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Patras 2006
Most revealing is the postulate Patras 2006 had as a slogan on its program: "Culture is all about images..." for when reduced to but one image, namely the one the city had in the past and shall perhaps alter through this one year of experience as European Capital of Culture, then it becomes a degree of manipulative certainty what will have changed, what not once this year has passed!
Before Patras 2006 became European Capital of Culture for the year, Greece had been engaged in hosting the Olympic Games in Athens 2004. That meant Patras sailed literally in the shadows of these vast efforts to upgrade the infrastructures and to prepare for the Games. It lead to a gross underestimation of efforts in need to be undertaken to host cultural programs over one year. Bob Palmer stressed in his report of 2004 that one mistake repeated year after year is not to conceive well ahead of time such a program which can weather all uncertainties, including financial ones, and come up with a convincing answer as to what this designation means. He visited Patras two years before the year began and recommended strongly to the European Commission that the designation should be withdrawn in order to avoid a disaster. His recommendation was overruled by the Council of Ministers which followed the recommendations of then Greek Minister of Culture Venizelos.
The case of Patras 2006 can be taken as indication what influence have Ministers who represent their respective countries at Council meetings in Brussels. It explains as well the difference between expert opinion and political expediency. That discrepancy is reinforced by the fact that seldom the European Commission really listens to what experts are saying. Altogether it reflects how decisions are taken in Brussels. Since no one has an interest to expose a member state, problems are either ignored or tackling them postponed. In case of European Capitals of Culture, it should be mentioned as well that the designation remains within the national fold. As such the selection committee is composed of seven foreign and six national experts, thereby ensuring that the special interests of the nation having the turn to designate in a city in its territory during that year are very much heeded.
Official website of Patras 2006:
« Strategy for Sibiu 2007 Cristian Radu | Reflections about Patras 2006 by Hatto Fischer »