brings together designers and users. October 2012
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PROGRAMME LINE 1
Habitat Experiencing the strength of the city
Hacking Habitat Artists working in the public domain Curator Ine Gevers will examine our changing human environment from an international perspective, taking a critical and artistic view. The Hacking Habitat will explore how people feel particularly vulnerable in a world of uncontrollable globalization and impending ecological disaster. At the same time, Hacking Habitat will examine how they can unite in opposition. In the artist’s vision, these people must ‘hack’ back control of their world. They must use their own intuition and decide for themselves how they are to interact with each other, what they are to eat and how they are to live. This artistic
global revolution will begin in the seemingly tranquil surroundings of Utrecht’s Kanaleneiland. Hacking Habitat will involve artists from all parts of the world in the main project of Utrecht 2018. It will feature design, films, visual arts and performances from countries in which human rights issues have yet to be resolved. This will be art used not only as a political message, but as an instrument to tackle current problems and threats by showing people the world they live in and how they can work together to create a better future. ‘Show the fish the water’ is the remit given to the artist and also the concept for the large-scale Hacking Habitat exhibition.
Let people see the world they live in. According to curator Ine Gevers, that world is hanging in the air. The artist can no longer work in glorious isolation. Activism is no longer a dirty word. An ever growing number of artists have chosen to form alliances with colleagues and with other stakeholders such as local residents. They are not interested in fame or riches, but in artistic expression and actual change. As Ine Gevers herself states, “I see Hacking Habitat as a huge social sculpture in the spirit of Joseph Beuys, one of the founders of a growing school of artists who want to help make the world a better place.”
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Initiative/owner and curator: Ine Gevers, Stichting Niet Normaal. Ine Gevers is founder and artistic director of Stichting Niet Normaal, a professional organization which stages art exhibitions to appeal to a large public. Its most recent exhibition, Difference on Display (Amsterdam 2010) is now touring Europe and the United States, and was part of the cultural programme accompanying the London Olympics in 2012. Prospective partners include Moderna Galerija (Ljubljana), Museum Welt Cultures (Frankfurt), the Liverpool Biennale, the Istanbul Biennale, the Centre for Humanities at Utrecht University, BAK Utrecht and Centraal Museum Utrecht.
It was in 1918 that Gerrit Rietveld designed the prototype of his world famous Red and Blue Chair, giving us yet another milestone to celebrate as European Capital of Culture precisely one hundred years later. Rietveld (1888-1964) was born in Utrecht and spent almost his entire life in the province. He was a furniture maker, architect and a prominent member of the Dutch avant-garde movement known as De Stijl, which represented a turning point in the history of art and architecture. Utrecht intends to stage a series of events to celebrate the work of Rietveld and his contemporaries. Their work offers a rich source of inspiration for the ‘City of the Next Generation’. Gerrit Rietveld was just eleven years old when he began to learn the furniture maker’s craft as an apprentice in his father’s workshop on Utrecht’s Poortstraat.
In 1911 he opened his own studio and started to take a keen interest in architecture, particularly the work of innovators such as Hendrik Berlage and Frank Lloyd Wright. He found kindred spirits in the members of De Stijl, who included Theo van Doesburg, Bart van der Leck and Piet Mondrian. All shared a common artistic philosophy now referred to as ‘neoplasticism’. It was in 1924 that Rietveld designed his first building: the Rietveld Schröder Huis on Prins Hendriklaan in Utrecht. It is a prime example of everything that De Stijl stands for and could almost be taken for a three-dimensional version of a Mondrian painting. The house was added to the UNESCO list of World Heritage Sites in 2000. Although De Stijl had a very strong international orientation, its simple geometric design language is very much part of the Dutch tradition of technical innovation and social design.
Trust the Future, Create your City 2 Programme
The contemporary relevance of a radical designer
Programme Proposals | Programme line 1 Habitat
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In 1934, Rietveld designed the Crate Chair using scrap wood from packing cases. It represents a radical answer to a radical time: the Great Depression. Rietveld’s furniture was extremely modern, and not only in appearance. The choice of materials meant that it was simple and inexpensive to produce. Centraal Museum is to devote a major exhibition to the inspirational legacy of Gerrit Rietveld, while Utrecht Manifest will explore the contemporary relevance of his work as part of the Social Design Biennale. Amersfoort will host various events highlighting the link between its own famous son, Piet Mondrian, and Rietveld. The house in which Mondrian was born is now a museum and education centre. Gerrit Rietveld left his mark throughout our region. Visitors will be able to admire many of the buildings he designed, including exceptional examples in Doorn and Soesterberg, as part of a special architecture tour. Initiative/owner: Centraal Museum. Partners: Mondriaanhuis, Utrecht Manifest, HKU, Rietveldpaviljoen De Zonnehof.
Art to Meet New meeting places: art in the Station Zone An international art exhibition in and around the Netherlands’ busiest shopping centre, part of a major urban district in transition, for a public who may not necessarily have very much interest in art. Every day, the Hoog Catharijne shopping centre and Central Station see hundreds of thousands of passers-by doing just that: passing by. It is for this very reason that Utrecht intends to hold major art exhibitions here. The process will begin in 2013 with the pilot project Call of the Mall, which will gradually be expanded with a number of temporary projects, installations and exhibitions. Hoog Catharijne, the complex of station, offices, shops and residential units built on the fringe of the historic city centre in the early 1970s, is undergoing a complete transformation. What form will the shopping centre of the future take if we make all but everyday purchases online?
And what about offices if we can all work anywhere and at any time using a laptop or tablet? Do the consumers and commuters of today have any say in the form of the new world of transport and leisure? Should they have a hand in designing the areas in which they meet each other on a daily basis? Within the ‘habitat’ of Hoog Catharijne, artists will show us how we behave as shoppers and travellers, and will present the contours of a world we have yet to see. The Call of the Mall event in 2013 will include the work of thirty internationally renowned artists and will provide a taste of things to come in 2018’s Expo Create your City, with its thought-provoking art in the city’s key transition zones. Initiative/owner: City of Utrecht.
Community culture The city’s growth does not respect the existing boundaries. Outlying towns and villages are gradually being absorbed into the urban fabric. While the emphasis in the city itself is on the individual, villages often show a far greater degree of community spirit and shared values. Those values can be an important source of inspiration for the urban region as a whole. For this reason, the programme for 2018 will include the Cultural Village of Europe event, in which we place the village in the spotlight. When Copenhagen was named European City of Culture (as the title was then worded) in 1996, the small Danish village of
Tommerup promptly proclaimed itself ‘European Village of Culture’. Later, the Dutch village of Wijk aan Zee made contact with eleven other villages in various parts of Europe. Today, each of these villages takes it in turn to be Cultural Village of Europe, organizing its own programme based on the local culture. The member villages also meet at an annual youth conference, which has become an important part of the venture. The aim is to promote self-development, to learn about others, to overcome stereotypes and to lower the boundaries within Europe. Young Art, a collective of young artists, helps those attending the con-
ference to visualize their ideas as part of the Young Art Festival. The member villages represent the Czech Republic, France, Estonia, Germany, Hungary, Greece, Portugal, Spain, Italy, Croatia, Denmark and the Netherlands. The coordinating organization has its headquarters in Wijk aan Zee (NL) and receives some EU funding. In 2015, a village in the province of Utrecht will be selected as Cultural Village of Europe for 2018, and the Utrecht 2018 Foundation will provide a budget for events programming. Initiative/owner: Team Utrecht 2018 and Bert Kisjes, ambassador of the Cultural Village of Europe programme.
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Cultural Village of Europe
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AgriCulture
The Gardens of Utrecht
Food as a vector of regional values
About ownership: nature on the city’s periphery In the Gardens of Utrecht project, every local resident can become co-owner of a little piece of nature. City residents will form communities, perhaps with neighbours or as a school group. Those communities will then purchase and manage a nature area, perhaps an orchard alongside the river, a copse or a meadow. Utrecht is surrounded by open countryside which has far more to offer than most local residents realize. The Gardens of Utrecht project will attempt to increase interest and engagement in the outlying areas among both city dwellers and the people of surrounding villages. They will be encouraged to form groups – within the school, street, church, mosque or on Facebook – and offered the opportunity to buy or lease land. Together, they can then create and manage their own little nature reserve. Everyone can become the owner of a few square metres of genuine Utrecht territory for a very modest investment! Each group will then
have sole responsibility for the management and usage of their area. They will be able to contribute ideas and see them brought to fruition in association with Stichting Utrechts Landschap (the Utrecht Landscape Foundation). The sum result will be that the nature and landscape around our city are used and conserved in a sustainable way. The Gardens of Utrecht project on the eastern side of the city will form part of Expo Create your City. There will be a pavilion with a multimedia presentation about ‘the Gardens of the Future’, featuring innovative conservation projects from all parts of Europe. Initiative/owner: Het Utrechts Landschap. Partners: City of Utrecht, municipalities of Zeist, De Bilt and Bunnik, Utrecht University, Utrecht Medical Center, Urban Pilots.
Jan Huijgen is a great innovator. He is also a working farmer, businessman and philosopher. His Eemlandhoeve farm forms the link between producer and consumer, countryside and city, the older and younger generations and between the local and the global level. Over the course of two decades, it has grown from a simple farm business into a small village which attracts over 25,000 visitors every year. It has inspired the formation of the National Taskforce for Multifunctional Agriculture, as well as many innovations in food production. In 2007, Jan Huijgen was awarded the European Sicco Mansholt Prize for his work. Other winners include the pioneer of ‘slow food’ Carlo Petrini and former EU Commissioner Franz Fischler, who has done much to place the rural areas on the European agenda. The younger generation is extremely interested in the quality of our food. City-dwellers identify with local producers working in the ‘back garden’ of
In 2018, Utrecht will be able to present itself as a culinary capital, with many surprising eating experiences to be found in the city and province. One particularly interesting location will be Villa Jongerius, where agriculture and gastronomy come together in a perfectly preserved house and garden dating from 1938. Jan Jongerius was a successful businessman who commissioned a new factory-cum-villa in the Nieuwe Bouwen style on the fringe of the city centre. It is now a Grade 1 listed building. By 2018, the villa, factory and garden will have been completely restored to their former glory and will form the ideal ‘test lab’ for sustainable and responsible dining in the dynamic Station Zone. Top chefs from all parts of Europe will be invited to form a ‘guild of masters’ to train young apprentices in the culinary arts.
Programme Proposals | Programme line 1 Habitat
Villa Jongerius
Initiative/owner: Jan Huijgen, in association with the European Multifunctional Farmers network (EMFN, Netherlands, Estonia, Portugal and Germany). Partners: Dacian Ciolos, Ciolos‚ Carlo Petrini, pioneer of the Slow Food movement. Villa Jongerius project: Stichting Vrienden van het Jongeriuscomplex.
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their region. Utrecht lies midway between the ‘Green Heart’ of the western provinces and the extensive agricultural region of Gelderland. If a crop can be grown in Europe’s temperate climate, it is grown within a fiftykilometre radius of our city. The regional cuisine and food culture form another important part of our heritage, representing the traditional values of the village. Eemlandhoeve cherishes, promotes and updates those values through projects such as Herstel van de Regionale Voedselcultuur (‘Restoring the regional food culture’). Project components include: 2013 Treaty of Utrecht: year conference about food as a source of conflict and peace 2014 UN year: conference about family-run businesses and new farm activities 2015 Global Eemland Conference, Mansholt revisited 2016-2018 Utrecht Conference: the agricultural heart of Europe.
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UTRECHT A PEACEFUL AND RESILIENT CITY
Compared to some other cities, Utrecht is faring reasonably well. Most residents say that they feel safe and content in their city. However, even Utrecht cannot escape the problems caused by widening social divides. In some districts, being safe on the streets is less of a ‘given’ than in others. Social cohesion is not all it could be. Families break up, schoolchildren are disruptive, groups of youths terrorise their neighbourhoods, gay residents are driven out of their own homes by constant intimidation and threats. Utrecht has devised a method of turning the tide: the Peaceful School concept. Culture is used as a vehicle for social cohesion, providing an inspiring example for Utrecht 2018. Resolving conflicts in the school How can we create a close-knit community in a neighbourhood of marked contrasts and social disparity? In Utrecht, we begin early – in primary education. The Peaceful School project was launched in 2006. It is a pedagogical approach which seeks to reduce problem behaviour through open dialogue. Children from different neighbourhoods meet to discuss their problems with each other. Their initial hesitancy and suspicions soon dissolve as they realize that they share the same perspectives and interests. As part of the programme, selected pupils are trained as ‘peer mediators’ who help to resolve problems in their school. Some seventy per cent of local schools have now joined the Peaceful Schools project, as have four hundred schools elsewhere in the Netherlands.
It takes a village to raise a child The success of the Peaceful School project has led to another initiative: the Peaceful Neighbourhood, which takes as its motto, ‘It takes a village to raise a child’. The underlying principle is that it is not only the child’s parents who create a nurturing environment, but the entire community: from sports association, housing corporation and local shopkeepers to the public library. All have a part to play. Cultural exchange and efforts to spark children’s imagination can help to reconcile the different ‘languages’ of the school, the home, the street and the virtual world. The Peaceful Neighbourhood project strives to promote a positive climate through cooperation between all stakeholders. Active participation by young people themselves is extremely important, offering an alternative to the ‘survival of the fittest’ macho street culture. Utrecht’s Peaceful Neighbourhood initiative has now been emulated in three other large Dutch cities. A city-wide coalition The next logical step in this process of ‘citizenship training’ will be the Peaceful City. As we prepare to celebrate the tercentenary of the Treaty of Utrecht in 2013, a broad coalition of stakeholders representing the education sector, police and judicial authorities, social services, culture, welfare and sport is being formed under the banner of ‘The Art of Making Peace’. The coalition represents a positive and preventive bottom-up approach to social problems which will quickly take hold in all sections of the community. The Peaceful City was originally suggested by Utrecht Police, inspired by the Utrecht Principles: the strength of diversity, knowledge and culture. The initiative is warmly endorsed by the courts and judicial authorities because “if people talk to each other more and learn to resolve their own differences, we will have a lot less to do!”
“Empathy is the basis of democracy”
Local human rights Utrecht wishes to link its efforts to create peaceful schools and neighbourhoods to the wider theme of human and children’s rights. There are many points of convergence. In 2011, the municipality commissioned a study examining the human rights situation in Utrecht. Do we meet the standards established by the international treaties? The study examined various aspects, including discrimination, poverty reduction, privacy, immigration policy, human trafficking and domestic violence. In almost all areas, the city’s policy meets or exceeds the international norms. Nevertheless, Utrecht is not content to rest on its laurels. Together with other European cities, we wish to investigate how the everyday reality at the local level can once again be assessed against the international standards. Any and all shortcomings must be resolved.
Micha de Winter is professor of education science at Utrecht University and closely involved in the Peaceful School project. He is also responsible for the ‘Your kids and theirs’ component of Utrecht 2018, which enjoys extremely broad support. In this project, young people will be invited to describe the city of the future and how they would like their own children and grandchildren to live.
“Without great ideals, Europe has no future. The active participation of all citizens, including children, is absolutely essential to the vitality of our democratic constitution. We must therefore teach our children that they too are part of society: there is no democratic gene which will automatically ensure their participation. Children must learn to see things from other people’s perspectives: they must learn empathy. History teaches us that serious violence is often preceded by moral exclusion and dehumanization. Empathy is the very basis of democracy. In the ‘Your kids and theirs’ project, artists will help young people to visualize their ideas about the city of the future, in both virtual and tangible forms. Primary and secondary school pupils, as well as students at the university or teacher training colleges, will be invited to design the future based on their own perspectives. This process will reveal some unexpected points of convergence, at both the local and European levels. The children will collaborate with their contemporaries in other countries, writing their essays and designing models together. They will learn much from sharing and comparing their ideas and ideals.”
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Cultural bridges Although this approach is typical of Utrecht’s way of thinking, it can be applied in any urban community. Culture plays an essential part. The Art of Making Peace programme is all about creating new connections. It will do so through theatre, music and community art: the ‘cultural bridges’. The Treaty of Utrecht Foundation’s neighbourhood programme uses the strength of culture as a vehicle for social cohesion. The Peaceful City approach does not try to ignore or avoid differences, but rather to acknowledge and exploit them. We firmly believe that this will enhance the resilience of the city and will bring about significant social renewal. Utrecht is therefore actively working to build permanent networks in and between the various districts of the city and region.
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Playground Exploring the strength of culture and knowledge The Summer of 18 European youth festival in Central Park Soesterberg The Summer of 18 will bring young people from all parts of Europe together for an unprecedented ten-day ‘open space’ festival. This huge event will feature music, debates, competitions, street art and collaborative creative productions, combining the best of festivals such as Woodstock and Burning Man. Most importantly, it will be created by young people themselves. Their energy, diversity and colourful programming will symbolize Utrecht’s status as a ‘Trust Factory’. The festival will be the culmination of a long preparatory process which begins in 2014 with the formation of a ‘trend team’ of young people with extensive international networks. They will organize a congress annually with workshops and lectures,
inviting ‘young pioneers’ from all parts of the world to discuss global issues such as human rights, migration, economics and climate change. The Summer of 18 represents the quest for the European Dream that young people cherish. In the Dream Watching project, they will express their ideas about Europe through exhibitions, cabaret performances, debates, live music, film, fashion, media, young art and lifestyle shows. Prominent representatives of youth culture will lead the programme and forge the links between the various ideas and dreams.
The festival venue is unique. Central Park Soesterberg is a nature reserve and recreation area which occupies the former site of a military airbase. It is a location with a rich international history and many reminders of the American airmen who were stationed here during the Cold War. Visitors can cycle along the runway or take long walks in the nearby woods. Central Park Soesterberg offers the ideal setting for a spectacular festival brimming with music, theatre and art in all its forms of expression.
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Kytopia Caravan: a musical laboratory
An artistic exercise in democracy Young people from all parts of Europe will join artists, architects and researchers in creating the ‘City of the Next Generation’. Their work will be featured in a major exhibition held at the Jaarbeurs Utrecht which will mark the culmination of a long-term, international education project. Your kids and theirs has been devised by Micha de Winter, professor of education science at Utrecht University. School pupils and students aged between eight and twenty will be invited to design the city in which their children and grandchildren will live. What form will it take? Although an enjoyable project for the participants, it is also a serious exercise in democracy and community-building. Assisted by artists and researchers, the young participants will express their dreams and
ideas in words, models, videos and drawings. Those ideas will be shared with peer groups elsewhere in the city or in some distant corner of Europe. The participants will join their contemporaries in other cities in writing their essays or designing their models. The opportunity to exchange ideas and compare ideals will be a valuable learning experience. Initiative/owner: Micha de Winter, Utrecht University. Partners: De Utrechtse Onderwijsagenda, Utrecht Centre for the Arts in association with HU University of Applied Sciences, Utrecht University, student organizations and schools throughout the Netherlands and Europe.
Programme Proposals | Programme line 2 Playground
Initiative/owner: The Summer of 18 is a project for and by young people. It is initiated and coordinated by the Dutch National Youth Council (NJR), a federation of national organizations which form part of the European networks and whose membership comprises young people aged twelve to thirty. Partners: University of Utrecht Summer School (now the largest in Europe) and AEGEE Utrecht (part of the European student organization AEGEE).
Your kids and theirs
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One of the highlights of the Summer of 18 will be a performance by Colin Benders, a talented young musician from Utrecht. In mid-2017, he and his Kytopia collective will embark on a Grand Tour of Europe, visiting towns and villages to drink in the rich cultural heritage in a sort of ‘musical laboratory’. Anyone wishing to join this Kytopia Caravan is welcome. At the end of this voyage of discovery, the members of Kytopia will be joined by fellow musicians from all parts of Europe on the Summer of 18 podium.
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Museums in Utrecht The Aboriginal Art Museum in Utrecht is the only museum in Europe devoted to contemporary Australian Aboriginal art. A series of temporary exhibitions shows the work of internationally renowned artists and lesserknown young talent.
The museum of the future Heritage, science and education In 2018, all Utrecht museums will adopt the common theme of ‘the future’. There will be exhibitions on the Future of Money, the Future of Public Transport, The Future of Religion, the Future of Public Housing, and so forth. Centraal Museum will examine the future of museums themselves. Utrecht’s museums will present their collections in a way which offers visitors from home and abroad an impression of the city and the world of the twenty-first century. The heritage of the past will shine a spotlight on the future. A museum’s traditional task is to conserve our cultural heritage and make it accessible to the general public. In 2018, this task will take on an extra dimension. For this extensive project, the museums intend to
enter into a long-term partnership with Utrecht University and the Utrecht School of the Arts (HKU), thus bringing together the worlds of research and collection management. This partnership will offer the university an interesting opportunity for direct contact with the general public, while the museums will gain access to valuable research capacity. Initiative/owner: Stichting Utrechts Museumkwartier. Partners: Utrecht University, the Utrecht School of the Arts (HKU) and Utrechtse Onderwijs Agenda, representing all educational institutes in the city.
