Oxygen N Y Z X E W S XYZ Generation X grew up and matured in the period of division of the world into two blocks, viz. the Eastern Block and the Western Block. Generation Y is faced with the consequences of global warming, with melting of the polar caps and with new global migrations from the south to the north. Generation Z is opening up their perspectives on the axes of the previous generations, in search of solutions for the problems they have inherited. Table of contents Basic Principles 5 Contribution to the long-term strategy 18 European dimension 28 Cultural and artistic content 35 Capacity to deliver 67 Outreach 71 Management 76 Additional information 93 Impressum 96 Basic Principles Q1 Why does your city wish to Homecoming take part in the competition for the title of European Capital of Culture? Reinstating Osijek’s status to what it once was Why Osijek 2020? Osijek’s main motivation for taking part in the competition for the title of European Capital of Culture is to return its distinctiveness. Candidacy means that the city, along with the ECoC region described here, will re-urbanize and re-contextualize itself in line with its historical identity; it will radically redirect and reconstitute the metabolism of its own socio-economic and cultural being, with a different, nowadays available combination of resources. In its various stages and changes, Osijek once was all that it now wishes to become with the help of ECoC. Only now, it will be done in different circumstances, different times and, understandably so, in a completely different manner. What it means is that by relying on its rich past, which often did not grant it much mercy, but which also made it a great city in some periods, Osijek should again become – Osijek. Elaboration of the system of ideas of how Osijek plans city and its citizens into the large European family. Dove-partridge to do that is presented in this book, though extremely Building new bridges and reinforcing the old ones is a ritual terracotta vessel from the Eneolithic Vučedol condensed and compressed, and it is based on the reaches toward the old Europe, but also to the cities culture. Today, it is the sym- attempts to (re)systematize the city and regional and countries which have yet to join the community bol of peace and of Vukovar, constituents, with the aim of (re)establishing – new of European nations. Some of those bridges reach, a town in the vicinity of which it was discovered. Osijek O2. via historical connections, the very edges of Europe, following the civilisation ties to the old Orient. Future Dominant intention of the ECoC project — for the city that was a At the Crossroads strong European industrial centre at the turn of the 20th century Osijek is a city at the crossroads, whose identity comprises a and remained an important Croatian industrial centre throughout multitude of layers that developed throughout its history: from the 20th century, only to become a not-so-significant peripheral Prehistoric Period, Roman period and the Middle Ages, its Ori- centre today — is directed toward finding new development ental episode, to the modern participant in industrial revolution solutions which can be sublimated under the title of the elite that contributed to the liftoff of science and culture in Europe. programme idea: Hacking the Future. Next level of reconnecting is the one between the Risking to be perceived as stereotypical because of city and its citizens. With rich cultural programme the use of somewhat trendy terminology with the and activating of public spaces we want to raise the prefix re-, we described the connections between citizens’ awareness about the strength and potential the programme categories in the first book with the of the environment in which they live and strengthen expressions re-create, re-cycle, re-use and re-connect. their sense of belonging to a diverse European family. In order for the stereotypes not to overcome the We want to use culture as a means of connecting the substantial meaning we wish to talk about, let’s de- citizens (in the broadest sense of the word). We want fine them at the very beginning. The three directions to achieve deeper cultural awareness of the citizens along which we seek to realize our objectives are as and expand the circles of cultural audience through follows: the already mentioned re-connect, and the democratization and decentralization of cultural two new directions resulting from the elaboration and content. Finally, we want to integrate culture and the compression of the project: re-activate and re-model. city, to fill its every pore with culture and achieve permanent impact. Re-connect Uniqueness Reconnection is above all an endeavour for Osijek Osijek is a city with unique European cultural identity, entitled to reconnect with its surrounding and cross-border to integrate its puzzle piece into the complex European identity. regions; with cities and towns with which we share common identity, not avoiding in the process all the issues pertaining to conflicts that resulted in a war Re-activate not so long ago. Osijek stumbled in the transition from an industrial Another dimension is the connection with Europe. to a post-industrial city. Wounded by war in which Osijek is part of European cultural family and a it was shattered, turned to the future that seems so European Union city, but those connections are often elusive and distant, it suffers from ever-increasing not clearly visible. We want them to be visible both entropy and from oblivion in terms of its own identity to the local population and to European cultural and potential. The status of ECoC 2020 brings forth public. That is why the programme reinforces the accelerated gathering of creative forces, re-evaluation connections with the existing network of sister cities of the past and clear focusing on the future and its and partner cities, and, even more importantly, helps quality. form new friendships, which better integrate the Homecoming 5 Basic Principles Professionals and Volunteers and complete term that comprises a two-way relation- We are attempting to once again activate and include the citizens ship between an individual and the city, a relationship in all the segments of life in the city and in Europe. We want to of the citizens and the city toward green areas and bring to life all the unutilized venues in the city, outdoors and the river, relationship of civilization toward agricul- indoors alike, and transform them into a culture stage, a creative ture and pristine nature, etc. At the same time, we are playground, into places for experiments and interdisciplinary remodelling and redefining a medium-sized European expression, places where artists, scientists, creative thinkers of city in its local and global context, and redefining its various profiles, professionals and volunteers alike – innovate. region as an interesting, inspirational and welcome European component. Re-model European Context We want to comprehend and to model culture once Osijek does not hesitate to critically present this moment in again, by going back to its etymological origins and, at its identity. At the same time, it wishes to test its potentials in the same time, by expanding the meaning of those ori- European context, seeking an equal status for itself. It wants to gins. Our aim is to position culture as a comprehensive learn from that and never stop learning. Q2 Does your city plan to O2 involve its surrounding area? Explain this choice. O2 region is a stage. Its scenes are towns and villages, urban and rural spaces, both in Croatia and across the border. Its scenery includes streets and squares, parks, fields, for- Cycling Drava ests, wetlands, castles, archaeological sites and industrial facilities, recent war zones and virtual space. Its actors are the citizens – permanent and temporary, local and European performers, and its audience is global. Virovitica-Podravina Oxygen Region County Osijek opted for regional approach in its candidacy. The region does not include only the immediate surroundings, although they are naturally included. It’s not even the broader administrative region which has Osijek as its centre, although it too is included in the project. Osijek’s regional candidacy surpasses the usual geographical boundaries. For the purpose of Osijek’s candidacy for the title of European Capital of Culture 2020, the region included has a code Požega-Slavonia County name Oxygen or O2. Oxygen is the motto of Osijek’s candidacy. Just like this vital element, essential for all Požega life, culture permeates through the tissue of the city and the region through candidacy. The region, as its meaning is defined here, integrates toponymes into a contextual whole per spatiotemporal and themat- ic-content key. O2 Circle The Oxygen region is conceptually composed of many Marsonia criteria. It is not ideally homogeneous and lacks equal relative density. The first selection criterion is geographical location, which is in itself inevitably also cultural and historical. In accordance with that criterion, the candidacy of Osijek 2020 is supported by the partner cities within state borders in immedi- ate or close geographical vicinity. In addition to the cities, that criterion also includes all the settlements countries in terms of politics and administration. and physical space of this geographical coverage. In Although it primarily stays within Croatian borders, administrative terms, it includes the whole Osijek- it interpolates trans-nationally into border regions Baranja County and significant parts of four neigh- in the Republic of Hungary, Bosnia and Herzegovina bouring counties in Slavonia: Vukovar-Srijem County, and the Republic of Serbia. In particular, the O2 region Brod-Posavina County, Požega-Slavonia County and includes partner cities, such as Osijek’s sister cities: Virovitica-Podravina County.