Timișoara 2023, at the end
The Timișoara - European Capital of Culture in 2023 cultural program has come to a close
Leyla Cheamil, 08.12.2023, 13:50
The city of Timișoara in western Romania this year was designated European Capital of Culture. Over 2,000 events were held on this occasion, involving hundreds of thousands of artists and guests. Five new cultural venues were opened – cinemas, art galleries and multifunctional halls. Some 900 organizations and over 3,000 volunteers helped organize events as part of this program, which was covered in both local and international media, thus boosting the reputation of Timișoara. The cultural program cost over 20 mln EUR, which was provided by the local and county authorities, the Ministry of Culture and other sponsors. Over 50 companies representing the business sector signed partnerships and many of them will continue to operate in Timișoara next year as well. The program was a success, exceeding everyones expectations, Timișoara Mayor Dominic Fritz told a press briefing on Thursday.
“We had two great objectives for our program. The first was to redefine culture and art in Timișoara, in our community, as an engine for development. And second, to put Timișoara and Romania as a whole back on the map of Europe”.
“Culture as an engine for development” vibrates across the city: we can see every generation expressed out in the street. The basis for this vibrant spirit stems from an acknowledgement of our values and visions based on a shared culture”, the Mayor of Timișoara went on to say. In turn, the president of the Timiș County Council, Alin Nica, said that the cultural program for 2023 was a success. “We wanted to implement a vision that could go hand in hand with what the City Hall had in store. So we wanted to highlight events that promote artistic excellence with a wide reach”, Alin Nica said. So, as the saying goes, alls well that ends well. The official program ends this weekend with events organized by the Timiș County Council, including permanent and temporary exhibitions as well as a number of performances. The Bastion Multifunctional Center will host the second edition of “The Exhibition of Light”, a selection of works by the Madrid-based artist Antonello Dellanotte, a spectacular visual journey that contemplates world landscapes in a unique way. The Art Museum of Timișoara also hosts an exhibition devoted to Suzana Fântânariu, one of the most important contemporary artists from Timișoara and Romania as a whole. The Art Museum remains the star attraction of the program due to the exhibition titled “Brâncuși: Romanian sources and universal perspectives”, which can be visited until January 28, 2024. (VP)