Centraal Museum has the world’s largest collection of ‘Rietveldiana’, an extensive collection of Old Masters (including works by Jan van Scorel en Abraham Bloemaert) as well as fashion, design and all genres of the visual arts. The dick bruna huis features a permanent exhibition of the work of Dick Bruna, creator of the children’s favourite Miffy the Rabbit (a style icon in her own right!) The GeldMuseum is an interactive environment providing information about the history, form and function of money for visitors of all ages. It is housed in the same building as the Dutch Royal Mint, at which all the Netherlands’ coins have been struck since 1911.
The Museum Catharijneconvent has a collection of artworks, some modern and some centuries old, illustrating the history of Christianity in the Netherlands. The paintings, sculptures and manuscripts are of international significance and have earned the museum a ‘highly recommended’ rating in the most recent Michelin Green Guide to Europe. Museum Speelklok has one of the world’s largest collections of musical automata, including carillon clocks, musical boxes, player pianos, the singing nightingale and several street organs. In 2010/2011, the museum staged a highly successful exhibition of ‘Treasures from the Hidden City’, in association with partners in Beijing.
The Spoorwegmuseum is the Netherlands’ railway museum. It has an extensive collection of locomotives, carriages, wagons and related memorabilia. The key aim of the museum is to illustrate not only the history but the atmosphere of the railways, which makes it extremely popular with younger visitors. The recent Royal Class exhibition (2010) brought together royal carriages from all parts of Europe for the very first time. RonDom offers guided tours of the Dom Tower. Built over six hundred years ago, this is the tallest medieval tower in the Netherlands and the symbol of Utrecht.
Permanent and temporary exhibitions at the University Museum show visitors various scientific developments and how they are likely to affect our everyday lives. There is a special ‘Kids Lab’ for children. The museum also has a botanical garden, Oude Hortus. The Armando Museum is devoted to the work of the painter, sculptor, writer, musician, actor, director and producer Herman Dirk van Dodeweerd (b. 1929), better known as Armando. The museum’s original location in Amersfoort was destroyed by fire in 2007. It is soon to reopen in OudAmelisweerd, a country house near Utrecht. The Nederlands Volksbuurtmuseum charts the history of Utrecht’s ‘District C’ (Wijk C) and offers visitors a glimpse into the everyday life of a typical Dutch working-class neighbourhood at the turn of the twentieth century.
October 2012 Programme Proposals | Programme line 2 Playground
The visitors’ centre at Het Utrechts Archief (public records office) opens the collective memory of the city to young and old in an interactive exhibition. Visitors can even produce their own historic newspaper.
The 16th century fort Sonnenborgh has seen many uses: in the nineteenth century it became a weather station and astronomical observatory. There is a public museum with exhibits about the universe and the latest discoveries in the field of astronomy. Regular courses, lectures and ‘star viewing nights’ are held throughout the year.
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Podium 18 International youth theatre It’s the dream of every youth theatre maker: an international cultural programme devised, produced and presented by young people from all parts of Europe. The dream becomes reality in Podium 18, a project in which young people themselves are in charge. They will do everything, from devising the programme to welcoming the audience. The entire event will be managed by a committee of 18-year-olds with the support and assistance of experienced professional organizations such as Het Filiaal and Het Lab. The concept of a podium specifically for young people is new to Utrecht but not to Europe. From 2015 onwards we shall meet with various European partners to draw on their experience and expertise. The programme of Podium 18 will include an international co-production in which Utrecht is joined by Valletta, our fellow candidate for the title European Capital of Culture. It will also include the Fresh Tracks Europe project, bringing together young artists from all parts of Europe, and the annual congress of the
International Association of Theatre for Children and Young People (ASSITEJ). The youth theatre companies invited to stage productions will include De Kopergietery (Ghent), Dschungl (Vienna) and Tanzhaus (Dusseldorf). There will also be presentations by local primary and secondary schools, and by the students of the Utrecht School of the Arts (HKU). Under the guidance of internationally renowned coaches, young ‘urban artists’ will develop their talents as part of the Roots & Routes project. Young musicians, dancers and media producers from all European countries will converge on Utrecht for this three-week multidisciplinary arts event. Roots & Routes was born in Utrecht in 2000. The first event took place in 2001 as a part of Rotterdam’s Capital of Culture programme. In 2004, the concept was adopted by the EU as part of the official cultural programme Thinking Forward, since when it has been awarded European funding.
The 2018 Roots & Routes in Utrecht will therefore be the eighteenth and is expected to attract young people from all parts of Europe, including the new member states of the Balkan region. We shall of course make a special effort to make them feel at home. Initiative/owner Podium 18: Dennis Meyer. Partners: Jeugdtheater Het Filiaal, members of the Fresh Tracks Europe network, ASSITEJ, De Kopergietery (Ghent), Dschungl (Vienna), Tanzhaus (Dusseldorf), local primary and secondary schools, Utrecht School of the Arts (HKU). Roots & Routes: Stichting Roots & Routes.
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An artistic reflection on a new world order Former West is a long-term ongoing art project, devised to encourage a different view of world history and speculation about a possible global future. Its starting point is 1989, the
Over a ten-year period (20082018), BAK will seek answers and develop possible scenarios for our global future. The findings will provide input and inspiration for seminars involving universities and arts academies, and for a series of conferences involving arts institutions from Europe and beyond. Former West will eventually return to Utrecht to present a major exhibition and conference in 2018. Both will examine the new era which follows that of ‘the former West’, an epoch for which no name has yet been coined. BAK stands for Basis voor Actuele Kunst, or ‘Basis for Contemporary Art’. Based in Utrecht, it is an international platform for the production, presentation and analysis of all forms of contemporary art. BAK’s activities regularly bring international artists to the Netherlands, while the international discourse it promotes is a fertile seedbed
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Former West
year which saw the fall of the Berlin Wall and the beginning of a new world order. The West appeared to be at its strongest, rapidly becoming the dominant global power. However, artists have visualized a more sombre world and BAK has come to refer to the West as the ‘Former West’. Just a few years ago, this was seen as highly provocative. Today, it is clear that this critical artistic evaluation is fully justified, as the West hobbles from one crisis to another. In 1989, the future seemed clear. There seemed to be no viable alternative to capitalist democracy. That future is now somewhat less transparent. BAK sees a similarity between today and 1989, in the sense that there is a clear ideological shift and a further change in the world order. Through research, education, exhibitions and publications, Former West explores the position and status of what we know as ‘the West’ in terms of influence, equality and global unity. The project also casts a fresh light on the role of art in the context of cultural, political and economic change.
Programme Proposals | Programme line 3 Crossroads
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for innovative ideas and projects. BAK is often invited to bring its exhibitions to leading museums and festivals around the world, and its activities generate much coverage in international journals. The Former West project has spawned the exhibitions Principio Potosi (2010) at the Reina Sofia Museum in Madrid, Christoph Schlingensief: Fear at the Core of Things (2012) at BAK’s headquarters in Utrecht, a forthcoming major presentation at the Haus der Kulturen der Welt in Berlin (2013) and the Democracy Show at Utrecht’s Centraal Museum (also in 2013). Initiative/owner: BAK, Basis voor Actuele Kunst. Partners: Reina Sofia Museum (Madrid), Akademie der bildende Kunste (Vienna), Haus der Kulturen der Welt (Berlin), Secession (Vienna), MOMA (Warsaw) Afterall (London), Centraal Museum (Utrecht) and the Istanbul Biennale.
Caravaggio and the Caravaggists A European exhibition Caravaggio and the Caravaggists examines the artist as a source of inspiration and considers how new ideas develop in a certain location from where they are then disseminated. This will be a major international exhibition for a broad public, staged at Centraal Museum. It will bring together the work of the Italian master Caravaggio, the pioneer of the chiaroscuro technique, with that of his many followers and imitators in other countries. A number of Utrecht artists, including Hendrick ter Brugghen, Gerard van Honthorst and Dirck van Baburen, did much to spread the new style throughout Europe. However, they were certainly not the only artists to be influenced by the revolutionary work of Caravaggio (1573 -1610). His innovative use of light and shade was emulated far and wide,
not only by painters in his home city of Rome but by those in the southern Netherlands, France and Spain. All were under his spell. This exhibition will not focus on the similarities between the Caravaggists, but rather the differences. How did they adapt the master’s style in keeping with their own national traditions? In the run-up to 2018, Centraal Museum will devote a gallery to an exhibition in which young artists offer their commentary on the work of the Old Masters. Guest curators, all aged 18, will be invited to select works from the museum’s extensive collection. Initiative/owner: Centraal Museum Utrecht, the National Gallery of Scotland, Edinburgh. Partners: European museums with works by Caravaggio and his school, e.g. Valletta and Toledo, private collectors, art experts.
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Pope Adrian VI
The life-story of Adriaan Floriszoon Boeyens (1459-1522) reads like a film script with supporting roles for Charles V (Holy Roman Emperor), Martin Luther, Desiderius Erasmus. In 2018, the Museum Catharijneconvent is to present a major international exhibition about the eventful life of ‘the Dutch pope’.
Drama and music on the platform In 2018, Utrecht’s new Public Transport Terminal, the very heart of the country’s transport system, will become the location for spectacular ‘flash theatre’ with the theme of parting and reconciliation. Inspiration will be drawn from various episodes in European history. Unsuspecting passengers will be astonished by extravagant, historic and futuristic trains arriving at the station from Paris, Warsaw, Istanbul and London. Short scenes will be acted out to depict European stories which have some connection with the railway. Drama and music on Platform 2018! Before the audience has time to realize what is happening, the train will pull out of the station and its place taken by the scheduled service. Passengers can then continue their journey, but with an unforgettable experience.
Director Jos Thie has done much to promote ‘location theatre’ in the Netherlands and has shown himself able to attract new audiences. His stadium production about a footballer, in which thousands of football spectators were actively involved, is now legendary, as is the opera he staged in the gardens of Paleis Soestdijk, home of the late Queen Juliana. His theatre company De Utrechtse Spelen (DUS) has an international following. Initiative/owner: De Utrechtse Spelen, Jos Thie. Artistic partner: (ideally) Royal de Luxe (France). Location partners: NS and ProRail.
The locations in which Adrian’s life story play out certainly provide attractive backdrops for a film. They include the busy Oudegracht canal in fifteenthcentury Utrecht where he was raised, the university city of Leuven where he studied and became an influential theologian, and the royal court in Mechelen where he was retained to educate the young Charles of Habsburg. In 1515, he was instructed by the Habsburgs to ensure that young Charles would succeed to the Spanish throne. As cardinal and regent, Adrian himself would then become the most powerful figure in Spain. His former pupil was crowned Charles V of the Holy Roman Empire in 1519.
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Worldstation 2018
Programme Proposals | Programme line 3 Crossroads
The son of a Utrecht carpenter who became Bishop of Rome
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Port Europa Adrian was elected pope on 22 January 1522. When the news reached Utrecht, bonfires were lit on the bridges. But the new pope faced a challenging task. Five years earlier, Martin Luther had nailed his Ninety-Five Theses, objecting to church practices such as the sale of indulgences, to the door of the Castle Church in Wittenberg. This marked the beginning of the Reformation movement, which Adrian was resolved to oppose. He unsuccessfully tried to enlist the support of Erasmus. At the same time, Adrian tried to curb some of the morally questionable practices at the papal court. But once again the ‘barbarian from the North’ could rely on little support in Rome. He died in September 1523, having been in office for barely a year. Adrian found himself at the head of the church at a time when religious conflict would soon rend Europe asunder. Museum Catharijneconvent will take the life of Adrian VI as the starting point for a European exhibition exploring the religious history of Utrecht, placing it in the context of the radical changes seen at this time. The exhibition will form
Carte blanche for foreign festival curators
part of the commemoration of the five-hundredth anniversary of the Reformation in 2017. The recently restored Paushuize, the residence that Adrian built for himself in Utrecht, will be transformed into a true Papal Palace for the European Capital of Culture year. Initiative/ owner: Museum Catharijneconvent. The museum is housed in a 16th century monastery built for the Order of the Knights of St. John and is named after Saint Catherine of Alexandria. It presents the Christian culture of the Netherlands with a collection of religious art, both Catholic and Protestant, of international importance. Potential partners: the Vatican archives, Spanish archives in Valladolid and Madrid, Biblioteca Communale Siena, National Library of Belgium, Museum M Leuven, University of Leuven Library, the Paushuize, Toerisme Utrecht, HKU.
Utrecht’s festivals have traditionally been the main driving force behind many cultural events in Utrecht. The succession of regular festivals is like a heartbeat which gives the cultural year its rhythm and structure. At the same time the festivals, each of which has a certain specialist focus, are the open doors and windows through which artistic innovation wafts into our city. The ten festivals have formed an alliance, the Utrechts Festival Overleg. In 2018, they will take the spirit of openness to its most extreme form. Each will invite a guest curator to devise and produce the programme. He or she will be given carte blanche. The curators may be from elsewhere in Europe or far beyond. Their involvement will reflect our changing global relationships. The festivals have made a deliberate and assured choice to seek this cultural confrontation and to step outside their ‘comfort zone’. With eyes wide open, they are encouraging new encounters and pushing Utrecht forward in its artistic and social adventure.
FOCUS
Utrecht’s festivals Festival of Early Music — founded in 1982 this ten-day international festival keeps early music alive and relevant with over 120 concerts and other activities in the city centre. It includes free ‘fringe’ concerts, workshops, and masterclasses for talented young musicians from all parts of the world. Gaudeamus Muziekweek — founded in 1947 and held in Utrecht since 2011 this international festival for young composers and contemporary (serious) music provides a platform for innovation.
International Franz Liszt Piano Competition — founded in 1986 and held in Utrecht every three years, this international competition is open to young classical pianists aged 17 to 29. It is entirely devoted to the work of Franz Liszt. The competition is notable for its Career Development Programme, whereby the prize includes a series of international engagements and a CD release. Utrecht International Chamber Music Festival —founded in 2003 this five-day festival brings together renowned international chamber musicians under the artistic directorship of violinist Janine Jansen. Recitals are given at various locations in the city between Christmas and New Year. Latin American Film Festival — founded in 2005 this festival allows the Dutch public to become acquainted with Latin American cinema, as well as the social, economic and cultural context of Central and South America.
Festival a/d Werf — founded in 1986 this ten-day festival is spread over various locations in Utrecht and features original productions which push back the boundaries of theatre, as well as an international programme of performances, installations and music. In 2013, this festival will merge with Springdance to become the Spring Festival. Springdance — founded in 1983 this annual festival presents the latest developments in the world of contemporary dance, with contributions from established international choreographers and performers as well as exciting young talent. As noted above, Springdance is to merge with Festival a/d Werf in 2013. Tweetakt — founded in 2008 in Utrecht this is the main Dutch festival for youth theatre and performing arts, which moved to Utrecht in 2008. Held in March each year, the festival includes theatre and dance performances, installations and gaming demonstrations from the Netherlands, Belgium and far beyond. The programme is designed to appeal to children aged 2 to 16+.
Programme Proposals | Programme line 3 Crossroads
Initiative/owner: Utrechts Festival Overleg (alliance of Utrecht festivals).
Impakt — founded in 1988 this five-day festival for audiovisual arts features films, videos, exhibitions, performances, music, seminars and various special events. It focuses on the relationship between media art and society.
Nederlands Film Festival — founded in 1981 this festival is devoted to cinematography in the Netherlands. It offers a retrospective of all feature films, short films, documentaries and major television drama series made in the past year. The final evening sees the presentation of the Gouden Kalveren awards for best film, best director and best actors.
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In 2016 and 2017, talented young students from the Utrecht School for the Arts (HKU) will visit the emerging economies such as Brazil, Russia, India and China. By then, the list could well include Nigeria. They will immerse themselves in the local culture and, alongside the cultural curators of Port Europe, will seek out inspiring productions which typify the national culture and which deserve a place in the Utrecht 2018 programme. Alongside fellow students from the countries concerned, they will produce their own large-scale theatrical event. Stadsschouwburg Utrecht and the Music Palace are partners in the project: it is here that many of the productions will be staged.
Holland Animation Film Festival — founded in 1985 this two-yearly international festival is devoted to animation in all its forms: from cartoons to experimental film, and from stop-motion with clay figures to CGI. There are competitions for new work, as well as retrospectives and themed programmes.
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The new year of the free people The Hidden Museum of Europe Heritage meets gaming In the Hidden Museum of Europe project, our local heritage will be given a new dimension as it is brought to life by film-makers, games designers and computer animation specialists. Utrecht’s European history lies hidden at countless locations throughout the city and province. Domplein, for example, can tell us much about the Roman origins of Utrecht, while the nearby palace of Pope Adrian and the Dom Tower are silent witnesses to Utrecht’s history as a religious capital. Camp Amersfoort stands as a reminder of the horrors of World War II. Modern technology makes it possible to bring their stories to life. In a pilot project at Castle Amerongen, film-makers Peter Greenaway and Saskia Boddeke demonstrated how multimedia can be used to recreate a day in lives of the nobles and their servants. We are taken back to 1680 in a virtual reality world so lifelike that we become part of the scene as we explore the castle and meet its occupants.
Amazigh Festival
A number of important heritage locations are already working alongside the Utrecht gaming industry to retell the hidden history of the city and region. The Heritage Gaming Platform brings together two of Utrecht’s key strengths: our leading computer imaging sector and our European heritage locations. In 2018, both the local and European history of the city will come to life in exciting interactive games and immersive virtual reality simulations. Initiative/owner: Heritage Gaming Platform. Location partners: the main heritage sites in and around Utrecht: (1) The Limes (47-400); (2) Dorestad/Wijk bij Duurstede (834); (3) Cunera / Rhenen (1100); (4) De Heksenwaag in Oudewater (16th-17th centuries); (5). De Grebbelinie (16th -19th centuries); (6) Paleis Soestdijk (1674); (7) The New Dutch Water Line (1800-1940); (8) the Pyramid of Austerlitz (1804); (9) De Stichtse Lustwarande (19th century) - Huis Doorn and/or slot Zeist; (10); Camp Amersfoort (1918-1941).
A European celebration of the Berber culture, held in and around the Stadsschouwburg theatre before touring Europe as a travelling museum festival. There are an estimated three million Berbers, also known as Amazigh, living in Europe. The majority can trace their origins to northern Africa. Utrecht is home to approximately 30,000 Berbers from the Rif mountain region of Morocco. The Berber people represent three thousand years of history. They have their own status and their own religion, often oppressed by neighbouring cultures to the north and the south. Until just ten years ago, Moroccan law prohibited the use of the Berber language in education. It was also illegal to write or publish anything in Berber. In the years ahead, to coincide with the Amazigh New Year, Utrecht is to organize a Berber Festival in and around the Stadsschouwburg theatre. By 2018, it will have become the largest festival of its kind anywhere in the world. It will be an event for young and old, with both political and cultural components celebrating the long and rich history of the Berber people, known for their rich oral tradition.
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Spoffin
Initiative/owner: Gerard Cornelisse and Stadsschouwburg Utrecht. Prospective partners: RASA (centre for world music and dance) Stichting Marmoucha (organization which promotes Berber music), Anna Lind EuroMediterranean Foundation for the Dialogue between Cultures, Marseille 2013, Utrecht University, Forum (Institute for Multicultural Studies), ROC Midden Nederland, Berber communities in the Netherlands and Europe.
theatre. Although it remains a relatively unknown genre, it is starting to attract many young performers and an equally youthful audience. This combination creates many new forms and ideas which, unfortunately, have yet to be seen outside the countries concerned. In 2018, we shall attempt to rectify this omission, offering young performers and producers from the new member states an opportunity to reach a large international audience. Spoffin hopes to establish a permanent mobility fund which will allow performers from the new European regions to continue to tour even after 2018. Initiative/owner: Stichting Zomertheater Amersfoort, Alfred Konijnenbelt Partners from Spoffin’s international network, which includes theatre companies, performers, producers and other street theatre professionals from Romania, Turkey, Sweden, Poland, Macedonia, Bulgaria, Lithuania and Kyrgyzstan.
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The festival will bring prominent artists and performers from Morocco, France, Spain and Belgium, and from the large Moroccan communities in Rotterdam, Amsterdam and Utrecht. The project will grow to become a contemporary touring Amazigh Museum Festival to remind us all that there can be no identity without history.
Theatre companies from all parts of Europe will perform in front of an audience of 50,000 on the streets and public squares of Amersfoort. They will include not only professional groups from countries with an established tradition of street theatre, such as the Netherlands and France, but also ‘newcomers’ from Scandinavia, Central Europe and Eastern Europe. Each year, Spoffin transforms the province’s second largest city Amersfoort into a European cultural hotspot. The festival not only offers professional companies the opportunity to present their work, but includes an extensive ‘fringe’ programme of workshops and opportunities to pitch new projects. In its first two years, 2010 and 2011, Spoffin attracted over one hundred theatre professionals from as far afield as France, Spain, Italy, Germany, Denmark, Finland, Sweden, Morocco, Turkey and Chile. In 2018, there will be a special focus on the new members of the European Union, which are likely to include Croatia, Serbia, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Macedonia and Montenegro. All now have a burgeoning culture of street
Programme Proposals | Programme line 3 Crossroads
International street theatre in Amersfoort
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The Limes Trail
A baroque equestrian pageant
Take the train to Roman treasure houses
Early music meets dressage
In 2018, there will be a special rail service between Utrecht and Cologne. The route will connect the remnants of our common Roman past which can be found below Domplein, in Vechten and Hoge Woerd, and in the new Archaeological Zone in Cologne. The train will also stop in Arnhem and in the Roman garrison town of Nijmegen. On board will be a travelling exhibition of objects which have been found along the Limes. Various off-train excursions (on foot, by bicycle or coach) will take visitors to see the traces of our Roman past. The train itself will have a suitably Roman interior design, while all along the route will be public artworks with a Roman theme. The public service will run once a week during the summer (the return journey can be completed in one day) and the train will also be available for lectures, presentations and receptions. The Limes formed the northern boundary of the Roman Empire and is the largest linear archaeological structure in Europe.
