Which of Bourges, Clermont-Ferrand, Montpellier and Rouen will be European Capital of Culture 2028? Response Wednesday evening for the four cities in the running, which took care of their applications in order to benefit from the significant economic and tourist benefits linked to this system. So far, four French cities have been European Capital of Culture: Paris in 1989, Avignon in 2000, Lille in 2004 and Marseille in 2013, the year of the opening of the Mucem (Museum of Civilizations of Europe and the Mediterranean).
Launched in 1985 under the leadership of France and Greece, this system aims to stimulate cultural tourism, with the organization of exhibitions, festivals, and even the construction of museums. The projects of the four French cities competing for 2028 highlight assets linked to the territories and cultural events already established, and integrate development objectives.
The project called “Rouen Seine Normande 2028” focuses on the axis formed by the Seine. “It demonstrates that coming together creates strength,” according to Mayor Nicolas Mayer-Rossignol (PS), adding “that there is a shared pride in coming together around the river. The real candidate is the Seine.” The candidacy supposed to bring together 431 municipalities was acclaimed by actress Karin Viard and astronaut Thomas Pesquet, natives of Rouen.
Clermont-Ferrand-Massif central 2028 brings together the territories of the Massif Central, with 14 departments, 600 municipalities and political leaders from all sides, from the mayor of Clermont-Ferrand Olivier Bianchi (PS) to the president of the Auvergne-Rhône region -Alps Laurent Wauquiez (LR). The project is aimed at all mountain areas far from major urban centers. “It’s the treatment of culture in urban and rural issues,” declared Olivier Bianchi upstream.
For its part, Bourges, location of the first house of culture in France inaugurated in 1963, defends a candidacy “on a human scale”, according to its mayor Yann Galut (DVG), who intends to create a European city of artists and authors, a place of resources serving artists and players in the cultural industry.
Montpellier (Hérault) and the areas surrounding it entered the race later but have festivals and leading museums like the Fabre museum as assets. The city is also home to the Ubisoft video game studio and schools specializing in 3D animation.