On Becoming a European Capital of Culture: Principles, Stakes and the New Competitive Environment
A generation has slipped by since 1985, the year Athens was selected as the first European City of Culture. In 2008, Marseille-Provence was chosen to be the European Capital of Culture in 2013. The selection requirements of this title are a departure in the history of the European program since they obligate a number of French metropolises to submit their projects on a competitive basis. The new conditions under which “capitals” are designated provide an opportunity to investigate how, within a competitive environment, candidates appropriate the heritage of an event launched 25 years ago, now adopted by plebiscite. In tandem with the research into the effects of the designation on organizing cities, this article contributes to a better understanding of what happens before the event itself: during the selection process and the execution of the chosen project.