Within the Netherlands, it crosses the provinces of Gelderland, Utrecht and Zuid-Holland. It is of immense historical value. Some parts of the Limes have already been included on the UNESCO list of World Heritage Sites, and it is hoped that the entire structure in Netherlands and Germany will have been given a permanent place on the list by 2018. Utrecht and Cologne are currently working together within the Portico project. Initiative/owner: Domplein, Centraal Museum. Partners for train exhibition: Centraal Museum, National Museum of Antiquities (Leiden), Museum Valkhof, Römisch-Germanisches Museum (Cologne). Partners for off-train excursions: local/regional organizers and ANWB. Other partners: members of the Limes alliance (three provinces, six municipalities and three museums), NS, DB, ANWB, City of Cologne, City of Utrecht (Hoge Woerd), Municipality of Bunnik (Fort Vechten).
In 2018, the world’s largest festival of early music wishes to achieve a long-held ambition: to combine the event with an international equestrian pageant. The European military tradition of the carousel will be revived, with colourful scenery and costumes, dancing and authentic baroque music. The ideal location for this spectacular family event is the fairytale Kasteel De Haar, a medieval fortress with towers, ramparts, moats and drawbridges. The carousel is a pan-European phenomenon which emerged in Italy and France before quickly spreading to all the great cities and courts of the continent. There is one man who would make an ideal curator for this event: the Hollywood actor John Malkovich, who has expressed a strong desire to direct such a refined ‘horse ballet’. Initiative/owner: Utrecht Festival of Early Music. Potential partners: Festival Montréal Baroque, Versailles Spectacles & Centre de Musique Baroque de Versailles.
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Cultural Hotspots The ‘hotspots’ are the permanent programme locations such as the Stadsschouwburg theatre, the new Music Palace, the new Bibliotheek++ library complex and the similarly new Central Park Soesterberg.
Heritage sites Utrecht has many heritage sites of European significance. They include the Museum Quarter, churches, castles, country manors, Roman border fortifications, historic landscapes, gardens and parks, not forgetting the forts of the New Dutch Water Line. Amersfoort: second city Amersfoort, the second largest city in the province, will play a full part in the programme of Utrecht 2018. The historic city centre has three large public squares, while former industrial sites form a string of suitable venues in and around the centre.
Trust the Future, Create your City 2 Programme
Expo Create your City This multi-centre exhibition presents the ‘City of the Next Generation’ at ten transition zones in various parts of the city. Each site will have its own character and programme of (location) theatre, performances and visual arts projects. The ten key locations will be interconnected by walking routes, cycle paths and public transport services. The overall programme takes seasonal factors into account and runs from the spring until the autumn.
Utrecht 2018: main event locations
Our proposed programme for the European Capital of Culture events involves four main types of location:
LOCATIONS UTRECHT 2018
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Utrecht 2018: main event locations
Cultural ‘breeding grounds’
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Trust the Future, Create your City 2 Programme
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Reminder of times past: artwork at the former military airbase at Soesterberg. October 2012
Central Park Soesterberg, the ideal location for the Summer of 18 youth festival.
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Runways amid the green countryside: the legacy of the Cold War. October 2012
A new cultural infrastructure for 2018 Utrecht has an extensive infrastructure of cultural venues which will be able to accommodate the programme components of the Utrecht 2018 event. Some are permanent and well-established: the Stadsschouwburg theatre and the museums, for example. Others are currently under construction: the Music Palace, due to open in 2014, and Central Park Soesterberg. There will also be many temporary facilities which will open either in 2018 itself or in the interim period. A few examples are described under the heading ‘New temporary locations’ below. The ambition of being named European Capital of Culture 2018 has prompted cultural operators in Utrecht to launch new and exciting initiatives which may well come to earn a permanent place in the city’s cultural life, whereupon suitable accommodation must be found in due course. These initiatives will be further refined in the years ahead. For now, they are included under the heading ‘In development’.
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Muziekpaleis The Music Palace concerthall, in the very centre of Utrecht, will open in 2014. This hypermodern and iconic building represents the largest investment ever made in the physical cultural infrastructure of our city. Its five auditoria will provide the ideal venue for all genres, from classical to pop and from chamber music to heavy metal. Bibliotheek++ Another new icon in the city centre’s Station Zone will be the new Bibliotheek++ library complex, scheduled to open in early 2018. It represents a combination of the traditional public library with theatre facilities, an art film cinema and exhibition areas for visual arts in the broadest sense of the term.
Domplein Visitors’ Centre Two thousand years of history lie hidden beneath Domplein in the city centre, where military heroes, bishops and emperors have all left their mark. The Domplein Foundation is to open up this treasure house to the public, transforming Domplein into an international forum for culture, knowledge and religion. Museum Oud-Amelisweerd The historic country manor OudAmelisweerd is being restored and will soon open as a museum housing a unique collection of Chinese and Dutch wall-hangings, as well as the work of the renowned Dutch artist Armando.
October 2012 A new cultural infrastructure for 2018
New permanent locations
Castellum Hoge Woerd Hoge Woerd, part of the Leidsche Rijn expansion district, was once the site of a large Roman garrison. A new visitors’ centre is being developed in the form of a reconstructed Roman castellum, standing amid a copse of linden trees. It will inform, educate and entertain school parties and the general public on a wide range of topics, including local history, archaeology, nature, environment and culture. Parts of the old Roman road and the outlines of a Roman bathhouse are visible nearby. The centre will also display the 25-metre Roman ship discovered here in 1997.
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Central Park Soesterberg The former military airbase at Soesterberg is an exceptional example of our recent cultural heritage, specifically that of the Cold War period. Here, history, nature and culture converge. In 2014, the park will become the headquarters of the European Institute for Art, Society, Heritage and Landscape. Artists of all ages, nationalities and disciplines will be able to spend up to five months here working on their projects. In August and September 2018, Soesterberg will host numerous public exhibitions, performances and festivals. National Military Museum In late 2014, the new National Military Museum is to open on the northern side of the former airbase at Soesterberg. The existing Military Aviation Museum on the site will be expanded to include the collection of the Army Museum, currently in Delft. ‘Breeding grounds’ Utrecht has designated a number of locations as ‘cultural breeding grounds’: buildings and locations which are used for artistic experimentation and development. They are dynamic places and, in principle, strictly temporary in nature. In combination, however, they form an important permanent component of Utrecht’s cultural infrastructure. The best-known examples include Kytopia, Concordiastraat, Nutrecht, Rotslab, Huis van de Makers, the Dutch Game Garden, Utrecht Inc. and Vechtclub XL. All are locations at which new forms of artistic expression are being developed through interdisciplinary cooperation. In 2018, there will be special public tours of the various locations.
New temporary locations Basecamp Cartesius Visitors to Utrecht European Capital of Culture 2018 will receive a arm welcome at the Basecamp Cartesius visitors’ centre. This former industrial area in the city centre is named after the philosopher René Descartes, who once lived in Utrecht. It has recently been transformed into a centre for artists, art education programmes and arts producers. In 2018, Basecamp Cartesius will be the central meeting place and information centre. Visitors will be able to hire an (electric) bicycle moped to explore the Expo locations. The centre will also be well served by public transport. The Cartesius project has transformed an abandoned industrial site into an important ‘breeding ground’ for art and culture, a role it will continue to play beyond 2018. Camping Europa Many young visitors will be looking for affordable overnight accommodation in 2018. For them, a large temporary campsite known as Camping Europa is to be set up alongside the Jaarbeurs Utrecht. The Green City Temporary exhibition areas and terraces are to be created in several parks and gardens, both in the city itself and in outlying areas. There will also be temporary catering facilities in the form of pavilions or refreshment tents.
PLAY: a public centre for gaming PLAY is envisaged as a vibrant public meeting place for gaming. As an unconventional new-style ‘museum’, it will be the face of Utrecht Games City. Young players, designers and the less computer-literate generations will come together to play games with and against each other, to experiment with the latest technology and to create their own games. It will be a lively laboratory in which designers join museums, care institutions, private sector companies and schools in exploring the boundless possibilities of the new digital media. It will also be a knowledge platform which helps the various partners to pursue their innovation agenda. PLAY will be to Utrecht what Ars Electronica is to Linz: a location which gives the rapidly growing creative industry an international face. It will link gaming companies with arts education and research, with schools and with the public at large. PLAY is an initiative of the Utrecht School for the Arts and the Dutch Game Garden, an alliance of partners representing the local gaming industry.
House of Commons: debating the city In 2012, Utrecht founded its own ‘House of Commons’ which will be the central platform for critical discussions about Utrecht and the ‘City 3.0’ concept. It will give a voice to the creative knowledge worker of the future, promoting a crossfertilization of ideas which will enable Utrecht to assert its international position as a city of knowledge and culture. A number of partners have already come forward. They include Utrecht University, De Utrechtse Internet Courant, BAK, Milieucentrum Utrecht, Utrecht Manifest, Fietsersbond, Cult Dealer Enzo, the VIP bus and the Cartesius Museum. International links have been established with Cafe Scientifique in London and the Long Now Foundation of San Francisco.
A new cultural infrastructure for 2018
Animation Lab The Utrecht Animation Lab will, it is hoped, become a major driving force behind the Dutch animation and computer simulation sector. It represents an alliance of the Holland Animation Film Festival, Dutch Game Garden and Il Luster Producties, whose ambition is to establish an international centre of expertise. The lab will provide studio accommodation for film-makers, producers and other creatives, and a permanent home for the Holland Animation Film Festival. Utrecht is thus combining its creativity and acknowledged expertise in the field of animation.
Community Arts Productions Utrecht Before 2018, Utrecht wishes to become the first city in the Netherlands with its own fully-equipped multidisciplinary community arts production company. The purpose of all community arts projects is to develop the strongest, most forceful forms of expression for hitherto unknown stories and images. This calls for flexibility and a multidisciplinary approach. Community Arts Productions Utrecht (CAPU) will be a pool of professional artists and producers who will work wherever they are needed, and who will be able to call on the expertise of colleagues from home and abroad. CAPU wishes to reach those people who all too often fall outside conventional art and culture education. It will be a powerful instrument in promoting social participation, getting local residents and visitors fully involved in visualizing and designing the city of the future. CAPU is an initiative by Eugène van Erven (Utrecht University and the Community Arts Lab), in partnership with CAL-XL and Zimihc.
Trust the Future, Create your City 2 Programme
In development
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TRUST
FA TORY FAC T
Trust the Future, Create your City
Learning about conflict and dialogue on the former shooting range at Fort de Bilt, now the headquarters of Peace Education Projects. October 2012
NUtrecht at Cartesius, a 3500 m2 former bus depot where young people, artists and entrepreneurs live together, work together and learn from each other.
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Preconditions All programmes accessible for all The accessibility of culture is high on the European agenda, and on that of Utrecht itself. The Utrecht 2018 programme will be truly inclusive in which no form of disability precludes participation, whether as producer, organizer or visitor. This is in keeping with the United Nations’ Agenda 22. Utrecht wishes to demonstrate the state of the art in this area, showing itself to be a fully inclusive urban society. Vilans, the national expertise centre in long-term care, will assist Utrecht in ensuring that all 2018 programme components are fully accessible. In consultation with target groups and programmers, and with the assistance of the city and provincial authorities, Vilans will conduct a full accessibility assessment. Where accessibility is found to be less than optimal, creative designers will be invited to devise solutions. This process will be monitored by Dr Hans Kröber, researcher on the social inclusion of persons with disabilities. A full report will be presented at a European conference on accessibility to be held in 2018. We intend to cooperate with Valletta, especially on the accessibility of heritage sites.
Utrecht: the Cyclists’ City 2018 All large cities in the Netherlands have a very high rate of bicycle usage. So does Utrecht. In association with the Nederlandse Fietsersbond (the national representative organization for cyclists) we shall develop a logistic plan and smartphone apps which guide cyclists to the main points of interest in the city. On arrival, visitors will be able to rent a bicycle (with an optional electric motor) at Basecamp Cartesius or one of several other collection points. Instruction will be available for those visitors who are unfamiliar with the rules of the road. Alternatively, visitors can make use of the city’s ‘bike taxis’ (pedalled rickshaws). Visitors’ centre Basecamp Cartesius will include an exhibition on the future of the cycling culture. The Nederlandse Fietsersbond is in talks with the European Cyclists’ Federation (ECF) to bring the international Velo-city conference to Utrecht in 2018.
How does the city plan to choose the projects/events which will constitute the programme for the year? 2.3
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Selection procedure and criteria
The programme proposal must: — be of appropriate quality and in keeping with the level of ambition of a European Capital of Culture: ‘Make no little plans!’ — be interesting to both local residents and European visitors — be in keeping with the predetermined programme lines and the overall theme of ‘Trust’ — be likely to mobilize and involve a large number of citizens, or conversely one or more specific groups — have an ‘owner’ and be developed in cooperation with new local, national and international partners — be sustainable and contribute to local development, not only in 2018 but beyond. The programme proposals presented here illustrate the sheer wealth and diversity of the ideas submitted by our cultural organizations and members of the public. A full list of the project ideas submitted to date is given in Chapter 7. The above criteria will also be applied in subsequent stages of the application process and when compiling the final programme for Utrecht 2018.
Trust the Future, Create your City 2 Programme
Sustainable events In 2012, the ‘Sustainable Events’ covenant was signed between the municipality and the organizers of ten major Utrecht events. The first objective is a ten per cent reduction in both energy consumption and carbon emissions by 2014, which will be achieved in part through a joint purchasing policy for products and services. The ten signatories are the Treaty of Utrecht Foundation (responsible for preparing Utrecht’s application for the title European Capital of Culture 2018), Tweetakt, the Bevrijdingsfestival (Liberation Festival), the Jaarbeurs Utrecht Marathon, the Netherlands Film Festival, the Latin American Film Festival, Gaudeamus Muziekweek, Rabo Ronde van MiddenNederland, Festival a/d Werf and Stichting Cultuurpromotie Utrecht (which organizes the Cultural Sundays series). Sixteen representatives of the hospitality sector have entered into similar agreements with a view to increasing sustainability in the tourist industry. Hotels, conference venues and museums are therefore also working to achieve Utrecht’s ambition of remaining a healthy, green and economically vital city. In short, a sustainable city.
A new cultural infrastructure for 2018
The projects described in this chapter have been selected by the team responsible for producing the bid book based on the following criteria.
Cyclists set the tempo of city life.
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CYCLING THE DUTCH
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CHAPTER 3 ORGANIZATION AND FINANCING
Organizational structure
Utrecht has a strong cultural infrastructure. Its finely-meshed network of institutions, organizations and performance venues extends into all city districts. Utrecht 2018 seeks to make full use of the existing infrastructure. We shall build upon the experience gained during the tercentenary celebrations of the Treaty of Utrecht in 2013 when developing and implementing the programme suggestions, each of which will ideally have an ‘owner’ within the city or region itself.
Utrecht 2018 Foundation: form and tasks The Utrecht 2018 Foundation will be operational from 2014 until (late) 2019. It has four main tasks: — to devise and organize the cultural programme and all associated activities for Utrecht 2018 — to administer the finances and budget for the event — to undertake the communications and marketing for the project and associated activities — to establish private partnerships through fundraising and sponsorship activities, etc. The organizational structure of Utrecht 2018 is shown in the organogram overleaf. Bird on your shoulder Utrecht 2018 will apply the ‘bird on your shoulder’, or ‘master-apprentice’, principle at various levels of the organization. This entails bringing experienced curators and staff together with promising young talent. The ‘masters’ then share their experience with their young ‘apprentices’, who for their part bring a fresh and novel approach to programme development and implementation.
Supervisory Board At the head of the foundation is a Supervisory (non-executive) Board which oversees policy decisions made by the Executive Board and the general running of the foundation. The Supervisory Board will report annually to the City of Utrecht. The relationship between the foundation and the municipal authority is primarily based on the latter’s financial input in the form of grants and subsidies. The provincial authority also has a direct financial relationship, whereupon separate agreements will be made between the parties with regard to the availability and allocation of provincial funds. Appointments to the Supervisory Board will be made on the basis of a candidate profile, the main points of which are: — extensive administrative experience, personal authority and a practical approach — the members in combination will represent the full range of cultural, administrative, legal and financial expertise — international experience and expertise — having roots in social organizations and private sector companies in the city and region — strategic relationships in the social, economic and cultural domains.
Organizational structure
The European Capital of Culture project will be overseen by an independent non-profit organization, the Utrecht 2018 Foundation. Based on the contents of this bid book, the foundation will develop and refine the artistic concept and finalize the programme.
Utrecht 2018: Supervisory and Executive Boards The structure of the foundation will be as prescribed by the Netherlands Code of Cultural Governance, which sets out rules and ‘best practice’ principles for the management of cultural organizations. The Code was established in 2006 in consultation with the Dutch cultural sector, the aim being to ensure responsible and transparent governance at all times.
Trust the Future, Create your City 3 Organization and financing
What kind of structure is envisaged for the organization responsible for implementing the project? What will be its relationship with the city authorities?
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Municipal Council
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Communication Artistic team & Marketing — Curator Habitat — Curator Playground — Curator Crossroads
Logistics Support Unit – Permits – Locations – Public areas – Traffic
Fundraising & Sponsorship
Cultural institution
Financial management & administrative support
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The further development, refinement and implementation of specific artistic projects falls to the project owners. They will include the directors of existing cultural institutions, as well as the initiators and owners of the bid book ideas. Our city has an abundance of knowledge and experience in matters of cultural programming. A key feature of Utrecht’s approach is that the Utrecht 2018 Foundation will, wherever possible, seek links
with the existing cultural infrastructure of the city and the key figures who work within it. It is important that cultural projects are also assessed according to the degree of co-financing which the institutions are able and willing to provide. Alongside the implementation of the programme, the Executive Board is responsible for all marketing, promotion, fundraising and financial administration. The experience of previous Capitals of Culture reveals that communication and marketing are essential ingredients of success, the importance of which can often be underestimated. The Executive Board will therefore devote particular attention to this aspect, applying the innovative strategy described in Chapter 5. The Utrecht 2018 programme assumes significant involvement on the part of private sector parties, to include (co-) financing and sponsorship. The Executive Board is therefore also responsible for the fundraising and sponsorship strategy, as described in the section on ‘Financing’ below. Lastly, the Executive Board bears overall responsibility for the administration and allocation of the substantial budget which the European Capital of Culture project will have at its disposal.
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Executive Board, Artistic Team and Artistic Council The Executive Board will be responsible for the development and implementation of the concept and artistic programme of Utrecht 2018, in keeping with the themes presented in this bid book. The Executive Board will be supported by an Artistic Team made up of the curators of each programme line. The curators are responsible for the artitic coordination of their respective programmes and events. They in turn will be supported by an Artistic Council, a panel of (international) experts in the various cultural disciplines and representatives of the broader social field. The organization will of course also be able to call on those with experience gained in previous European Capital of Culture projects.
Organizational structure
When the foundation is operationalized in 2014, the chairman of the Supervisory Board will be appointed by the municipal authority, which will also be consulted on appointments to the Executive Board.
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Development of the Utrecht 2018 Foundation and winding-down after the event The foundation will be relatively small-scale at first, gradually growing in line with the level of activity. While the preparations for the Utrecht 2018 programme will start immediately following the designation, the main preparatory costs will be in 2017, and those of the event itself in 2018. The planned development of the organization reflects this focus, as does its annual budget. The intention is that administration and management costs should be kept as low as possible in order to retain the lion’s share of the budget for the cultural projects themselves. In 2019, once the project has been completed, the foundation will be wound down and will cease to exist. There is to be a full impact assessment of the project, whereby the direct and indirect effects will be monitored and
evaluated over time. This assessment will be conducted by Utrecht University in association with the city and provincial authorities and various private partners. The precise form of the assessment has yet to be finalized. Logistics Support Unit Bringing the European Capital of Culture project to a successful conclusion is a significant challenge to the City of Utrecht and the provincial authority. It is, however, a challenge to which we are more than willing to rise. It is essential that the vision, concept, plan and activities are carefully coordinated in every way: organizationally, logistically and financially. The municipality therefore intends to set up a separate Logistics Support Unit which will facilitate all aspects of the project’s organization, from permit application procedures to traffic management.
Creative Director A detailed profile for the Creative Director of the Utrecht 2018 Foundation will be produced following the initial selection round, and will form part of the second bid book. However, it is already clear that the Creative Director must meet the following criteria: — relevant work experience (in both depth and breadth) in the cultural sector — relevant experience in establishing links between culture and other sectors, such as education, commerce, spatial development and creative industry — knowledge and experience in communication and marketing for large events — knowledge and experience in fundraising and sponsorship — an extensive national and international network — a strong strategist with administrative experience and good political sensitivity — a creative ‘bridge builder’, able to connect artistic ideas, bring people together and facilitate cooperation — experience in producing large cultural events — knowledge and experience of different cultures and ethnicities.
