2020 2020 1 Pedunculate oak Slama art Tibor Sekelj Annual carnival bell Quercus robur, a monumental deciduous ‘Slama’ Festival is a sculptors’ colony the last classical geographer, ringers’ pageant tree, typical for habitats in deep, sandy, that cultivates land-art sculptures ethnographer and explorer, original carnival ceremony fertile and mostly wet soils with high made of straw, burnt on the last day promoter of Esperanto, a that includes scary masks, groundwater levels. Spačva, an old forest of the colony. Straw is also a medium polyglot, and citizen of the inscribed in 2009 on the north of the Sava River, between Vinkovci of artistic expression of the art world, who called Subotica UNESCO’s Representative and Županja, is a remnant of vast Pannonian colony from Tavankut near Subotica, his home List of the Intangible woods, and the oak itself symbolizes where straw paintings are made Cultural Heritage of stability, durability and metaphorical Humanity uprightness in rising above the problems of everyday life. Orion Tomislav Gotovac Rudina Culture 20,21 anthropomorphic figure Croatian conceptual Romanesque church of St. the symbol of Novi Sad’s representing the Orion and multimedia artist, a Michael with cantilevers and candidacy for the European constellation, found film maker, an actor and ashlars – human heads, from Capital of Culture 2021 at the bottom of the performer, born in 1937 in the 12th century, represents Vučedol terrine, the basis Sombor the richest accomplishment for understanding of of Romanesque sculptures in weather cycles. Vučedol continental Croatia culture also created the first and very precise Indo-European calendar Two gold coins Croatian Academy of Sciences and Arts – the Cibalae, today’s highest scientific and artistic institution in Vinkovci, was the Croatia. It has, in its coat of arms, an image of the birthplace of two man credited for its modern organization and its Roman emperors benefactor, the great bishop and reformer Josip Juraj Strossmayer, who was born in Osijek in 1815 Vučedol calendar and died in Đakovo in 1905 a ritual terracotta vessel with carved ornaments, dated to 2600 years BC, depicting six constellations at sunset, and dividing the year into four seasons and 12 months Four gold coins Sirmium, today’s Medressa in Tuzla Srijemska Mitrovica, was educational institution in the birthplace of four Tuzla from the time of the Roman emperors Ottoman rule Julije Knifer Bauhaus Victor Vasarely ECoC 2010 one of the most significant two prominent creative the father of Op-Art, was the symbol of Pécs, Croatian artists of the 20th individuals from the born in Pécs in 1906 European Capital of century, a co-founder of school founded by Walter Culture the Gorgona Group and a Gropius were born in two participant in the subversive Baranja villages, only ten exhibition New Tendencies, kilometres apart born in 1924 in Osijek Limes Albert Einstein Dove-partridge EXIT border fortification he spent the most is a ritual terracotta vessel Europe’s major system encompassing creative years of his from the Eneolithic Vučedol summer rock festival almost the entire world work at his wife’s culture. Today, it is the held in Novi Sad since known at the time, built parents’ home in symbol of peace and of 2000 in the empire viewed as Novi Sad Vukovar, a town in the the cradle of western vicinity of which it was civilization discovered. 2 3 Table of Contents 03 Foreword 05 Basic Principles 15 1. Contribution to the long-term strategy 23 2. European dimension 26 3. Cultural and artistic content 45 4. Capacity to deliver 52 5. Outreach 59 6. Management 77 Additional information Mayor’s CREDITS Foreword Published by: City of Osijek Mayor: Ivan Vrkić Osijek. I am certain that there is no the previous generations, which can Deputy mayor: Vladimir Ham better place for living than our city. be summarized in a form of natural The others may be larger, livelier, and cultural heritage resources in Executive team and authors of richer, even infrastructurally better its widest sense, needs to be seen the application form: Marijana equipped. However, the soul of as a potential in the function of Bošnjak M.Sc.; Igor Mavrin Ph.D.; our city makes it wonderful. The the development of new industries Mirta Matešić, M.Sc.; Martina years behind us, the period during and innovative cultural forms. Mikrut, Ph.D.; Dalia Mađarić, mag. and after the war, followed by the The culture close to the citizens, oec.; Milan Sivački Ph.D.; Miroslav period of transition have left deep without elitism, with a great deal Ambruš Kiš wounds to this beautiful soul. Like a of creativity is a guarantee of the faded photo, we often watch Osijek development of new audience social Cartography: doc. Damir as a pale picture of something activism. We want to decentralise Bralić, Marin Balaić it represented few decades and and democratise cultural contents, even centuries ago. The chance for bringing