The Candidacy in a nutshell

24. June 2023

Thank you for visiting us! Let us take you on a quick tour of the past two years as we prepared the application for the European Capital of Culture 2028.

The Budweis 2028 application is more than just a document. It is a dream, a vision, and a strategic framework with the power to shape the future of our city and region for decades to come. That's why our theme is (PERMA)CULTURE, which encompasses the sustainable development of cultural infrastructure while prioritizing the well-being of our community and the environment.

(PERMA)CULTURE Sustainability, social justice and environmental responsibility as the cornerstones of cultural development.

BASIC INFO

  • Budweis2028 is the project of the candidacy of České Budějovice, the regional capital of South Bohemia, for the title of the European Capital of Culture in 2028.

  • Budweis is the English name for České Budějovice.

  • We synthesize local research, insights, and vision with the broader context of European-wide challenges. Our Budweis 2028 ECoC strategy encompasses three key priorities - CULTURE AS CARE, CULTURE AS CONNECTION, CULTURE AS CREATION - each of which is aligned with specific strategic objectives and planned impacts.

  • On May 31, we personally submitted the application form, known as the Bid Book, for the second round of the competition to the Ministry of Culture in Prague.

  • Our Bid Book is centered around the concept of (PERMA)CULTURE, which aims to integrate sustainability, social justice, and environmental responsibility into cultural development.

  • Out of the four applicant cities in Czechia, Budweis and Broumov have made it to the final stage of the competition.

EUROPEAN DIMENSION

  • The UN’s 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development recognizes the significance of culture and cultural policies in addressing at least 9 out of the 17 sustainable development goals (SDGs). We are proud to be part of this transformative strategy, leveraging the power of culture to contribute to a better future.
     

  • One of the priorities of the city’s ECoC program is positioning culture as a powerful tool of improving mental health. The strategic layer named „CULTURE IS CARE“ brings forward goals, objectives and initiatives that address specific mental health challenges as well as their social and economic roots.
     

  • We strongly believe that a living local culture is not just an ornament but a vital tool of social, economic and environmental transformation. We want to be a part of the great European turn towards sustainability, greener, more inclusive and just future.

AND WE'RE ALREADY SEEING THE RESULTS...

In alignment with the central theme of (PERMA)CULTURE, the program of the candidacy has swiftly become the blueprint for fostering public engagement, enhancing the development of a more democratic public space, and encouraging citizen participation through initiatives like Kul.turista and Skateholders

KUL.TURISTA (Culture Tourist) 

In the past months, KUL.TURISTA parked his cultural tourism office, a caravan, a total of seven times in different neighborhoods! We joined him to explore the culture of our own city together.

The Culture Tourist in the region is a pilot project of the 28 Houses platform, which serves to connect cultural centers in the region and collaborate on program creation or presentation within the European Capital of Culture. For the European Capital of Culture, regional cultural institutions are important partners and a way to involve not only the city but also the region and, in the future, cross-border areas.

Learn more

SKATEHOLDERS

The event which took place from April 20 to April 22. Its ambition was to bring together a trans-generational and diverse group of Budweisers and to demonstrate the civic potential of skateboarding in public spaces. Skateboarding is an activity that gives new functions to public spaces. Like other street activities skateboarding is part of our culture and therefore affects architecture and urbanism.

Its support leads to the revitalization of spaces and thus to the creation of new interactions that improve the quality of life in the city. Through architectural and artistic changes, Skateholders create space for urban outdoor sports and for the wider public. The aim is to supplement the existing and planned infrastructure and to make Budweis one of the European hubs of urban sports, where young people from all over Europe will meet.

Learn more

While the most visible part of the project will happen in 2028, it gained traction from the very moment it was officially approved by the city council.

We are happy to have the political city representatives on board of this exciting mission - along with dozens of cultural institutions, groups, initiatives and artists throughout the Southern Bohemian region. We have a comprehensive plan for regional culture development above and beyond the ECoC 2028 - but the candidacy is welcomed and celebrated as a strong additional impetus to making it all happen in Budweis.

ALL CULTURE SHOULD BE (PERMA)CULTURE

If you have any questions, please don't hesitate to contact us via email or through our social media channels.
We're here to care-connect-create!