Organizational structure
Coordination between local and regional authorities Utrecht 2018 European Capital of Culture is a single, large-scale cohesive event which will involve not only the city of Utrecht itself but the entire surrounding region. While the City of Utrecht is putting its name forward as the ‘official’ candidate for the title of European Capital of Culture 2018, it does so on behalf of the Province of Utrecht as well. We enjoy the full support of the provincial authority in every respect – programming, organization and finances. Although the municipality is the primary stakeholder, the Utrecht 2018 Foundation also has a direct relationship with the provincial authority, further to the latter’s financial involvement. Separate agreements will be made between the foundation and the province with regard to the use and allocation of the funding it provides. The provincial authority will oversee coordination with all other municipalities in the region, and will support the implementation of the regional programme.
According to what criteria, and under which arrangements, will the artistic director of the event be chosen? What is the relevant profile? When will he or she take up the appointment, and what will his or her rights and responsibilities be? 3.1.3
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If an area around the city is involved in the event, how will the coordination between the relevant local and regional authorities be organized? 3.1.2
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Financing
Since the 1980s, Utrecht has made significant investments in culture. Those investments have targeted not only the ‘hard’ infrastructure of physical amenities and new performance venues, but also the ‘soft’ infrastructure of performing arts companies, institutions and museums. As a result, Utrecht has established a strong cultural sector. It provides a firm foundation on which we shall build further in the run-up to 2018. Both the organization and financing of Utrecht 2018 take this fact into account.
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All that glisters: coins at the GeldMuseum. October 2012
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What has been the annual budget for culture in the city over the last 5 years (excluding expenditure for the current European Capital of Culture application)?
3.2.1
In terms of organization, we shall seek every possible opportunity for ownership and implementation by the cultural field itself. The working budget for Utrecht 2018 is € 65 million, of which we intend to raise € 15 million through sponsorship and a private sector investment fund. Co-financing by cultural institutions and project owners will generate a supplementary budget. We can make these projections with some confidence, based on the immense involvement shown by partners in the city and region throughout the preparations for this bid book. Between 2010 and 2012, over 1,500 institutions and individuals contributed ideas and input for the bid book. We realize that Utrecht 2018 will be organized during an exceptional period. Government budgets are under considerable pressure throughout Europe, partly as a result of revised European spending limits and partly due to a new interpretation of governments’ role in art and culture. While we are convinced that governments have a responsibility in the arts, we also believe that the actual situation demands a new strategy in which we can find alternative, ‘smart’ ways of funding culture, next to the necessary public investments. We will therefore also turn to ‘ownership’ and financing by private parties and even individual members of the public. Our account of the financing arrangements for Utrecht 2018 therefore describes a new approach. We shall also investigate the possibility of reallocating some of the extra revenue from tourism and tourist taxes, and of generating some additional budget from the Utrecht Enterpreneurs Fund.
Culture budget in the past five years Utrecht’s culture budget reflects the cultural ambitions of the municipality. It has shown consistent growth from € 12.6 million in 1990, to € 23.3 million in 2000 and to € 43.3 million in 2010. When corrected for inflation over this period, the figures become: 1990
19.7 m
2000
29.1 m
2010
43.3 m
This represents a twofold increase in just twenty years. Despite the current economic constraints, the municipality intends to maintain the budget at its current high level until at least 2015 (the current Municipal Executive’s term of office). The following budgets are available for the broader domain of culture, cultural education and heritage conservation (again based on 2010 price levels): Culture (arts) Monuments Libraries Cultural education Total
43.3 m 2.7 m 12.9 m 2.9 m 61.8 m
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Municipal culture budget
Municipal culture budget
(in EUR x 1000)
(as % of total expenditure)
2008
58,200
12.0
2009
64,400
12.3
2010
61,800
12.1
2011
58,250
11.3
2012
59,600
11.0
The fluctuations in the annual culture budget shown above are due to incidental factors. The permanent budget for culture is in the order of â‚Ź 60 million per annum.
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Year
Financing
DEVELOPMENT CULTURE BUDGET 2008-2012
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Please explain the overall budget for the European Capital of Culture project (i.e. funds that have been specifically set aside for the project). 3.2.2
OPERATING BUDGET UTRECHT 2018 period 2013-2019
Source
Contribution
Contribution
Status
(in EUR x 1000)
(as % of total)
(confirmed or projected)
Central government
15,000
22.9
Projected
City of Utrecht
17,500
26.7
Confirmed
Province
10,600
16.2
Confirmed
Other municipalities in province
5,000
7.6
Projected
Europa
2,500
3.8
Projected
Subtotal public sector
50,600
77.1
Projected
Sponsorship and donations
15,000
22.9
Projected
Total
65,600
100%
Projected
Budget for Utrecht 2018 The city and provincial authorities aim at a joint working budget of € 65 milllion to finance direct expenditure on Utrecht 2018, both during the preparatory process and the event itself. The contribution of the city and province sums up to (just over) € 28 milllion; this is new, additional funding specifically for Utrecht 2018. The table above shows the expected contribution of the various funding sources in euros and as a percentage of the total budget.
Public funding: city, province and central government The experience of previous European Capitals of Culture suggests that the greater part of the budget for Utrecht 2018 must come from the public sector. We expect public funding to total € 50.6 million, a projection based in part on information provided by other European cities. As stated above, the city and provincial authorities have already undertaken to contribute € 28 million. We expect central government to contribute € 15 million, including the contribution of aproximately € 5 million provided by various national and regional funds.
Europe Our budget projection includes € 2.5 million in European funding. This includes the Melina Mercouri Prize (€ € 1.5 million), with at least a further € 1 million provided by other European funds, including those intended for research with European partners further to the impact assessment.
Sponsorship We believe that it will be feasible to attract € 15 million in funding from private sector sponsors and private funds. We have taken the current difficult economic situation into account, but we expect to see some economic recovery in the years ahead. In this context, it is important to note that Utrecht is undeniably one of the strongest economic regions in the Netherlands, and indeed Europe.
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Other municipalities in the province Various other municipalities in the Province of Utrecht will be involved in the European Capital of Culture 2018 programme. We estimate their financial contribution to be in the order of € 5 million. Exactly how this amount is to be spent, and whether any initial subsidy is to be provided, will be agreed once project details have been confirmed.
Financing
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222
Please explain the operating budget for the European Capital of Culture project. 3.2.3
TOTAL OPERATING BUDGET UTRECHT 2018 period 2013-2019
Year
Total
Programme expenditur
Programme expenditur
Promotion and marketing
Promotion and marketing
(EUR x 1000)
(as % of total)
(EUR x 1000)
(as % of total)
39,500
60.2
12,750
19.4
Budget administration and allocation Both the city and province are extremely keen to ensure that the available budget is used to finance direct programme expenditure to the greatest extent possible. As a rule of thumb, at least 60% of the total budget should be devoted to cultural projects and activities. The remainder will be made available for ‘promotion and marketing’ and ‘organization and management’, to include research, monitoring and impact assessment. Based on the experiences of previous European Capitals of Culture, we intend to devote particular attention and appropriate funding to promotion and marketing. This forms a key success factor whereby any ‘penny-pinching’ is likely to prove a false economy.
(EUR x 1000)
(as % of total)
13,350
20.4
Total expenditure 65,600
Financing
Organization and management
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Organization and management
October 2012
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224
ANNUAL EXPENDITURE, UTRECHT 2018 period 2013-2019
Year
Programme expenditure
Programme expenditure
Promotion and marketing
Promotion and marketing
(in EUR x 1000)
(as % of total)
(in EUR x 1000)
(as % of total)
2013
-
0.0
300
40.0
2014
400
13.3
600
20.0
2015
700
19.7
800
22.5
2016
1,500
28.6
1,500
28.6
2017
10,000
58.5
4,300
25.1
2018
26,500
77.7
5,000
14.7
2019
400
21.6
250
13.5
Total
39,500
60.2
12,750
19.4
As shown by the above table, the budget for programme expenditure and for promotion and marketing will gradually increase during the period 2013 to 2019, with a focus on 2018 itself and the 2017. In 2019, the administrative and organizational activities will be wound down. Some projects may be transferred from the Utrecht 2018 Foundation to other cultural organizations in the city. The budget for this year therefore represents the costs of finalizing the foundation’s activities and ensuring the follow-up.
Supplementary financing by city and provincial authorities Over and above the budget of € 65.6 million, the municipality intends to reserve at least € 14 million of the regular budgets for culture, monuments, libraries and cultural education to support activities connected with Utrecht 2018. This amount will be matched by the provincial authority, with at least € 12 million. A supplementary budget of over € 26 million will therefore be available. The allocation of amounts from each budget is shown in the tables on page 226-227.
Total
(in 1.000 EUR)
(as % of total)
450
60.0
750
2,000
66.7
3,000
2,050
57.7
3,550
2,250
42.9
5,250
2,800
16.4
17,100
2,600
7.6
34,100
1,200
64.9
1,850
13,350
20.4
65,600
Financing
Organization and management
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Organization and management
October 2012
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226
SUPPLEMENTARY FINANCING FROM REGULAR BUDGETS: CITY OF UTRECHT
Year
KuS*
Cultural Sunday
Neighbourhood culture
Cultural Production
(in EUR x 1000)
(in EUR x 1000)
(in EUR x 1000)
(in EUR x 1000)
2013
250
100
-
-
2014
250
100
-
-
2015
250
100
-
-
2016
250
100
-
-
2017
250
200
100
675
2018
250
400
400
2,700
Total
1,500
1,000
500
3,375
*KuS, Kunst in Stationsgebied = Art in the Station Zone
SUPPLEMENTARY FINANCING FROM REGULAR BUDGETS: PROVINCE OF UTRECHT
Year
Festivals
Culture education
Heritage
Country houses and estates
(in EUR x 1000)
(in EUR x 1000)
(in EUR x 1000)
(in EUR x 1000)
2013
750
600
600
250
2014
750
600
600
215
2015
750
600
600
170
2016
750
600
600
170
2017
500
600
600
170
2018
500
600
600
170
Total
4,000
3,600
3,600
1,145
Heritage & education projects
Total
(in EUR x 1000)
(in EUR x 1000)
(in EUR x 1000)
-
-
350
-
-
350
-
-
350
-
-
350
750
1,000
2,975
3,000
3,000
9,750
3,750
4,000
14,125
Total (in EUR x 1000)
2,200 2,165 2,120 2,120 1,870 1,870 12,345
October 2012 Financing
Cultural programming
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227
228
Total investment amounts. If appropriate, please insert a table here that specifies the amounts to be made available for each type of capital expenditure between the date of application and the European Capital of Culture year.
3.2.4
INVESTMENTS MADE BY THE CITY OF UTRECHT
Category
2003-2012
2013-2018
Total
(in EUR x 1000)
(in EUR x 1000)
(in EUR x 1000)
Cultural infrastructure
56,000
360,000
416,000
Revitalization of city and individual districts
653,000
466,000
1,119,000
Urban infrastructure
565,000
569,000
1,134,000
1,274,000
1,395,000
2,669,000
Total
Investments in the city and in culture Between 2003 and 2012, the City of Utrecht made significant investments in both the urban and the cultural infrastructure. The emphasis was on adapting the infrastructure and amenities to meet the requirements of a rapidly growing city, and on the revitalization of its individual districts. The table above shows the investment programme for the recent past, together with the projected investment levels to year-end 2018.
Cultural infrastructure In the 1990s, many cultural venues (and especially the larger buildings such as the Stadsschouwburg and Centraal Museum) underwent extensive modernization. The past decade has seen further investment in the cultural sector totalling some â‚Ź 56 million. Utrecht now faces a major challenge: how can we ensure that our cultural amenities continue to meet the needs of a growing city in the face of difficult economic circumstances and budgetary restrictions?
Revitalization of the city and urban infrastructure When considering investments in the city and the urban infrastructure, the most notable is of course Leidsche Rijn, currently the largest newbuild development in the Netherlands. This expansion district on the western fringe of the city will represent a remarkable combination of old and new. It will cover a total area of approximately 2,500 hectares, assimilating the historic villages of De Meern and Vleuten with new residential estates, public amenities, business premises and
As part of our efforts to ensure a clean, complete and safe city centre, Utrecht is currently undertaking a major upgrade of the Station Zone. By 2016 it will represent a major logistics hub, with high quality architecture and excellent public areas in constant heavy use. Trains, trams, buses and taxis will come together under one roof. Over one hundred million passengers will pass through the new terminal each year, with Utrecht Central Station retaining its status as the main ‘rail port’ of the Netherlands. Considerable attention is being devoted to the pattern of construction and the public spaces within the city. Utrecht has no fewer than seven major parks, all of which are to be upgraded. Ecological corridors are being created for the benefit of the city’s non-human residents: the flora and fauna. The post-war districts are also to be upgraded with a greater diversity in construction styles and volumes, which will have a direct effect on the quality of the residential environment.
Financing
green parks. The Limes, the boundary of the Roman Empire, runs through Leidsche Rijn. A number of major archaeological finds have been made. The plans for a new visitor centre in the form of a reconstructed Roman fort, Castellum Hoge Woerd, are now in a very advanced stage. Significant investments have been made in accessibility and mobility, to include excellent public transport services. We expect the development of Leidsche Rijn to continue until 2030, by which time it will have some 90,000 residents and provide 40,000 jobs.
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The investment programme to 2018 includes the completion of a community culture centre in Leidsche Rijn as part of the Castellum Hoge Woerd project. This is scheduled to open in 2014, as is the prestigious Music Palace, with no fewer than five auditoria. In 2018 the new Bibliotheek++ library complex (inclusing an art house cinema) will be finished in the Station Zone. There are plans for a large new theatre complex in Leidsche Rijn, to be known als Theater XL. The municipality has made budget reservations for this accommodation.
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230
INVESTMENTS MADE BY THE PROVINCE OF UTRECHT
Category Cultural infrastructure Cultural heritage Total
2003-2012
2013-2018
Total
(in EUR x 1000)
(in EUR x 1000)
(in EUR x 1000)
111,000
68,000
179,000
97,000
7,000
104,000
208,000
75,000
283,000
The Province of Utrecht Between 2003 and 2012, the Province of Utrecht and the city’s neighbouring municipalities implemented an extensive programme of cultural investment totalling over € 200 million. An ambitious programme is planned for the period 2013-2018, with projected investments of € 75 million. The cultural infrastructure for which the provincial authority is (partially) responsible includes neighbourhood culture centres, libraries and the performance venues outside the city of Utrecht. The province is also responsible for the conservation of major heritage sites, such as the forts of the New Dutch Water Line, the Grebbelinie defence line and the former airbase at Soesterberg.
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Light sculpture for Saint Martin’s day, 11 November 2011. The traditional children’s lantern procession has spawned an international arts event. October 2012
Two thousand years of history brought to life in the ‘Treasure House’ beneath Domplein.
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October 2012
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Have the public finance authorities (city, region, central government) already voted on or made financial commitments? If not, when will they do so?
3.2.5
What is the plan for involving sponsors in the event? 3.2.6
Partners: sponsors, companies and private funds
Financial commitments As noted above, both the city and provincial authorities have made firm budgetary commitments, reserving resources for Utrecht 2018. The amounts concerned include € 28 million in supplementary financing to be made available might Utrecht be designated European Capital of Culture. As of the contribution of the national government and the regional and national funds, there is no confirmation yet on how they will proceed once the Dutch European Capital of Culture has been designated. Therefore, the amounts projected in the Utrecht 2018 budget are based on the assumption that – in percentage terms – their financial involvement will be comparable to what has been the general experience of earlier European Capitals of Culture. As soon as the national government will have announced its contribution, the here presented budget will be finalized.
European Capital of Culture 2018 as we imagine it will be a project involving the entire city and province of Utrecht. The public authorities wish to enlist the full support of local residents, the cultural sector, social partners and the private sector in making the event a resounding success. As noted above, our target is to raise € 15 million in funding from external sources. We see this as realistic given that Utrecht has already developed a broad network of companies, funds and individuals who show enormous commitment to the cultural life of the city, and are willing to demonstrate that commitment through both financial and practical support. The concept of the public sector as the only financier, and hence sole risk-bearing party, does not apply to Utrecht 2018 and indeed would be inappropriate to the current social and economic situation. Moreover, the investments in Utrecht 2018 will be recouped directly or indirectly in the form of the additional revenue generated by various sectors. The business cases of previous European Capitals of Culture show a positive yield of approximately one hundred per cent. Assuming the event attracts three million additional visitors to the city and region in 2018, we may therefore expect an economic injection of approximately € 130 million, based on a working budget of just over € 65 million.
Other fundraising and sponsorship activities If Utrecht is awarded the title, the Utrecht 2018 Foundation will produce a detailed sponsorship plan covering cofinancing for the period up to and beyond 2018 itself, doing so in close consultation with private sector parties and the cultural sector. We shall seek participation on the part of the entire private sector nationwide. After all, Utrecht will carry the title on behalf of the Netherlands as a whole, and Utrecht European Capital of Culture 2018 will have a major international appeal. There will be many interesting opportunities to create thematic links between the programme activities and various companies. That said, there will of course be a particular focus on companies and organizations which are based in the Utrecht region. Ten such companies have already joined forces to form the Treaty of Utrecht Council, which provides support in organizing the tercentenary celebrations in 2013. This council offers a firm foundation for further practical and financial involvement in the Utrecht 2018 project.
The municipality also maintains good contacts with local, regional and national private culture funds which will be willing to support a European Capital of Culture project. As in the case of the commercial sponsors, links between various programme events and the objectives of these funds will provide a basis for effective long-term cooperation. The Utrecht 2018 Foundation also intends to pursue partnership and cooperation with the shops, restaurants, cafés, hotels and other companies which stand to benefit from the increase in visitor numbers, both in 2018 and beyond. One manifestation of this cooperation is the ‘Cultural Shopping Sunday’, whereby one of the regular Cultural Sundays is scheduled to coincide with the retail sectors’ monthly Sunday opening. A successful trial was held in the spring of 2012 and will be repeated annually until 2018, when there will also be a ‘Night of the Retailer’ event. Finally, ‘crowdsourcing’ and ‘crowdfunding’ represent two thoroughly modern means of promoting co-ownership and cofinancing among individual citizens, small business and social organizations. The amounts concerned are seldom huge, but the enthusiasm engendered is invaluable. We have successfully applied the principle of crowdsourding in producing both this bid book and our communications strategy.
October 2012 Financing
A private investment fund for Utrecht 2018 The Utrecht 2018 Foundation has conducted a study examining alternative financing forms for the event. Based on the findings, we have now commissioned a more detailed study which focuses on the possibilities and conditions for the establishment of a private investment fund. The results will become available in late 2012, whereupon it will be possible to set up the fund itself in early 2013.
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235
236
According to what timetable will the income be received by the city and/or the body responsible for preparing and implementing the project if the city is awarded the title of European Capital of Culture? 3.2.7
SCHEDULE FOR RECEIPT OF INCOME TO COVER OPERATING COSTS FOR period 2013 to 2019
Year
Income
As % of total
(in EUR x 1.000)
Income schedule This schedule will be refined in the second version of the bid book.
2013
750
1.1
2014
3,000
4.6
2015
3,550
5.4
2016
5,250
8.0
2017
17,100
26.1
2018
34,100
52.0
2019
1,850
2.8
Total
65,600
100
What proportion of the usual overall annual budget does the city intend to spend on culture after the European Capital of Culture year?
Cultural budget after 2018 The City of Utrecht will maintain a culture budget of ₏ 60 million per annum after 2018. This is approximately 12% of the city’s total annual budget.
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Financing
3.2.8
October 2012
237
Temporary campsite in the heart of the city: a ‘smart’ use of limited space.
& BREAKFAST
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October 2012
FIVE STAR
BED
Lonely Planet: ‘You can hop on a boat tour to visit the city’s bustling, vibrant wharves’.
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October 2012
CHAPTER 4 CITY INFRASTRUCTURE Leeuwwarden Groningen
(Via Rotterdam) England
Amsterdam
UTRECHT Den Haag Rotterdam
Eindhoven
(Via Rotterdam) Antwerp Brussels > London Paris > Strasbourg E25
Maastricht
What are your city’s assets in terms of accessibility (regional, national and international transport)? 4.1
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Accessibility
Airport Motorway Railway
Accessibility
Cologne Frankfurt > Vienna Basel > Milan Munich Innsbruck Zurich Brig
The ICE train connects Utrecht directly with Amsterdam, the Ruhr Valley region and Frankfurt. From Berlin, Brussels and Paris, the city can be reached by fast train in short time. There are ten major intercity services from Utrecht, as well as local services to all surrounding towns and regions. There is a finely-meshed network of bus routes within the city and throughout the region, with a regular schedule and comfortable vehicles. The Netherlands’ main airport, Amsterdam Schiphol, is half an hour train, while from the airports at Rotterdam/The Hague and Eindhoven the city can be reached in less than an hour. Four motorways connect Utrecht with Belgium and Germany and further Europe. The city offers extensive possibilities for receiving groups traveling by bus and coach.