culture to every corner of Tipography: Nikola Đurek, Ph.D. Osijek to become the European our city and region, because it has Capital of Culture presents also its proven itself too often that culture Logo & design: Bojan Sivački, M.A. opportunity to experience strongly can and must be the initiator of the desired change. And here I do not dialogue and the bridge between Production: Mit Dizajn Studio mean the change in a urbanistic seemingly opposing sides. My and municipal sense, but rather the experience in leading the process Photo credits: Mario Romulić & change in perception of the city of Peaceful Reintegration of the Dražen Stojčić; Šime Strikoman for in the eyes of its inhabitants. The Danube region of Croatia is a the Koncert Agency prestigeous project of the European constant reminder that the dialogue, Commission has proven to be reconciliation and tolerance pave English editors: AdHoc a catalyst of cultural, social and the way towards the happier and economic development of the cities more successful society. Osijek’s Candidacy board: Dražen Alerić, that succeed in its implementation. candidacy for the European Capital Vesna Brezovac, Stela Geršić, Vedran This is the change I wish for my city. of Culture 2020 title has united its Kralj, Ivan Kristijan Majić, Kornelija Opening of our cultural institutions cultural and political scene, I even Mlinarević, Dario Topić and their tighter linking to dare say the whole society around independent cultural stakeholders, an idea - the idea of progress. Special thanks to: citizens, artists, creating a synergy which I am grateful to the European NGOs, scientific and educational contributes to stronger and quicker Commission for this opportunity. community, employees of the development of creative capacities. No matter what the final result of City of Osijek, political parties, Osijek as a university centre this call will be – Osijek comes out cultural institutions, organizers wants to base its development on as a winner anyway! and participants of the panels, knowledge and creative industries, workshops and discussions, as well as on fast-growing ICT Ivan Vrkić, Oskultura blog interviewees sector. All that we inherited from Mayor of Osijek 3 the magnetic appeal of this area, resulted in a history of meeting and mixing of cultures from various parts of Europe, coming together precisely in this place. There is a strong community of Hungarians, Germans from the Danube region, as well as descendants of Germans, Basic Principles Austrians, Czechs and Slovaks who moved here to work as state officials or in search of business success, Serbians who settled in the area while fleeing from the vengeance of the Turks, and also Jews, refugees from Ukraine and Russia during the October Revolution, as well as Transcarpathian Rusyns who came to these areas in 17th and 18th century. Diversity of cohabitation of cultures, nations and religions, as well as their cultural exchange that took place in this area made it creative and productive, but occasionally it resulted in conflicts, often with severe Why does your city wish to take part and bloody consequences. The last in the competition for the title of war in the territory of east Slavonia European Capital of Culture? has left deep-rooted consequences in terms of mutual relations of the There are at least 108,048 nations in the region. Mistrust, reasons for Osijek 2020! intolerance, even animosity. Even in Each of our reasons has a this human microcosm it is needed to name... and each can tell his/ build bridges. her story... And the story goes... This region’s own cultural richness, accumulated throughout centuries This area, being inhabited in a very specific environment, has practically since the dawn of time, also become enriched by the specific has always been a part of man’s creativity of European pluralist prehistoric migration routes. The continuities. In fact, there are few crossroads of routes and, at times, places in Europe where one can see of civilisations has always been such a varied pluralism in such a a place for travellers to stop, and small area, as a sort of European case for those living here to provide study. any kind of service to them. This position of a contact area between Osijek European Capital of Culture north and south, east and west; 2020 would be a metaphoric new this bridge between regions, bridge which would re-establish both metaphorical and literal, the severed connections and represented just as much a blessing relations among people of various as it did a curse for its inhabitants nationalities and religions of throughout millennia. southeast Europe, and establish The fact that it represented a some new, never before achieved bridge between cultures, as well as connections. 4 5 interconnected and networked in decision-making processes and for individuals, who can have different adoption of new thinking patterns and roles at the same time.