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Berlin (Via Amersfoort) Copenhagen Prague Warsaw Moscow
E35
Train, bus, car, air Utrecht is located in the very centre of the Netherlands and is the hub of the country’s main rail and road networks. The city is therefore readily accessible for many people from home and abroad, who can reach Utrecht quickly and comfortably. This is one reason that so many conferences and congresses are held in Utrecht each year.
244
Good accessibility and fresh air! Utrecht attaches great importance to good mobility and accessibility, but at the same time we do everything possible to maintain the quality of life, which entails efforts to prevent and reduce air pollution. We therefore make substantial investments in the public transport system and in facilities for pedestrians and cyclists, all of which are of the highest quality. A number of ‘park and ride’ locations can be found on the outskirts of the city, where motorists can leave their vehicles and reach the city centre by bus, tram or train within fifteen minutes. By 2018, Utrecht’s Central Station will have undergone a complete modernization, doubling its capacity. On arrival, passengers will be able to walk into the city centre via one of the two new station forecourts, transfer onto one of the many bus routes which serve the station, or hire an (electric) bicycle. The city centre and its many cultural amenities can be explored on foot: most traffic is already excluded to create large pedestrian zones. Cycling is an ideal way of exploring not only the wider city but also much of the surrounding region. In addition to Central Station, by 2018 Utrecht will have seven smaller stations including those serving the Expo locations (Cartesius and Rotsoord) and the new Leidsche Rijn district. Two new bus routes now connect Central Station with the rapidly growing Utrecht Science Park. By 2018, one of these routes will have been replaced by a light rail system.
Cycle routes and regional heritage A finely-meshed network of cycle routes covers the entire province of Utrecht. Dedicated cycle paths are separated from other traffic flows and hence extremely safe. The provincial authority intends to extend the network to provide even better links with the key heritage sites of the region such as Slot Zeist, Kasteel De Haar, Fort Vechten and Soesterberg. There will then be almost twenty recreational ‘arteries’ between the urban centres of Utrecht and Amersfoort and the countryside of the Utrechtse Heuvelrug and the ‘Green Heart’. These are attractive destinations for the hobby cyclist and the distances concerned are manageable for most. This recreational network is unique in the Netherlands. For those who are unable or not willing to cycle, public transport or the car remain an option. From 2013, the region will also boast two cycle ‘highways’ with speeds of up to 25 kmph. They are primarily intended for commuters who use electric bicycles, racing bikes or recliner cycles. Route 1 will link the Lage Weide industrial zone with Nieuwegein, via the AmsterdamRijnkanaal and the Merwedekanaal. Route 2 will run from De Bilt through Utrecht Science Park to Bunnik and Houten. In 2018, these will be important access routes for visitors to the Expo locations, the forts and the historic country estates.
How many visitors can the city accommodate?
4.2
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Hospitality
Alongside sleeping accommodation, we shall also devote due attention to all other aspects of hospitality. Utrecht is a university city with a very high number of students. This is reflected by the type and quality of its restaurants, cafés and bars. In the years ahead, we shall work to develop a broader range of concepts and price classes which appeal to (international) visitors and local residents alike. There will be more terraces (outdoor cafés) in the city centre, and a greater number of cafés in hotels and museums where visitors can enjoy a full sit-down lunch.
Hospitality
In 2018, we expect to welcome an additional three million visitors, some of whom will wish to spend one or more nights in the city. This situation calls for an expansion of the existing facilities, as well as some ‘smart’ temporary solutions such as the planned campsite alongside the Jaarbeurs Utrecht. There may also be extra temporary accommodation in the Station Zone and we may use mobile catering services to ease the pressure on the existing restaurants. The nearby cities will be able to accommodate many visitors. Amersfoort, just fifteen minutes from Utrecht and the venue for many of the planned activities, has eight hundred hotel rooms, while the region as a whole has at least 2,600 rooms, most of which are in high-end hotels.
If Utrecht is designated European Capital of Culture, private initiatives can be expected to ensure that all required amenities are in place. The municipality will facilitate such initiatives to the greatest extent possible, and will strive to make full use of the special qualities represented by smaller hotels, lowbudget hotels, B&B’s and ‘experience hotels’ (those with a unique concept). The large hotels will be found in and around the city centre, in Papendorp, the Station Zone and Leidsche Rijn. When creating temporary facilities, we shall draw upon the knowledge and experience gained by previous European Capitals of Culture.
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Utrecht and the surrounding region host many conferences and business meetings each year. Utrecht is already the Netherlands’ prime destination for business travellers. It is also attracting a growing number of leisure visitors who come to attend a cultural event or simply to explore the city. At present, Utrecht welcomes a total of six million visitors each year. The number of hotel rooms in the city itself – a total of 1,500 in total – is no longer adequate to meet demand and over the coming ten years will be increased to at least 2,400 rooms.
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What projects (including renovation projects) are to be carried out between now and the year for which the city is applying for the title of European Capital of Culture in terms of urban and tourism infrastructure? What is the timetable for this work?
4.3
Infrastructural projects and timetable Cycle routes and public transport As stated above, Utrecht will continue to make significant investments in public transport and facilities for cyclists. Before 2018, there is to be a new tram/ light rail connection between the city centre and Uithof, the district where Utrecht Science Park is situated. Other sustainable public transport services are now in the advanced stages of planning. Additional ‘Park and Ride’ facilities are to be sited alongside all major access routes. The Station Zone Utrecht’s Station Zone is currently the scene of the largest construction project in the Netherlands. In 2018, we shall be able to welcome our European guests to a new and spacious Central Station, alongside which will be a new library complex incorporating an art house cinema. Within a few hundred metres will be the exciting new Music Palace. By 2018, these new icons in and around the Station Zone will be completed and Central Station itself – an ‘international station’ according to the standard criteria – will be fully operational.
The historic city centre Many structures and public spaces are to be sensitively restored to retain the historic character and authenticity of the city centre. One large-scale project involves the renovation of the brickwork alongside the Oudegracht and Nieuwegracht canals which, once complete, will present the city centre in a new light, particularly when viewed from the water itself. Many of the six hundred bridges in the city are also to be restored. Old and new Recent years have seen a major expansion of our city, with an entire new district – Leidsche Rijn – rising on its western flank. There will be many attractive new cycle routes connecting the old city with the new. Leidsche Rijn is to have its own railway station and a full range of public amenities, including a shopping centre. It will be readily accessible by public transport. The motorway which used to form a barrier between the city and its western districts has now been moved entirely underground. The tunnel through which it passes is topped by a new park, with buildings on either side creating a visually appealing fusion of old and new.
The municipality is currently in talks with owners, developers and private sector parties with a view to giving various public areas in the city a much-needed ‘facelift’. A budget of at least € 27 million has already been set aside for this purpose, covering the period to 2015. An additional six million euros has been reserved to strengthen the spatial and visual relationships between the Station Zone and the historic city centre, and between four key public areas: Mariaplaats, Domplein, Janskerkhof and De Neude.
October 2012 Infrastructural projects and timetable
Squares, parks and other public meeting places Utrecht has numerous parks, squares and other public areas which provide excellent meeting places and a locus for social interaction. Zocherplantsoen, in front of the Stadsschouwburg theatre, has been fully renovated and now offers an addition outdoor location for the city’s many cultural events. The new Máxima Park in Leidsche Rijn is another excellent venue for outdoor events of all types.
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Waiting for a bus: Utrecht’s Central Station welcomes 65 million passengers every year. By 2030, the number will have risen to 100 million.
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Utrecht continues to invest in good, sustainable public transport. The city’s cyclists will certainly benefit.
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CHAPTER 5: COMMUNICATION
Communication strategy Like all other aspects of our plans, the communication strategy for Utrecht 2018 is designed to engender trust in a common future among the people of Utrecht, the Netherlands and Europe as a whole. We wish to inspire them to visit one or more Capital of Culture programmes, to join each other in thinking about the position of our European cities in today’s changing world, and to help design and build the ‘City of the Next Generation’.
What is the city’s intended communication strategy for the European Capital of Culture event? 5.1
The basic principles of our communication strategy are based on the story and qualities of Utrecht itself, and on the artistic programming of Utrecht 2018. All programme activities draw their inspiration from the Utrecht Principles which in turn are based on the strengths of diversity, knowledge and culture. — Co-creation Just as this bid book is the product of a process of co-creation, the communication for Utrecht 2018 will be a joint effort on the part of all partners: local, national and regional, from large organizations to individual citizens. — Happy many Utrecht 2018 is to be a festive event for everyone in Utrecht, and as many of our fellow Europeans as possible. It is not only for the ‘happy few’ of the cultural elite, but also – and more importantly – for the ‘happy many’ who are less easy to reach through the usual channels. — Utrecht in Europe, Europe in Utrecht Our city wishes to establish a strong international profile as an attractive international partner and a good place in which to live, study, work, hold a conference or stage an exhibition. And, of course, as a major destination for culture, tourism and leisure. — Central Station for the young The youthful character of our city will be visible in the programming for Utrecht 2018, and hence also in the communications for the event.
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Almost all the project proposals for Utrecht 2018, as presented in this bid book, are the result of close cooperation and consultation with other parties in the city and region. There are remarkably few projects devised and owned by the organization itself. The approach of cocreation, co-production and co-financing will also underpin the communication strategy. Citizens and stakeholders – local, national and international – will be closely involved in spreading the message of Utrecht 2018 using their own communication channels. Participation and direct marketing Utrecht 2018 will build upon the extensive network of high-quality stakeholders we have developed in preparation for the Treaty of Utrecht tercentenary celebrations in 2013. Each of these partners has a direct interest in Utrecht’s nomination as European Capital of Culture, and in the success of the event itself. In the years ahead, Utrecht will continue to invest in the relationship with these stakeholders, based on the principle of co-ownership and with a view to optimizing cooperation, the essence of which is mutual support on the road to 2018.
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Our mission of trust must captivate the hearts and minds of everyone in Utrecht, including the very youngest, and of all the cultural operators and social stakeholders whose help we need to ensure that the European Capital of Culture project is one which involves the entire region. This will only be possible if we can create a sense of engagement, involvement and shared ambition among all local residents, cultural institutions, schools, educational institutes, social organizations, commercial companies and the creative industry. All citizens must think of themselves as ‘co-owners’ of Utrecht 2018, sharing its ideals and endorsing its values. The first step in developing our communication strategy was taken in early 2010, when we invited local residents to attend workshops, brainstorm about the character of our city and start to think about the programme for Utrecht 2018. These workshops laid the basis for a rapidly expanding network of partners eager to share their ideas about the city’s ambition of being European Capital of Culture. In April 2012, a survey revealed that 30% of local people knew that Utrecht intended to put itself forward for the title. Given that the first major public campaign had yet to be launched, this can be seen as a very high level of awareness.
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Utrecht 2018 has the following stakeholders: — the cultural field: artists, artists’ collectives, performers, creative entrepreneurs, etc. — the City of Utrecht — the Province of Utrecht — the other 25 municipalities in the province — financiers: funds, sponsors and grant-awarding bodies — societal organizations — the educational sector (from primary schools to universities) — international partners: our partners in networks such as Similar Cities, the partners of Utrecht’s cultural institutions and the educational institutes involved in the programme — the private sector: commercial companies, including the SME sector in the Utrecht region and national or multinational companies with a presence in the Netherlands — local, regional and national media organizations — collective marketing organizations: Toerisme Utrecht (Utrecht Visitors and Convention Bureau), which promotes incoming tourism, Stichting Cultuurpromotie Utrecht (which organizes the Cultural Sundays and maintains the Utrechts Uitburo website), Stichting Utrechts Museumkwartier (representing the Museum Quarter in Utrecht) and the tourist information offices of all municipalities in the region. These are permanent partners in the development of the communication strategy for Utrecht 2018.
This network creates broad support, as well as new and perhaps unexpected opportunities for communication and marketing. The partners lend weight and credibility to the Utrecht 2018 ‘brand’ which they jointly represent and promote. ‘Crowdsharing’ techniques make it possible to tailor the message to certain target markets, drawing on the specialist knowledge and (international) communication networks of the partners. Via the local stakeholders, we will extend our network into Europe as a whole, thus reaching specialists, students and people with an interest in culture from all parts of the continent.
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The ‘I am 18’ campaign Effective communication relies on the ability to engage as many people in the city and region as possible, and to do so at the earliest possible stage. We are already benefiting greatly from the experience gained in promoting the Treaty of Utrecht tercentenary celebrations in 2013, for which we have used print media, online and social media, television, radio and every other imaginable communication channel. We can also build upon the extensive public network developed in recent years. Our Facebook sites have proven a particularly effective way of publicizing the 2013 events.
One new communication channel with which we intend to experiment in the years ahead is the ‘We are 18’ online forum. Users will be able to post reviews of events and suggest further ways in which to promote our application. The Utrecht 2018 ‘story’ will only take on meaning and significance if people talk about it. Site visitors will be encouraged to write their reviews of performances and exhibitions, and to suggest new programme ideas. Not only will this reinforce the sense of involvement and co-ownership, but it will create extremely valuable ‘word of mouth’ advertising which is likely to spread like wildfire through social media sites such as Facebook and Twitter.
Communication strategy
Spreading like wildfire From 2012 onwards, the Utrecht 2018 ‘supporters bus’ will visit all major public events in Utrecht, including of course those which form part of the tercentenary celebrations in 2013. The bus and its enthusiastic crew will provide information about the European Capital of Culture project and invite visitors to support our aims.
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In early 2012, a public campaign to support Utrecht’s application was launched under the title ‘I am 18’. The number 18 can refer to the date of the event itself (2018) or to the age of 18, thus symbolizing the youthful character of Utrecht and its ambition to develop as a fully mature urban region. We invite all Utrecht citizens to join us on this great adventure. Companies, organizations and members of the public can show their support by displaying ‘I am 18’ posters and stickers, wearing campaign badges, or including a banner on their own website. The bright red ‘I am 18’ and ‘We are 18’ posters and stickers are already a very prominent feature of the street scene throughout the province. They can be seen on municipal vehicles, private cars, school satchels, bicycles and in the windows of houses. Banners are shown on the displays of all Rabobank ATMs in the region, and on the websites of many cultural institutions. Utrecht largest bakery participates in the campaign with special ‘I am 18’ cakes. Utrecht’s ambition is not only stated as part of the email ‘sig’ of municipal and provincial departments, but is now printed on all official stationery.
HAPPY
FEW HAPPY
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The Utrecht 2018 campaign bus visits City Hall.
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The happy many The tercentenary of the Treaty of Utrecht in 2013 will give Utrecht much valuable experience in devising a fully accessible programme which appeals to the broadest possible public, and in mobilizing new target groups, both local and international. A key objective of Utrecht 2018 will be to allow as many people as possible to take part and to visit the various events. Utrecht 2018 will not focus on a single target group, particularly where the local and regional market is concerned. Rather, we shall constantly seek greater breadth. Utrecht’s established tradition of neighbourhood development and community arts demonstrates that it is indeed possible to involve and engage people who would otherwise have little contact with the world of arts and culture. Similarly, our Cultural Sunday events have consistently proven able to mobilize new and large groups. Both Utrecht and Amersfoort have long used the city itself as a stage for theatre, music and dance; open air events in the public areas are an excellent means of reaching a very broad and varied public.
‘Smart’ programming The basis for successful communication is ‘smart’ programming’. The cultural programme for 2018 will show the greatest possible degree of clustering, both in time and location. The Expo concept, which extends across ten transition zones, provides an excellent ‘coathook’ on which to hang the remainder of the programme. Around each location, visitors can expect to find a balanced selection of events, with both local and international productions. Each cluster will have its own recognizable theme and a flagship programme to capture the interest of both the public and the media. Clustering the programme in this way will enable us to focus the communication efforts in a way that is more effective – and cost-effective – than having a programme of large and small events spread randomly throughout the city and throughout the year. Optimum accessibility We wish to ensure that the Utrecht 2018 programme is fully accessible to all. This means that the locations themselves must have good physical access. ‘Difficult’ (e.g. more intellectually challenging) events will be staged at readily accessible locations, and all information about the events and exhibitions will be in clear, understandable and informative language. All of the information shall be in English and as much as possible also in other European languages for the benefit of visitors from other countries, while we also realize that not all Utrecht residents have a perfect command of Dutch.
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In 2018, we intend to present an extended version of the event under the title De Nacht van de Middenstand (‘The Night of the Retailer’).
Hotel 18 offers a good illustration of the type of communication strategy we have in mind for Utrecht 2018, particularly in terms of the international target group. We shall present Utrecht as a hospitable city brimming with hidden secrets. The Lonely Planet travel guide describes Utrecht as an ‘unsung place’. Few international tour operators have included our city in their brochures. Our communications for the European Capital of Culture event will therefore devote considerable attention to the attractiveness of Utrecht and the surrounding region as an international tourist destination.
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The Night of the Retailer A good example of ‘smart’ programming with a huge outreach was the first Cultural Shopping Sunday, held in March 2012. It was entirely devoted to the public awareness campaign for Utrecht 2018. Forty city centre shops of all types and sizes opened to the general public, while exhibitions and performances were held in and around those shops. The singers of De Utrechtse Spelen theatre company took to the water of the Oudegracht canal to present excerpts from Orfeo ed Euridice. The result was a ‘total experience’ with which internet shopping cannot hope to compete. The concept represents a partnership between various cultural organizations and the retail sector, reaching a varied public of culture enthusiasts, shoppers and people looking for an unusual day out.
Hotel 18 During the year preceding the Capital of Culture event itself, Utrecht will launch ‘Hotel 18’: an online platform which brings the people of Europe and our European prospective visitors in touch with each other. This is tourism twenty-first century style. The concept is simple: everyone in Utrecht can post an offer: accommodation in a student house, an invitation to a party, a personal tour of the best fashion outlets, to give just three examples. The platform will of course be linked to the social media. For those from other countries, it will provide an excellent means of getting to know Utrecht and its people before they even arrive. Conversely, Utrechters will get to know their European counterparts and no doubt a return visit to Barcelona, Prague, Bratislava or Lund will soon be on the cards.
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International target markets At the international level, we see two main target groups: people with an interest in culture, and young people between the ages of 18 and 34. (Of course, there can be a considerable overlap.) We are particularly keen to attract visitors from our neighbouring countries, but also from southern Europe and Scandinavia. We shall surprise them with the wealth of culture, knowledge and nature that Utrecht has to offer. Primary target markets: Belgium, Germany, the United Kingdom, France and the Netherlands. Secondary target markets: Italy, Spain, Scandinavia. We intend to reach visitors from other European countries chiefly through international tour operators, specific partners in these countries (the network cities, cultural and educational institutions) and through professionals with a special interest in the themes of our programme.
A strong city brand Our international communications will of course try to do more than attract large numbers of tourists and ‘culture consumers’. Utrecht profiles itself as a city with a particularly attractive business climate for international companies, an equally attractive university city for students and researchers, and an innovative city of culture for artists and creative entrepreneurs. As a city of knowledge and culture, Utrecht wishes to play a leading role in shaping a strong and resilient Europe. We actively seek cooperation with other European regions which share this ambition. The communications for Utrecht 2018 will therefore devote considerable attention to the development of partnerships, the exchange of ideas, and involvement in actual programme events. Prospective partners include other cities and organizations with which Utrecht has similarities or shared interests. Wherever possible, and once again in accordance with a joint strategy of co-creation and co-production, we will make grateful use of our international partners’ own communication channels.
Based on the principle of co-creation and co-production, we intend to involve young people from the Netherlands and all parts of Europe in the preparation and programming for Utrecht 2018. It is therefore only logical that we should also involve them in our communications. We shall engage with them, seek their views and opinions, and wherever possible give them a say in the development of the various programme proposals. The Summer of 18 event certainly lends itself to this approach. There will be a central platform through which young people from all parts of Europe can contribute ideas, discuss those ideas with each other, and actually exert an influence over the choices that are made. Social media The internet has opened up seemingly endless opportunities. You can go ‘clubhopping’ without leaving the house, demonstrate your skills as a DJ on YouTube, chat with friends or meet new people. On average, young people spend over two hours online every day. Approximately half of that time is spent on social media sites such as MSN, Twitter, Facebook,
Hyves, etc. The other half is devoted to general ‘surfing’, seeking information, watching video clips or online gaming. It is possible that new technology will add yet more communications resources: it is impossible to predict what the future may hold. However, it is already certain that the ‘horizontal communication networks’ of the social media will form a key success factor for the Utrecht 2018 communication strategy. It is therefore important to keep abreast of the latest developments. Fortunately, we are able to call upon the expertise of Utrecht University, HU University of Applied Sciences and Utrecht School of the Arts, all of which are actively engaged in research in this field. Interrail Today’s young people are more likely to travel to Thailand or Brazil than visit another city in their own country. Utrecht wishes to encourage young Europeans to set their sights somewhat closer to home in 2018. In partnership with the national rail operator NS, we shall draw attention to the many affordable and interesting travel opportunities offered by the European rail network. Educational institutes in Utrecht will seek cooperation with the international student cities in all parts of Europe. The National Youth Council (NJR), which is closely involved in preparing Utrecht 2018, can usefully work with its sister organizations in other countries, and particularly those in the Similar Cities network. Utrecht will join forces with the International Student Identity Card (ISIC) scheme to attract as many young Europeans to the Netherlands as possible through special deals and discounts.
Communication strategy
Almost 40 % of Utrecht residents are aged under 27. This fact is reflected by the programme of Utrecht 2018, and clearly the target group of children and young people must form one of the spearheads of the communication strategy. The international youth programme Summer of 18 and the educational exchange programme Your kids and theirs offer particularly interesting opportunities in this regard.
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Childeren are introduced to early music by the Holland Baroque Society.
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Violinist Janine Jansen, founder of the Utrecht International Chamber Music Festival. October 2012
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Unsung place Utrecht
Lonely Planet author Abigail Blasi writes: “Perhaps it’s the lure of Amsterdam that leads people to forget Utrecht. Whatever the reason, this graceful city is bizarrely under-visited. Its old town is encircled by a medieval canal, and you can hop on a boat tour to visit the city’s bustling, vibrant wharves. Built to connect the canal side with Utrecht’s impressive townhouses, today these unique spaces are filled with bohemian cafes, shops, restaurants and bars.” As European Capital of Culture 2018, Utrecht wishes to remove itself from the list of ‘unsung places’ once and for all.
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It seems that Utrecht is not widely regarded as a ‘mustsee’ European destination. Of course we disagree, as does the Lonely Planet travel guide. A recent article lists Utrecht as one of the world’s ten ‘unsung places’: towns and cities which are “persistently off the beaten track, despite their many charms […] unjustly overlooked because of geography, chance and the presence of more glamorous neighbours.” Utrecht shares this unwarranted (lack of) distinction with Trieste (Italy), Arras (France), Gujarat (India), Chóngqìng (China), Aberdeen (Scotland), Meknès (Morocco), Helsinki (Finland), Jerez de la Frontera (Spain) and Takayama (Japan).
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How does the city plan to ensure the visibility of the European Union, which is awarding the title?
5.2
Visibility of the European union There are various ways in which we might draw attention to the European Union. Here, we present a few suggestions which will of course require further development. In the years running up to 2018, we shall ask students from the Utrecht School of the Arts and Hogeschool to help us develop our EU campaign, either as a (graded) assignment or as an open contest.
— Utrecht’s colours are red and white. The European Union’s colours are blue and yellow. Add black and you have the colour palette of De Stijl. This palette could form the basis of all communications for Utrecht 2018, whereupon Europe and Utrecht come together in an artistic way and with a particularly relevant reference. — Utrecht is known as the province of hot-air ballooning. Blue balloons bearing the yellow stars of Europe could float over the region at regular intervals. — Flags, banners, cycles, buses, road signs and street furniture can carry not only the logo of Utrecht 2018 but also the European emblem. — Central Station, the point at which many international visitors will arrive in the city, could have a large (digital) map of Europe, showing all the European partners involved in Utrecht 2018.
Does the city intend to set up a special monitoring and evaluation system:
6.1
Utrecht 2018 impact assessment Utrecht in Europe, Europe in Utrecht This bid book sets out the basic principles, concept, challenges, objectives and expected long-term effects of Utrecht’s application for the title European Capital of Culture 2018. We shall apply a comprehensive set of monitoring and evaluation instruments to ascertain whether these objectives are indeed being achieved, and to quantify the longterm effects. This process will also help to reveal how Utrecht is developing as an international urban region which attaches particular importance to culture and knowledge in establishing its identity. In particular, we wish to assess the contribution which Utrecht 2018 makes to the specific themes presented in this bid book: ‘trust’ and ‘smart growth’.
An international framework In the long tradition of the European Capital of Culture programme, the impact assessment has become ever more important – and justifiably so. The extensive study conducted by Liverpool 08 (in association with the city’s university) gave rise to an International Framework. It offers cities an outline assessment structure which can be adapted according to their own situation. The use of the framework enables comparison and benchmarking. We have opted to apply the International Framework in our own research.
Utrecht 2018 impact assessment
— for the impact of the programme and its knock-on effects? — for financial management?
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CHAPTER 6 EVALUATION AND MONITORING
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Research themes for the Utrecht 2018 impact assessment In keeping with the International Framework, Utrecht’s impact assessment will examine six main themes. Cultural vitality and sustainability Examines the programme content and its impact on the vitality and sustainability of the cultural infrastructure and creative economy in the Utrecht region.
Quality and philosophy of organization and management Examines the quality of the overall process and the organization, the management philosophy underpinning the Utrecht 2018 programme, the manner in which partners’ involvement is sought, and how the process has helped to create new networks in Utrecht.
Cultural participation, engagement and access Examines the diversity of cultural events, how access to those events is assured and how participation is encouraged. What are the demographics of the participants and attendees? Why did they choose to attend certain events and how do they rate the experience of doing so?
The European dimension Examines the contribution made by Utrecht 2018 to the creation of new connections between the Utrecht region and Europe; the extent to which the European dimension is evident within the programme, and the contribution made by the event to the attainment of Utrecht’s internationalization ambitions.
Identity and image of the Utrecht region Examines awareness and perception of the European Capital of Culture programme within the Utrecht region itself, and the effects of Utrecht 2018 in terms of the identity and image of Utrecht.
Economic impact Examines the economic impact of Utrecht 2018, and the specific economic impact for the ‘spearhead’ sectors such as tourism, the cultural and creative sector, and knowledge-based commerce.
Evaluation and monitoring of financial management All aspects of financial management will be monitored in accordance with the rules and procedures prescribed by the City of Utrecht, the Province of Utrecht, national government and the European Commission. The Utrecht 2018 Foundation will report annually to the granting authorities, presenting audited financial statements and an Annual Report which meets all standard reporting requirements. An interim audit will also be conducted on an annual basis. The mandatory interim reports submitted by the Utrecht 2018 Foundation to the granting authorities will fulfil the monitoring requirements both in terms of activities and financial management.
A special feature of Utrecht’s proposed evaluation and monitoring process is its focus on the main themes of our programme: ‘trust’ and ‘smart growth’. We shall develop an evaluation system in which these key concepts are operationalized and made measurable in relation to the programme of Utrecht 2018.
The assessment will examine the following aspects: — An adequate system of planning and control — Awareness of financial risks — Adequate accountability — Prompt payment of invoices (payable and receivable)
October 2012 Utrecht 2018 impact assessment
Community of Knowledge Utrecht 2018 is firmly rooted in the concept of co-creation. Both the production of this bid book and the implementation of its proposals rely on the input of a broad coalition of public and private partners in the city and region. The evaluation and monitoring process will adopt a similar approach based on a ‘Community of Knowledge’. This will represent a partnership between public authorities (the city and province), the cultural sector (notably the Utrecht 2018 Foundation), education (Utrecht University) and private sector companies. Alongside cooperation with these key partners, we will also seek input from various public and private organizations such as the Chamber of Commerce, Statistics Netherlands (CBS), the Utrecht Development Board, cultural institutions, entrepreneurs and individual members of the public. The Community of Knowledge will actively involve the younger generation in the process through cooperation between the city’s institutes of higher education and secondary schools. This will also serve to reinforce the continuity of the learning line. Some of the research data will be gathered by students as part of university and school projects.
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CHAPTER 7 ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
The strengths of Utrecht 2018 Making full use of the creative and international strength of the city and region — Utrecht 2018 rests on the firm foundation provided by a vital, high-quality cultural sector, and a public which appreciates and supports cultural activity. — Utrecht 2018 will present a cultural programme with a strong international orientation, which evolves naturally from the long-term strategy of ‘Utrecht, city of knowledge and culture’. — A key component of the concept is the connection, both thematic and physical, between the programme and the transition zones in the city and region. — Utrecht’s cultural organizations, education sector and creative industry have networks which connect them to counterparts in all parts of the world. — Utrecht 2018 will draw upon the principles of flexibility and temporary usage as key concepts within sustainable urban development.
What, in your opinion, are the strong points of the city’s application and the parameters of its success as European Capital of Culture? Conversely, what are its weak points?
7.1
A programme based on participation and co-creation — Utrecht 2018 will build upon the firm foundation created by the Cultural Sundays and the tercentenary celebrations of the Treaty of Utrecht in 2013. — The concept and programme are based on a long-term process of co-creation and co-production with the cultural field, students and many other partners in the city and region. — In keeping with the city’s existing inclusion policy, we intend to ensure that all activities are fully accessible to everyone, including persons with a disability. — Utrecht 2018 will also apply the principle of co-creation in its communication strategy, its financing arrangements and its method for the impact assessment. A sustainable, long-term strategy with full public authority support — Utrecht 2018 is part of the long-term development strategy being pursued by the city and region. — As long ago as 2004, the city and provincial authorities made firm agreements regarding their intention to apply for the title European Capital of Culture. Compact Capital of Culture Utrecht offers the visitor comfort and convenience: it is a compact city and region. All programme locations are easily accessible on foot, bicycle or public transport. Visitors can easily visit multiple Expo locations in one day.
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The weaknesses of Utrecht 2018 Effects of the financial crisis — Like all cities, Utrecht is now forced to reduce expenditure for the foreseeable future. As yet, it is impossible to gauge the effects that austerity measures (at local, regional and national level) will have on the size and quality of our cultural and creative infrastructure.
— Utrecht 2018 will offer an exciting, optimistic, varied and distinctive programme which visitors will find both engaging and entertaining. — The programme includes many ‘mediagenic’ components. — There will be something for everyone, regardless of nationality or interests. — Utrecht is certainly able to handle the logistics: we have gained extensive experience in other large-scale events and will continue to do so in the years ahead. — The city enjoys excellent transport connections with the region, the Netherlands as a whole and indeed the entire world. — Utrecht 2018 enjoys broad support on the part of the public authorities, municipal and provincial staff, the cultural field and the general public alike.
Strengths and weaknesses
Success factors
Trust the Future, Create your City 7 Additional information
Visibility, capacity and accessibility — Utrecht is an ‘unsung place’. We do not enjoy a particularly high profile as a city of culture; our international visibility is limited. This situation can only be rectified by means of a significant marketing and communications ‘push’. As yet, Utrecht has relatively little experience in this area. — At present, Utrecht cannot offer adequate hotel capacity. The city’s hospitality sector, although large, is not of a quality appropriate to largescale cultural events. We need more restaurants and cafés at the higher end of the market. — The area around Central Station is currently the scene of major construction and redevelopment, a situation which will continue until 2030. Maintaining a good connection between the station and the city centre will remain a major challenge in the years ahead. — Utrecht can probably claim to be the most outward-looking of all Dutch cities, with a strong European orientation. However, that is not to say that all its citizens warmly embrace the idea of internationalization. There remain ‘islands of insularity’ which present yet another challenge.
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Does the city intend to develop particular cultural projects in the coming years, irrespective of the outcome of its application for the title of European Capital of Culture? 7.2
Planned cultural projects Utrecht has already devised a series of large-scale projects intended to reinforce or expand the cultural infrastructure. Some are already ongoing, others are due to be implemented in 2012, while a few are scheduled to commence within the next few years. These projects form part of the city’s long-term investment agenda and are entirely independent of the success of our European Capital of Culture application. Specific projects, arranged in order of planned completion date, are listed below. 2012 — Restoration of the Jongerius Complex. One of the region’s most notable examples of early twentieth-century architecture, with a mix of art-deco and modernist elements, is being restored to its former glory. It will then become a centre for the creative industry and healthy eating. Work on the residential villa will be completed in 2012, with the garden and office building following at a later date. — Renovation of Overvecht Neighbourhood Cultural Centre (‘Stefanus’)..
2013 — Restructuring of Centraal Museum. The new layout will include a multifunctional auditorium and education workshop. The main entrance is to be relocated, while exhibition areas will be expanded. The first phase of the project will be completed in 2013. — Restructuring of Domplein, to include an underground visitors’ centre in which two thousand years of history will be revealed to the public. During the past two millennia, Domplein has been the site of a Roman fort, the seat and palace of St Willibrord, and no fewer than three large churches. — Restoration of the Cereol site. This former soy processing factory is being redeveloped as a cultural cluster which will include a library and multifunctional auditorium. — Redevelopment of Oud-Amelisweerd (manor and coach house), which is to reopen as Museum Oud-Amelisweerd, featuring Chinese wall-hangings and the work of the artist Armando.
2018 — Opening of the Bibliotheek++ complex, an innovative combination of public library and art film house, with a special focus on the written word and the visual arts in the broadest sense of the term. — The New Dutch Water Line is due to be added to the UNESCO list of World Heritage Sites. Also known as ‘the collar of Utrecht’, the Water Line forms an important recreational zone to the east of the city. Many of its forts have been given a new function. — The Roman Limes will also take its place on the UNESCO list of World Heritage Sites. The remains of the Limes will be made visible at various points in and around Utrecht, with the significance of this archaeological treasure placed in context.
And beyond... — Rotsoord: this former industrial zone on the fringe of the city centre is to become a cultural ‘hotspot’ and residential area. Two notable features will be: — The Pastoe furniture factory, which has stood on this site since 1918. The current owner intends to convert it into a ‘culture factory-cum-design centre’. — The Heuveloord Water Tower, built in 1906, will become a centre for interior design, complete with an exhibition area, various ateliers, a business centre providing office space for individual designers, a meeting room and, at the very top of the tower, a restaurant. All parts of the tower will be accessible to the general public. — There are plans, still in the early stages, for a large new theatre complex in Leidsche Rijn, to be known as ‘Theater XL’. — The city has commissioned a study into the possibility of converting and updating the Kanaleneiland Youth Culture Centre to become an attractive, low-threshold cultural amenity for the entire district.
October 2012 Planned cultural projects
2014 — Opening of the Music Palace. The city’s new cultural icon will be fully operational for the 2014/2015 season. — Castellum Hoge Woerd Cultural Centre (Leidsche Rijn). This newbuild complex will bring culture, nature and archaeology together under one roof. Designed as a reconstruction of a Roman fort, it will house the Roman ship discovered nearby in 1997. The centre will also host various cultural events, performances and activities. — Renovation of de Stadsschouwburg theatre, to include new underground facilities.
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WE ARE
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All project ideas In this section, we list all project proposals which were submitted between 2010 and 2012 to support Utrecht’s application for the title European Capital of Culture 2018. There are just over 160 ideas in total. Those marked with an asterisk (*) are described in further detail in Chapter 2.
Up hill and down dale The life stories of Utrecht residents, set to music and presented as a full-scale concert. Initiative/owner: Academie Het Nut Voorbij
Virtual Museum An innovative exhibition model for virtual and interactive art, designed to complement real-world museums. Initiative/owner: André Kodde, Msquare4
The Castle of the 21st Century Children and young people design the Castle of the Future, thus writing their own chapter of history. Initiative/owner: Architectuurpark Makeblijde
Europe as a Garden Famous Europeans join landscape gardeners to create gardens which represent the diverse cultures of Europe.
*Caravaggio and the Caravaggists The Utrecht Armada Traditional Rhine barges (typical of this region) will set sail from Basecamp Cartesius, taking various cultural exhibits and events onto the canals and waterways of the city and beyond. Initiative/owner: Autobahn
Poetry Time Light projections in the city, inspired by poetry written by the residents of local retirement homes. Initiative/owner: Axion Continu
*Former West A long-term contemporary arts project examining world history since 1989 and speculating on the potential global future. Initiative/owner: BAK, basis voor actuele kunst
Initiative/owner: Architectuurpark Makeblijde
FOCUS
*Come to Europe, visit Utrecht
In the run-up to 2018, young professionals will create unexpected new connections between culture, commerce, science and the public domain. Together, they will form interdisciplinary groups and ‘playgrounds’ in which hundreds of local organizations can meet and exchange ideas. The concept is simple: companies and organizations will set up ‘cultural factions’ of young professionals who will then turn their attention to the social and cultural transformation of the city. They may be lawyers, actors, bankers, scientists, gamers, accountants or consultants, but all are brimming with the required lust for knowledge and change. They will create a whirlwind of education and development to fan the local economy and culture. In 2018, the members of these unorthodox partnerships will host an international conference to establish yet more creative connections between business, art, science and spirituality.
A cultural presentation by our European city partners, each ‘occupying’ one of the nineteenth-century forts in the region. Part of the Expo programme. Initiative/owner: Arnoud van Mosselveld & Projectbureau Nieuwe Hollandse Waterlinie
Wall paintings Artists from home and abroad use walls in the city’s public spaces to exhibit their works. Initiative/owner: Artmat
Artshake @ the Meetupolis Children are introduced to traditional crafts by European artists in residence. Initiative/owner: Artshake
*Basecamp Cartesius The former industrial zone becomes a cultural hotspot, artistic seedbed and the nerve centre of Utrecht 2018. Initiative/owner: Autobahn
Future conversations
Initiative/owner: Bart van Rosmalen, CMS Derks Star Busmann, Adviesbureau AEF and De Baak Management Centre.
An international exhibition about the great Italian master Caravaggio and his many emulators throughout Europe. Initiative/owner: Centraal Museum and the National Gallery of Scotland, Edinburgh
Kathy’s Choice A team of guest curators, all aged 18, make their own selection of works from the Centraal Museum collection. Initiative/owner: Centraal Museum
*The future of Gerrit Rietveld The work of Gerrit Rietveld and his fellow members of De Stijl as a source of inspiration for the ‘City of the Next Generation’. Initiative/owner: Centraal Museum FOCUS
The City as a Book A city which has never been described in narrative, poetry or song simply does not exist. The City as a Book is an international literary festival which underscores the importance of written descriptions to the identity of the city. Beginning in 2011, Utrecht now invites two guest writers from other European cities to contribute to the City2Cities festival. While here, they may write new work, advise on the translation of existing work, or lecture at the university. In 2018, Dutch writers will travel to the eighteen cities from which our guest writers have been drawn, and will produce a literary portrait of that city. Not all are the capital of their country, or even a major metropolis. Some are medium-sized cities, such as Porto, Stuttgart and Aarhus, with which Utrecht has a special bond. During the City as a Book event in 2018, the Dutch authors will once again welcome their literary counterparts from the eighteen cities. A literary portrait of our city will be presented in the form of readings, performances and projections. Initiative/owner: City2Cities Partners: SLAU, Poëziecircus, Salon Saffi er and Utrecht University (Faculty of Humanities).
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Modernists in ‘t Gooi
Social Media In 2011, Utrecht launched the Media4me project in association with Mira Media. It is a neighbourhood project which introduces the social media to people who are not familiar with computers and the online world. In 2018, the Community Arts Lab intends to run a project in which digital communications devices (such as smartphones and iPads) and social media (Facebook, Twitter and perhaps forms yet to be invented) will be used in community arts, not merely as a communications tool but also as a production resource. Local residents will be invited to contribute based on their own lives and experiences, thus adding the untold stories of relatively invisible people to the great, never-ending story of the city. Initiative/owners: Community Arts Lab and Treaty of Utrecht Foundation Partners: Mira Media, Utrecht School of the Arts (HKU)
Container gardens Lush greenery will be brought into the city on barges, pick-up trucks, lorries and delivery bikes. Initiative/owner: Containertuinen FOCUS
CDE Crowdsourced Festival ‘Share your skills with others’, is the principle of the Crowdsourced Festival with which Utrecht will surprise visitors – and itself – in 2018. Cult Dealer Enzo calls upon everyone in Utrecht to contribute to the city’s culture. There are countless ways of doing so: cooking, playing the trumpet, cycling, developing new concepts, designing, cleaning, coordinating, reading to others, or just listening. Every contribution counts. There will be a pilot in 2012, whereupon the festival will grow year by year. In 2018, it will be a city-wide, all-inclusive event for residents and visitors, cultural institutions and local businesses alike, spread among churches and parks, public squares and the canals. Initiative/owner: Cult Dealer Enzo
Storming of Vredenburg A re-enactment of the storming and eventual destruction of Vredenburg, a sixteenth-century citadel in the centre of Utrecht.
Initiative/owner: Cultuurplatform Soest Partner: Cultuurplatform Bunschoten
* World Station 2018 The new Central Station becomes the scene for short theatrical productions with the theme ‘parting and reunion’. Initiative/owner: De Utrechtse Spelen FOCUS
The soul of YOUtrecht 3.0 The VIP Bus will undertake creative ‘voyages of discovery’, travelling from Utrecht through the province, the Netherlands and Europe itself to connect people, knowledge, experiences, ideas, stories and locations. The VIP Bus will bring together the best of the city and the rural regions, thus generating a new form of cultural and social entrepreneurship to support a fully sustainable human environment. In addition to the VIPbus itself, the project will mobilize other creative vehicles and vessels, including the VIPparlevinker, the floating supermarket which plies the inland waterways, and of course the caravan with which artist Tjerk de Ridder hitchhiked his way through Europe. Initiative/owner: De VIPbus Partners: Streekhuis Kromme Rijn, Municipality of Montfoort, Cultureel Dorp, Kaap Z, Cult Dealer Enzo, TCN
*Podium 18 An international performance festival which is programmed, produced and presented by 18-year-olds from all parts of Europe. Initiative/owner: Dennis Meyer
*European Institute for Art, Society, Heritage and Landscape A summer campus for artists and students at the former Soesterberg airbase. Initiative/owner: Dennis Meyer Partners: Utrecht School of the Arts (HKU), Utrecht University, the Utrecht Festivals
Cultural Fort “Vechtstreek” Fort Nieuwersluis is to become a ‘Cultural Fort’, establishing a connection between the city and the outlying Vecht region. Initiative/owner: DeRest
Initiative/owner: Cultuur Zeist
Utrecht Salsa
Brides and weddings of all cultures
Fifteen colourful floats will form the centrepiece of the world’s biggest ever salsa festival as it parades from Amersfoort to Utrecht.
An event centring around the wedding traditions and rituals of various cultures. Initiative/owner: Cultuur Zeist
Initiative/owner: Diaz Latinos
An art history trail revealing the legacy of the modernist school in ’t Gooi, including houses designed by Bart van der Leck and Gerrit Rietveld. Initiative/owner: Dooyewaard Stichting
CAMU The Cartesius Museum will bring companies, organizations, knowledge and culture together to devise creative and sustainable solutions to current social issues. Initiative/owner: Erik Uitenbogaard
Children of the Future A multimedia project in which children can discover the importance of science and research. Initiative/owner: Esther de Rijk, Utrecht University Medical Center
*Utrecht Community Arts Productions The Netherlands’ fi rst fully-equipped, multidisciplinary Community Arts production company is to be established in Utrecht. Initiative/owner: Eugene van Erven (Community Arts Lab) Partners: CAL- XL, Zimihc
Cultural Hotel Cartesius In the run-up to 2018, part of Basecamp Cartesius will be transformed into a hotel for artists-in-residence. Initiative/owner: Expodium
*A baroque equestrian pageant The carousel, a choreographed dressage ride that once was a military tradition, becomes a colourful public pageant in the gardens of a fairytale castle. Initiative/owner: Utrecht Festival of Early Music FOCUS
Opera Ultrajectinum The city’s bells and carillons will guide the public between the churches of the city centre, each of which will be the scene of one act of Opera Ultrajectinum. This sixhour musical epic tells the story of Utrecht from the Roman era to the present day, culminating in a grand multimedia fi nale at the foot of the Dom Tower. Various scenes will recreate historic events at their original location, with the churches and narrow streets forming an authentic backdrop as we watch the Romans, meet the Dutch pope Adrian VI, and mingle with the European diplomats who converged on the city in 1713 to thrash out the Treaty of Utrecht. The Netherlands is renowned for both the number and quality of its church organs. Utrecht itself has a very impressive history in the fi eld, having produced some of the world’s greatest organ builders and organ-
All project ideas
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Photographs of local women in traditional regional costume mark out a tourist trail along the Eem river.
Trust the Future, Create your City 7 Additional information
The Eem trail
280 ists. The European Organ Festival continues Utrecht’s long tradition but also seeks new forms of expression. It has asked the European cities with which it has links to help in telling the story of Utrecht. The result is a series of scenes and acts, each by a different composer, combining narrative, theatre and music. Initiative/owner: Festival voor de Wind Potential partners: Copenhagen, Malmö, Brno/Ostrava and Toulouse. FOCUS
The Utrecht Trust The Utrecht Trust is an alliance of historic buildings in the region. Its aim is to reveal the full glory of the ‘hidden museum’ of 270 castles and country houses to the general public and future generations. The Trust undertakes joint promotional activities to raise the international awareness of the regional heritage and to create public support for its preservation. It seeks establishes a strong connection between the local community and the historic buildings. In short, the Utrecht Trust plays a key role in managing, maintaining and promoting the cultural heritage of the Utrecht region. Initiative/owner: Frank Louhenapessy (Huis Doorn/Kasteel Amerongen) and Yvonne Ploum (Museum Oud-Amelisweerd) Partners: castles and country houses in the region
Utrecht Icons Programme in Utrecht and Amersfoort centring on the region’s artistic ‘icons’ such as Gerrit Rietveld and Piet Mondrian. Initiative/owner: Municipality of Amersfoort Partners: Rietveld-Schröderhuis (Centraal Museum Utrecht) and De Zonnehof Rietveld Pavilion
Military transport complex The former army transport base and munition depot in Benschop, is an important part of Dutch military heritage and is to be opened to the public. Initiative/owner: Municipality of Lopik
*Art to meet Art in the public areas of the new station area will create new meeting places for the travelling and shopping public. Initiative/owner: City of Utrecht
European Brass Band Championship 2018 In May 2018, Utrecht will host the four-day European Brass Band Championship. Initiative/owner: City of Utrecht
*Expo Create your City In 2018, Utrecht will partner the International Architecture Biennale Rotterdam (IABR). The theme of the main 2018 conference will be ‘how can culture contribute to the city of future generations? ’ Initiative/owner: City of Utrecht and IABR
Planet Control Centre at Soesterberg FOCUS
The Utrecht World Cup In 2018, will stage a football tournament of world class. The city and province are home to people of some two hundred different nationalities. There is one cultural activity which brings us all together: football. Teams representing the various countries of origin will compete for our own version of the World Cup. Utrecht’s international citizens can invite friends and family to take part. Six-a-side teams will play short matches, with each half just fi fteen minutes. A week of preliminaries will culminate in the fi nals weekend. The atmosphere will be enhanced by musicians from the participating countries who will play at the FC Utrecht stadium as part of the Utrecht Music Festival. There will also be an opportunity to sample world cuisines. Initiative/owner: Gerard Cornelisse Prospective partners: FC Utrecht, KNVB, UEFA
Utrecht revealed What will visitors to Utrecht 2018 bring with them, and what will they take home after the event? Artists rummage through rucksacks and luggage to reveal the identity of the city.
Visitors check the current ‘state of health’ of our planet: have we turned the tide of environmental impact? Initiative/owner: Het Utrechts Landschap FOCUS
SPKNBRG Dutch Design The artists of Het Wilde Oog have for many years been fascinated by Spakenburg, a small fi shing village alongside the IJsselmeer lake. Their work is inspired not only by the remarkable design of the local traditional costume, but also by the culture of the fi shing community and the lives of the residents. The artists reveal links between heritage and culture in their photographs, costumes, jewellery, videos and installations. SPKNBRG Dutch Design combines portraits of the ladies of Spakenburg in their traditional dress with the icons of Utrecht’s architecture (Dudok, Rietveld, Van Schijndel), visual arts (Armando, Berend Strik) and design (Pastoe, Pieke Bergmans). In 2018, an exhibition will be staged at Utrecht en Amersfoort stations. There will also be a video-installation and a full-colour publication devoted to Het Wilde Oog’s twenty-year fascination with SPKNBRG. Initiative/owner: Het Wilde Oog Partners: NS, Stadsschouwburg Utrecht
Initiative/owner: Gillian Engel
*Animation Lab
*Hidden Museum of Europe
The new Animation Lab will bring together Utrecht’s creativity and expertise in the fi eld of animation. It aspires to be a player of international importance in this important discipline of visual arts.
This project establishes a connection between two of Utrecht’s key strengths as our heritage is brought to life and placed in a modern context through gaming, computer simulations, fi lm and animation. Initiative/owner: Heritage Gaming Platform FOCUS
The seduction of Europa The Nieuw Utrechts Toneel theatre company embarks on a quest for identity. What makes you Dutch, European or an artist? Why do you feel at home in a particular place? What differentiates one European from another? The company will invite counterparts from twelve European countries to devise a production examining these themes. It will be based on the myth of Europa, the woman seduced by Zeus and who bore him three sons, including King Minos. The project will be gradually developed during various summer festivals from 2014 onwards, reaching its fi nal form in 2018. Initiative/owner: Het Nieuw Utrechts Toneel Prospective partners: Oerol Festival, SpringFestival
*The Gardens of Utrecht Urban residents form collectives to manage a small part of the green rural area on the outskirts of the city. Initiative/owner: Het Utrechts Landschap
Initiative/owners: Holland Animation Film Festival, Dutch Game Garden & Il Luster
Don’t Look Back A new opera based on the myth of Orpheus in the Underworld, sung and acted by young people and seniors. Initiative/owner: Holland Opera
Seen from Space Eighteen international installations, so large they can be seen from space. Initiative/owner: Impakt
*Hacking Habitat Artists and residents reclaim the public domain and design their own human environment. Initiative/owner: Ine Gevers, Stichting Niet Normaal
*Limes Trail In 2018, there will be a special weekly train service between Utrecht and Cologne, linking the treasure houses of the Roman era. Initiative/owners: Initiatief Domplein and Centraal Museum
FOCUS
Initiative/owner: International Franz Liszt Piano Competition
Waterways Habitat Utrecht’s canals and waterways become a podium for the arts. Initiative/owner: Jaap Röell, Kunstliefde
Playground ideas In 2018, young people will pass their skills on to their seniors. Initiative/owner: Jaap Röell, Kunstliefde
*Agri-Culture Four international conferences on ‘the restoration of the regional food culture’. Initiative/owner: Jan Huijgen, De Eemhoeve
Maison Particulière Following the celebrations of the centenary of the De Stijl movement in 2014, work will begin on Maison Particulière, a new landmark with which Utrecht will highlight the importance of De Stijl and its members. Initiative/owner: Jan Verhoeven, Yellow Fellow
Time travel in Utrecht Designers from Utrecht reveal the city’s local history through motion design and animation. Initiative/owner: Jasper Hesseling
FOCUS
A European Puzzle One thousand musicians will perform the world premiere of a symphony created by composers from all parts of Europe. This corroborative piece will form a sort of jigsaw puzzle of European sounds, the pieces fitted skilfully together by singers and players from the Utrecht student music societies and members of their partner orchestras and choirs in other countries. Composers from various countries will be invited to contribute a section of this new Gesammtwerk in which all the sound colours of European culture mix and mingle. Each movement is self-contained and will be performed separately on successive evenings. However, the great challenge will be to bring them all together during the grand premiere concert, an event of international allure to be held in the Jaarbeurs Utrecht. This project has been devised by KOSMU, the umbrella organization representing nine student music societies with a total of over four hundred members. Although they come from all parts of the Netherlands (and far beyond), those members all study in Utrecht. Each society, large or small, has its own character with a repertoire ranging from classical to modern and from pop to jazz. Initiative/owner: KOSMU Partners: all Utrecht student choirs and music groups, in association with Parnassos, the cultural centre of Utrecht University.
The Green Heart A competition for young artistic and culinary talent held at various historic locations in Woerden. Initiative/owner: Kunsteducatie Woerden (KUVO)
*Kytopia Caravan The musicians’ collective Kytopia is to embark on a roadtrip through Europe in search of new musical inspiration. Local musicians will be invited to join the ‘caravan’ and take part in the European Capital of Culture performances.
Utregse Koppen
Initiative/owner: Kytopia
Sculptures ofwell-known Utrecht residents. By 2018, the series will include 18 busts.
Tachelles in Utrecht
Initiative/owner: Jelle Geertsma
*PLAY A real-world playground for gaming and ‘playful culture’, part of the City of Moving Images project. Initiative/owners: Jeroen van Mastrigt and Victor Wijnen
Drawing abroad
An apartment building occupied entirely by artists who use all the rooms to display their work and talents.
Pimp my train!
Extravagantly decorated trains travel to and from Utrecht.
Young and Old Festival
A festival for the young and not-so-young, with music, dance, theatre, jeu de boules and walker races.
Park in Leidsche Rijn
Interactive touch-screen tables in cafés or libraries enable visitors to communicate with the rest of the world by drawing pictures.
An excellent festival location, with a statuary garden, light projections, amphitheatre and a public WiFi hotspot.
Initiative/owner: Jochem van Hees
Various project ideas submitted by students at X11 and the Amadeus Lyceum.
The free state of Europe Utrecht’s newest district, Leidsche Rijn, presents a multidisciplinary programme focusing on the historic continent of Europe. Initiative/owner: Leidsche Rijn Connectie Partners: cultural organizations in the old and new centres of Utrecht.
Utrecht’s Kerkenkruis Some historians believe that the fi ve churches of medieval Utrecht were deliberately sited to form the shape of a cross. Today, only three of those churches remain. In this project, solar panels on the roofs of city centre buildings will recreate the city’s ‘Kerkenkruis’. Initiative/owner: Lila Boucher FOCUS
Wild Park Wild Park will be a contemporary location theatre festival featuring performances and installations by leading professionals in the streets and plains of European cities. As European Capital of Culture 2018, Utrecht will have the honour of hosting the fi rst Wild Park festival before it moves on to London, Avignon and Belgrade. The Netherlands has established a tradition in outdoor location theatre, as well as considerable expertise in the fi eld of public art. It is increasingly common for artists of all ages and disciplines to show their work in or close to the city, in the open countryside or in a local community – in other words, outside the usual arena of art and culture. In this project, Lotte van den Berg and a group of theatre-makers from all parts of Europe will claim the city’s streets and squares to create a meeting place. In a playful manner, they will be encouraged to examine their shared values and experiences, both in their own country and in the European context. Lotte van den Berg has established an international reputation as one of the most important innovators in her fi eld. According to The Financial Times, “Van den Berg provides a virtuosic distillation of movement, emotion and meaning, successfully encapsulating the essence of each moment and allowing the audience to fi ll the gaps with its own experiences.” Initiative/owner: Lotte van den Berg Partners: SpringFestival, Lift Festival (London), Steirischer Herbst (Graz), Bitef Festival (Belgrade), Festival d’Avignon
Utrecht Anthem Musician and multimedia designer Louis Gauthier is to compose the Utrecht Anthem, a work in which past and present are brought together in words and music. Local residents, some well known and others less so, will share their love for the city in a series of short fragments. Initiative/owner: Louis Gauthier
All project ideas
In 2016, the organizers of the Liszt International Piano Competition are to stage a sister event for young musicians in all disciplines. This Up-and-Coming Music Competition will take place in the Music Palace. As part of their prize, the young winners will receive a one-year ‘apprenticeship’ under the tutelage of a leading European musician. They might take lessons with a maestro in Vienna or with a successful violinist from Utrecht itself. In 2018, they will have the opportunity to show us all what they have learned during the Up-and-Coming Music Festival.
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Up-and-Coming
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MasterPeace Europe
FOCUS
From Sijpestein and Lombokplein to Leidsche Rijn Maanzaad is a non-profi t organization which is devoted to improving the quality of the human environment in various Utrecht neighbourhoods, doing so with the help of local residents, artists and companies. It also tries to improve the links, both physical and social, between the ‘old’ and the ‘new’ city. In 2012, for example, the tunnel which connects the western part of Utrecht with the city centre is being given a muchneeded ‘facelift’. Passers-by are invited to suggest ideas for the huge murals, which also serve to draw attention to Utrecht’s ambition of becoming European Capital of Culture 2018. Between 2013 and 2018, Maanzaad will continue to improve the connections between old and new with public art and events along the waterways and cycle routes which link Central Station and the new Leidsche Rijn district. Initiative/owner: Maanzaad Partners: organizations and members of the public in the western districts of Utrecht, too numerous to mention.
The City Walls A virtual reconstruction of the ancient city walls. The city gate was where town and countryside met, the main locus of trade and commerce. Initiative/owner: Marcel Blekendaal FOCUS
The Generation Band The Generation Band is an orchestra in which young people make music for and alongside the elderly of the province. Their audience and collaborators could be their parents, grandparents or great-grandparents. Under the expert guidance of the professional musicians of Fort van de Verbeelding, various projects will take music into the local care homes in the years ahead, encouraging the generations to play together. An initial ‘try-out’ was held in 2012 at De Vijverhof retirement home in Harmelen. During the years ahead, the Generation Band will grow like a snowball as it welcomes new members from each location it visits. By 2018, it will have become the Generation Big Band which will undertake a Grand Finale Tour of care centres throughout the province. Initiative/owners: Margreet Melman and Fort van de Verbeelding Partners: care institutions in the province of Utrecht
Europe’s largest ever peace project will bring together artists and performers from conflict zones on the International Day of Peace, 21 September 2018. Music and art will be used as a remedy for disagreement and prejudice. Tickets for the event cannot be bought; anyone wishing to attend must earn their place by devoting their time and energy to a peace project somewhere in Europe. MasterPeace will promote the peace process by bringing together various Initiatives, many of which work independently of each other, through music, dance, poetry and fi lm. Contributors will range from the Kosovo Rock School to the graffi ti artists of East London. The MasterPeace Europe Concert will form part of a wider programme of lectures, debates and workshops examining the role that art and culture can play in resolving conflicts and tensions. One important milestone on the road to 2018 will be the huge peace concert to be held in the shadow of the pyramids of Cairo in 2014. Initiative/owner: MasterPeace Partners: MasterPeace has connections in all major European cities through the International Association of Local Governments and the Mayors for Peace network.
Footsteps A visualization of the footprints that Utrecht’s national and international students leave behind. Initiative/owner: Melody Deldjou Fard FOCUS
Utrecht Stories Utrecht Stories is an international feature fi lm with Utrecht in the lead role. Memphis Film & Television will invite leading directors from all parts of Europe to apply their artistic vision and visualize the city in sections of ten to fi fteen minutes. The director will work with his own crew, but may also involve actors and extras from Utrecht to create an international cast. All contributions are to be based on the Utrecht Principles but the directors will be free to interpret this remit in any way they wish. One may choose to use actors to depict cultural contrasts in local neighbourhoods, while another may focus on the wealth of modern architecture in Utrecht or draw inspiration from the old city and its rich history. Only time will tell. But one thing is certain: Utrecht Stories will present an entirely new perspective of Utrecht’s cultural life and heritage. It will be an eye-opener for residents and visitors alike. Initiative/owner: Memphis Film & Television Prospective partners: Utrecht University, Utrecht School of the Arts (HKU)
*Your kids and theirs Children and young people aged from 4 to 20 design the city in which their children and grandchildren will live. Initiative/owner: Micha de Winter in association with Utrechtse Onderwijsagenda
Teen Swap Young people of various backgrounds swap lives for a few days. They move into each other’s homes, live with each other’s families and discover each other’s interests. Initiative/owner: Mieke van Oorschot
*Museum of the Future Utrecht’s museums shift their focus from the past to the future. Initiative/owner: the alliance of Utrecht museums.
*Pope Adrian VI A major exhibition presenting the religious history of Utrecht, centring on the life of Pope Adrian VI, the son of a local carpenter. Initiative/owner: Museum Catharijneconvent
*Saint Martin - lamplight procession The offi cial closing ceremony of European Capital of Culture Year brings the Utrecht traditions of Saint Martin and community arts together in a grand musical procession of lanterns and light sculptures. Initiative/owner: Muziekhuis Utrecht FOCUS
Connect! A festival organized by the Music Palace presenting the results of its music education programme for schools and community groups, which will run from 2014 to 2018. The programme, spread over several days, will include large-scale concerts involving primary school children, as well as improvisation and composition projects involving students from secondary schools, in association with the Utrecht Centre for the Arts and the Omroeporkest (National Radio Orchestra). Initiative/owner: Music Palace
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Hoezo Klassiek? (Why Classical?) Concert halls throughout the world are seeking new ways in which to make our musical heritage accessible to a modern audience. The Music Palace will run a series of live concerts in which a Dutch celebrity introduces a selection of his or her favourite music, whether classical, jazz or post-punk pop. In 2018, a two-day festival will explore other tried-and-tested ways of engaging new audiences.
The Netherlands Bach Society is an internationally renowned choir and orchestra led by its artistic director Jos van Veldhoven. Between 2012 and 2018, the society intends to build a website, All of Bach, on which the complete works of the baroque composer will be available: the equivalent of over 150 CDs. In 2018, the society will share its extensive knowledge in a large-scale international Bach festival in and around the new Music Palace. Why not All of Bach in a single festival? There will also be a congress examining the role of the new media as new distribution channels, European copyright legislation and the influence of ‘crowdsourcing’ in the cultural sector. Initiative/owner: Netherlands Bach Society Prospective partners: Utrecht Conservatorium, Utrecht Festival of Early Music, Holland Baroque Society, Catharijneconvent, Holland Animation Film Festival
Initiative/owner: Music Palace
*The Summer of 18
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A ten-day open-air festival at which young people from all parts of Europe build a ‘Trust Factory’ for Utrecht and for Europe.
City of Moving Images: nostalgia for the future Utrecht has many internationally renowned audiovisual artists. Between March and September 2018, they will join forces to present the programme, City of Moving Images. There will be a ribbon of moving images throughout the city, combining entertainment and engagement. Utrecht’s culture of audiovisual art symbolizes this youthful city with its burgeoning creative industry and leading players in both the ‘old’ media (fi lm and animation) and the ‘new’ (gaming). There is already a lot of collaboration between the various disciplines and between organizations such as the Dutch Game Garden, Utrecht School of the Arts (HKU), Grafi sch Lyceum Utrecht, Holland Animation Film Festival, Impakt, the Netherlands Film Festival, Play and Utrecht University. Between 2013 and 2017, Utrecht will work to strengthen the chain of educational institutes, entrepreneurs, producers, festivals and commissioning bodies active in the visual arts. We shall create sustainable connections and further cross-fertilization between the disciplines of fi lm, animation and gaming. In 2018, Utrecht can then justly call itself the City of Moving Images, offering a mix of high art and more popular forms, with something to appeal to all sections of the European community. Initiative/partners: Netherlands Film Festival, Holland Animation Film Festival, Dutch Game Garden, PLAY, Control (journal for the gaming industry), Utrecht School of the Arts (HKU).
Initiative/owner: Dutch National Youth Council (NJR) and AEGEE Utrecht
NUtrecht In several small offi ces and studios, and one huge factory building on the Cartesius site, young artists and entrepreneurs build their own future and that of the city. Initiative/owner: NUtrecht
The Creative Megastore An outlet in the city’s main shopping area in which young and more established artists and entrepreneurs can show and sell their work. Initiative/owner: Paola Provitina, Lars Eggen and Brigitte Heslenfeld
Generation Cubes Temporary exhibitions at three specially chosen locations present the hopes and dreams of the different generations. Initiative/owner: Paul van der Drift
European Stories Retelling the European stories of Utrecht’s forts, castles and country houses. Initiative/owner: Petra Moes
Two thousand years of Utrecht in one year: 52 weeks and 26 venues All 26 municipalities in the province of Utrecht recount their own European history in words and images. Initiative/owner: Province of Utrecht
Inside Out Bringing the art created inside buildings into the public areas: the town hall as a cinema screen, pianos on the street, theatre on the canals. Initiative/owner: Quinten Peelen
Soesterberg airbase: a new identity Explore the former airbase at Soesterberg using all your senses. Initiative/owner: Regio Cultuurcentrum Utrecht Midden Prospective partners: local institutes for the visually and hearing impaired.
Labyrinth The city centre as a labyrinth (‘marble maze’) game: a playful exploration of history. Initiative/owner: Rob van Dam
The Leidsche Rijn Dom A huge inflatable model of the Dom Church will be carried in procession from the old city centre to the new district of Leidsche Rijn. Initiative/owner: Rob van Dam
The Europe House A focus of European culture centres in the historic city centre of Utrecht. Initiative/owner: Rob van der Hilst
Royal Utrecht A cycle tour exploring the many locations in the province which are connected with the Dutch royal family. Initiative/owner: Rob van Waaijen FOCUS
Utrecht Export Utrecht has been home to many artists whose work is often seen much further afi eld: they have risen to national or even international importance. Utrecht Export will bring them all together in one exhibition featuring both traditional and contemporary forms of art and design. There will be works by the Utrecht ‘greats’, from Gerrit Rietveld to Dick Bruna, alongside a selection of modern works created within the last two years. The exhibition will run for two months at a prominent location in Utrecht. If successful, it will be held at two-yearly intervals. Initiative/owner - Rogier Martens and CBKU
*Roots & Routes – 18 years and still growing (up) An international talent development project for young urban artists which began in Rotterdam in 2001. In 2018, artists from 18 European countries will be invited to take part in the 18th edition. Initiative/owner - Roots & Routes International Association
All project ideas
All of Bach
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Waterwerken Plus In his project Waterwerken (Waterworks), sculptor Ruud Kuijer visualizes the future of the Amsterdam-Rhine Canal. In 2002, he began to place huge concrete sculptures on the banks of this major commercial waterway. To mark the tercentenary of the Treaty of Utrecht in 2013, he will complete this project by installing the seventh sculpture. But this is not the end of the story. There is a point at which the canal, railway and motorway converge to form the new ‘gateway’ to Utrecht. It has inspired Kuijer to undertake a new project, Waterwerken Plus for Utrecht 2018. The banks of the canal are to be given a new signifi cance, becoming part of the urban fabric itself with restaurants, public spaces, cycle paths and promenades. Ruud Kuijer intends to emphasize this new function with massive sculptures, some as tall as fi ve metres, at various locations along the canal between Maarssen and Houten. They will become meeting places by the water which say something about the local district and its inhabitants. Initiative/owner: Ruud Kuijer
Care for the elderly / NL-Today Artists take on the role of creative researchers, helpers and a source of comfort for elderly people in care. Initiative/owner: Saskia van de Ree, in association with VMBO, ROC, various care and welfare organizations.
*The New Year of the Free People A celebration of Berber (Amazigh) culture which by 2018 will have grown to become a touring museum festival. Initiative/owners: Stadsschouwburg and Gerard Cornelisse
Social Music Space Technology translates movement and gestures into music. Initiative/owner: Stan Kuunders
Limites Traiecti A trilogy about the history of Utrecht, continuing until 2022 (the 900th anniversary of the city’s charter), including exhibitions and fi lms. Initiative/owner: Stephan Vollenberg
Playground Amersfoort An entertaining and educational ‘nature trail’ offering a new look at the flora and fauna of the city. Initiative/owner: Stichting Amersfoorts Theater Terras Partner: De Waterlanders
Reconstruction of the Dom’s Nave This project is all about ‘slow building’. It will research medieval construction techniques and apply the knowledge gained in practice. The building site on Domplein will be open to the general public. In 1674, the nave of the Dom Church was destroyed by high winds. Over four hundred years later, the church is to be restored to its former glory as a centre of religious devotion and cultural appreciation. Utrecht will become a capital of cathedral architecture and the stonemason’s craft, just as it was in the fourteenth century when the city produced and exported ready-made building blocks for cathedrals and churches throughout Europe. Practical knowledge forms a useful adjunct to research into medieval architecture and construction methods, as well as a basis for conferences, exhibitions and educational programmes. Local residents, companies and visitors are invited to make a small donation (or a large donation if they wish) towards the costs of the restoration: a form of ‘slow-fi nancing’. Initiative/owner: Stichting Voorbereiding Herbouw Schip Domkerk 2013 Partners: Catharijneconvent, Utrecht Tourism and Congress Bureau, Rob van der Hilst, Jo de Viet
Steps through time An educational walking route exploring the history of Vleuterweide. Initiative/owner: Stichting Behoud Heycopgebied
Tijd van je leven Tijd van je leven (The time of your life) is a series of television documentaries, made by director Michel van Erp, following the lives for eleven Utrecht children born in the year 2000. The fi nal instalment will revisit them in 2018 as they enter adult life. Initiative/owner: Stichting Cultuurpromotie Utrecht, RTV Utrecht
The magical connection A project about the Waag van Oudewater, also known as the Witches’ Weighhouse. In 1545, Oudewater was offi cially accredited by the Holy Roman Emperor Charles V as having the only weighhouse in Europe which could guarantee ‘a fair weighing process’. A Certifi caat van Weghinge issued here was therefore fi rm evidence, valid throughout Europe, that the bearer was defi nitely not a witch. Initiative/owner: Stichting De Heksenwaag
A view of Utrecht A website presenting the province of Utrecht as a ‘museum without walls’. Initiative/owner: Stichting Het Vechtsnoer
*House of Commons Utrecht (re)gains a debating centre at which social issues can be explored in an interactive manner. Initiative/owner: Stichting House of Commons
*Go APE: Art Park of Energy An outdoor collection of art installations which are powered by human energy, provided by the visitors themselves. Initiative/owner: Stichting Kunstzinnig Energiepark Partners: Utrecht School of the Arts (HKU), Utrecht University (and others) FOCUS
Utrecht as the nursery of peace education One of the main pillars of Utrecht’s status as a peaceful city is the Stichting Vredeseducatie (Peace Education Foundation) which welcomes students and school children to two forts on the outskirts of the city. One houses the Commemoration Centre for the Future, at which children under twelve learn to resolve conflicts in a peaceful way, to overcome prejudices and oppose injustice in all its forms. In the Fort of Democracy, young people explore the boundaries of freedom of expression. Together, the two forts form a ‘nursery’ of peace education. Many of the educational projects developed here have drawn national and international attention. Utrecht was also the birthplace of an interactive approach which is now applied throughout the Netherlands and far beyond. France, for example, has La Fabrique de la Paix, a touring project developed in partnership with La Ligue de l’Enseignement. The bilingual (Hebrew and Arabic) Peace Labyrinth project was developed in association with the Bloomfi eld Science Museum in Jerusalem. The Factory of Hope exhibit was created for the Olympic Museum in Lausanne, while Museum Belvue in Brussels is soon to have a Democracy Factory. The Tolerance Test was developed by the Peace Education Foundation in Utrecht with the help of the Bulgarian Commission for Protection against Discrimination and several other European partners. It is available in fi ve languages: Spanish, Portuguese, Bulgarian, Dutch and English. In 2011, the European Society for Education and Communication (ESEC) awarded this project the Erasmus Media Seal of Approval. As part of the Utrecht 2018 process, the Peace Education Foundation intends to extend its international contacts yet further. It plans to host an international expert meeting, to develop educational games and software, and to stage interactive exhibitions throughout Europe. Initiative/owner: Stichting Vredeseducatie (Peace Education Foundation).
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The dike reassessed
Initiative/owner: Stichting Zomertheater Amersfoort
Accessibility and readability A special editorial team will ensure that all information about 2018 is as accessible and readable as possible.
The red thread
New routes through the city and province will offer visitors new experiences and stories in 2018.
Cinetik 2018 Cinetik is a three-year educational programme which helps secondary school students understand and appreciate fi lms, and to pass their knowledge of cinema on to others. In 2018, students who have completed the programme will be invited to devise the programme for one of the screening rooms of the new Bibliotheek++ library complex. Initiative/owner: ’t Hoogt Partners: secondary schools in the region.
Student houses as seedbeds of knowledge
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Meeting places will be created at locations which attract many students, allowing them to share their knowledge and experience.
Tafelboom is an artists’ collective which gives the trees felled within the city a second life as tables. Those tables are then returned to the city to be used by the public. The trees therefore remain part of Utrecht, having been given an appropriate new function. Tafelboom records the history of every table, from a photo of the tree before it is felled to the precise location of the resulting table. As part of the Treaty of Utrecht tercentenary celebrations in 2013, Tafelboom intends to involve local residents in producing the tables. They will be invited to help in the design process, sawing and preparing the wood, constructing the fi nished product and writing the stories. The tables will play a prominent part in the tercentenary celebrations. To mark the completion of the project, each will be returned to the place from which the wood was obtained and used as a dining table for a celebratory dinner before being given a permanent place in the public domain nearby. Before 2018, Tafelboom hopes to set up a sawmill (“Stadszagerij”) at which all ‘spare’ wood can be processed and sold at a fair price to artists, furniture-makers and anyone else who can make good use of it. Once again, the wood will be accompanied by its life story, or ‘family tree’. Tafelboom also hopes to establish a platform which links the city’s history to craft, art, design, urban geography, philosophy and science.
Playground Alert
A text message service which alerts visitors to small-scale events in the public domain.
Building sites
Using building sites in the city as (temporary) parks with art installations.
The musical playground
People of all ages make music together: every movement produces a different tone.
The hotel as a total experience Tourists can stay in a hotel (or hostel) designed and furnished by artists.
(Project proposals submitted by Fine Arts students at the Utrecht School of the Arts)
Route 18 Special 2018 bicycles will be the transport of choice for visitors, with a smartphone app to show them the way. (Project idea submitted by students at HU University of Applied Sciences)
Studium Generale 2018 Three public debates about citizenship and community-building, based on the three themes of Utrecht 2018. Initiative/owner: Utrecht University Studium Generale
Expert meeting Europa Cinemas In 2018, Utrecht will invite the Europa Cinemas network to hold an expert meeting in the city, with a special focus on fi lms for younger audiences. Initiative/owner: ’t Hoogt
Tafelboom Stadszagerij
Initiative/owner: Tafelboom Partners: City of Utrecht (Department of Public Works), Copijn Boomverzorging Potential partners for 2018: the Utrecht Archives, Utrecht University.
The history and signifi cance of the dike alongside the Eem river, as researched and explained by school students. Initiative/owner: Theo van Klooster (Landscape studio)
Water in Oudewater A symposium and event about the role played by waterways in the history of Oudewater. Initiative/owner: Touwmuseum De Baanschuur FOCUS
World Junction: 2000 years of mobility Music, dance fi lm and theatre above the motorway and along the access roads to the World Junction. In 2018 there will be an outdoor exhibition examining two thousand years of mobility in Europe. Artists from all parts of the world will draw their inspiration from traffi c and transport, and visitors will see various antique and futuristic vehicles. There will also be an international festival of cross-cultural music, road movies, world cuisine and travellers’ culture, culminating in a mammoth concert. The location is symbolic: the A2 motorway running through the tunnel beneath connects old Utrecht with the new city district of Leidsche Rijn. Moreover, it connects Utrecht with the rest of Europe and crosses the ancient Roman Limes. Initiative/owner: Unie van Utrecht Prospective partners: Rijkswaterstaat, ANWB, Grontmij, de Fietsersbond, Born Digital, De Leidsche Rijn Connectie, Kytopia, national and international Limes partners
Science for the future A series of international scientifi c symposia on the four spearheads of Utrecht University’s research agenda, which revolves around the quality of life which our children and grandchildren will enjoy. Initiative/owner: Utrecht University
U-postcard Each year, prospective students will record their impressions of Utrecht in a series of picture postcards. Initiative/owner: Urban Pilots & Utrecht School of the Arts (HKU)
All project ideas
An international street theatre festival in Amersfoort, with a focus on Eastern Europe and Scandinavia.
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Centenary of the end of World War I In 2018 we shall be able to commemorate the end of World War I, a European story like no other, precisely one hundred years after the event. In doing so, we aim to join a major four-year project being undertaken in Flanders and northern France from 2014 to 2018. Although the Netherlands declared itself neutral, the effects of the war were felt throughout the country, not least in and around Utrecht. There were often more than ten thousand troops stationed in local barracks and the forts of the New Dutch Water Line. A ‘State of War’ was declared in the city. In 1916, the British imposed a blockade to prevent supplies getting through to German troops. The resultant loss of trade caused serious local unemployment. Many refugees fled to the Netherlands from occupied Belgium and had to be accommodated in large camps or billeted with families. As the end of the war approached, Kaiser Wilhelm II fled to the Netherlands and eventually took up residence at Huis Doorn, where he lived in exile for over twenty years. Initiative/owner: Team Utrecht 2018 Potential partners: various heritage locations, Utrecht University, the Utrecht Archives, National Military Museum, project partners in Flanders and northern France.
Hotel Utrecht: Level Up Students will furnish a vacant building as a hotel, which they will then manage under professional guidance. Initiative/owner: Team Utrecht 2018
*Port Europa In 2018, the Utrecht festivals, the Stadsschouwburg theatre and the Music Palace will open their doors even wider than usual, giving guest curators from all over the world carte blanche to devise, produce and present their programmes. Initiative/owner: Utrecht Festivals, Stadsschouwburg, Music Palace
*Cultural Village of Europe In 2018, a village in the province of Utrecht will take the title Cultural Village of Europe. Initiative/owner: Utrecht 2018 and Bert Kisjes, Cultural Village of Europe ambassador
The future of religions Programme of dialogues about the future role of religions. Initiative/owner: Utrechtse Stedelijke Raad van Kerken (Ecumenical Council of Churches) Partners: Utrechts Platform voor Levensbeschouwingen & Religies, local church councils, provincial Council of Churches, European Council of Churches
*Test accessibility Creative designers will be sent ‘into the fi eld’ to test and improve the accessibility of the European Capital of Culture. Initiative/owner: Vilans in association with SOLGU
*Villa Jongerius: the test (vegetable) bed for the good life Town and country, gastronomy and agriculture meet each other in a historic villa and garden dating from the 1930s. Initiative/owner: Vrienden van het Jongeriuscomplex FOCUS
Amsterdamsestraatweg 200 x 200 In October 1811, Napoleon Bonaparte ordered the construction of a road – the Amsterdamsestraatweg – as part of Route Impériale No. 2, connecting Amsterdam and Paris. The road soon became a fashionable promenade lined with shops selling luxury goods. But it was unable to maintain this status. Today, two hundred years later, Amsterdamsestraatweg is a street with some two hundred shops and one major challenge. Developments elsewhere in the city and the emergence of online retailing have taken a heavy toll on this multicultural thoroughfare. Many premises now stand vacant. The quality of the public areas leaves much to be desired. The street lacks prestige, a fact very evident to local businesses and residents. This problem is not unique to Utrecht. Virtually every city has one or more similar high streets and shopping areas which are experiencing exactly the same diffi culties. Utrecht University, HU University of Applied Sciences, the Turkish and Moroccan business associations and the retailers of Amsterdamsestraatweg have devised and ambitious and innovative project which, they hope, will create a vibrant and sound multicultural shopping street. It will remain successful for decades to come and prompt other European cities to implement the same effective joint approach. Initiative/owner: Amsterdamsestraatweg Street Management Partners: Utrecht University, HU University of Applied Sciences, diverse business associations.
Green the city More green throughout the city – including building sites.
Backpack Europa
People of all ages are asked to pack a rucksack in preparation for the future.
Spiritual Workshop
Artists and researchers seek new forms of religion.
The old city meets the new
Light and sound connect the old city with the new, as do cycle routes and waterways with meeting places on the way.
The garden of the future
Organic gardens, castle gardens and farmhouse gardens become the new hotspots of social interaction.
Cycling Network
An environmentally friendly spider’s web of cycle paths connecting city districts and outlying villages.
Freerunners
The city as obstacle course, playground and parkour paradise.
Embrace the organism
What can urban development and biological development learn from each other?
Right to Play
Everyone has the right to play, so let´s relax some of the rules and restrictions in 2018. (Some project ideas submitted by members of the public during the Workshops held in early 2011)
Food for Thought Artists reveal how the city and countryside depend on each other, in an edible, tangible and ‘smellable’ way. Initiative/owner: Zimihc
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GO
October 2012
Art, culture, history and science meet in Yvette Mattern’s work to mark the 375th anniversary of the University of Utrecht: a rainbow of coloured laser beams joins the university and the city centre.
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WITH THANKS
COLOPHON
Published by Stichting Vrede van Utrecht/ Utrecht 2018, on behalf of the City of Utrecht and the Province of Utrecht Concept: design, short copy Dietwee — brand, identity and communication, Utrecht Text The 2018 Editorial Team English translation Taalcentrum – VU, Amsterdam Photos 4-5, 250-251 Raymond Rutting / Collection Stichting Stedelijke Fotografie Utrecht 9, Siebe Swart / Hollandse Hoogte 10-11 Gerry Hurkmans 12, 56-57 Ron Faas / Dietwee 20, 107 René den Engelsman / Culturele Zondagen 6, 23, 29, 30-31, 75, 110, 111, 134-135, 137, 138, 139, 158, 159, 196, 203, 208, 258-259, 292-293 Anna van Kooij / Vrede van Utrecht 27 Festival a/d Werf 39 Gabriel Eisenmeier 48 The Utrecht Archives 50-51 il Luster / Metropolisfilm / Vrede van Utrecht 63 Anna van Kooij / Muziektheater 64 Jan Bitter / Utrecht University 65, 240-241 Toerisme Utrecht 71 De Utrechtse Spelen 72 Eljee Bergwerff, from: Cityside Oasis (2009) 84 Joost van den Broek / De Volkskrant (2011) / Hollandse Hoogte 85 Thomas Jongbloed / Centraal Museum Utrecht
86, 87 Ernst Moritz / Centraal Museum Utrecht 92 Province of Utrecht 93 Valletta 2018 100-101 Ralph Kämena / City of Utrecht 102 Siebe Swart / Hollandse Hoogte 103 Trudie Timmermans / City of Utrecht 108, 267, 276 Sebastiaan ter Burg (CC BY-SA) 118 Merijn van der Vliet / Tweetakt 119 Maarten Steenvoort / Tweetakt 120-121 Ilya Rabinovich / Tweetakt 127 Ben van Duin / Holland Opera 137, 204-205 Vrede van Utrecht 143 Michiel van Erp / De Familie / Stichting Cultuurpromotie Utrecht 147 Ilgin Yanmaz / BAK 148, 149 Merijn van der Vliet / Festival a/d Werf 156-157 Tim van Veen / Vrede van Utrecht 166 Ramon Mosterd 168 Ruth Catsburg 169 Maartje Benders 195 Foppe Schut / Vrede van Utrecht 197 Your Captain Luchtfotografie / Projectbureau Vliegbasis Soesterberg 217 GeldMuseum 231 Hanne Nijhuis / Culturele Zondagen 232-233 Domplein 2013 238 Raimond Wouda / Collection Stichting Stedelijke Fotografie Utrecht 248-249 Henk Wildschut / Collection Stichting Stedelijke Fotografie Utrecht 257 Ineke Geelen / Province of Utrecht 264 Wouter Jansen / Holland Baroque Society 265 Bas Czerwinsky / International Chamber Music Festival Utrecht 288 Michael Kooren
Illustrations Daan Botlek Print run Dutch version: 70 English version: 70 Contact information Vrede van Utrecht/Utrecht 2018 Kromme Nieuwegracht 70 3512 HL Utrecht Correspondence P.O. Box 532 NL 3500 AM Utrecht The Netherlands +31 (0)30 239 38 90 www.utrecht2018.eu www.vredevanutrecht2013.nl info@utrecht2018.nl Twitter: @utrecht2018, use #utrecht2018 Facebook: www.facebook.com/ utrecht2018 ©City of Utrecht No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise without the prior written permission of the copyright holder.
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Utrecht 2018 Bid Book, version 1, October 2012 Application for the title European Capital of Culture
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The final scene of NT Gent’s Kasimir en Karoline, staged in the hangars of Soesterberg airbase and directed by Johan Simons.
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THE FUTURE
STARTS
NOW
Trust the Future, Create your City
October 2012