KUL.TURISTA (Culture Tourist) is back!

In the first round, we received very positive feedback about the KUL.TURISTA (Culture Tourist) initiative, so it would be a shame not to harness this energy. The KUL.TURISTA will now not only run in the city but also in the region. Within our platform called 28 HOUSES, which brings together cultural centers (and one garden), we have great partners in the region who will organize KUL.TURISTA in their cities as part of the first joint project.

Through this project, we aim to contribute to the creation of a network that will provide support, inspiration, and experience to regional cultural organizations. These cultural organizations serve as cultural hubs in their districts and neighborhoods. They now become important bearers of cultural, artistic, and participatory programs for Budweis 2028. The platform includes large cultural institutions such as the Písek Maltings, the Regional Museum of Český Krumlov, AJG - Hluboká nad Vltavou, alongside the Švestkový dvůr, Rezi.dance Komařice, the Bechyně Municipal Cultural Center, or Naplaveno Jistebnice, the Prádelna Cultural Center, or the Krafferova Garden in Jindřichův Hradec.

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.

We have divided the region into five ethnographic areas: Prácheňsko, Doudlebsko, Blata, Kozácko, and Pošumaví. The goal is also to introduce local culture and its specific features.

Specific cities and cultural institutions fall under each area, which already have their audiences. From March to June, a diverse Culture tourist program will gradually take place here, including exhibitions, theater performances, concerts, neighborhood festivals, guided walks, and much more.

KUL.TURISTA toured around Budweis with their cultural tourism agency.

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

Do you still think that culture is only in the center?

At the beginning of our work, we realized that residents of Budweis only search for culture in the center. We decided to show that there is something worth seeing in other neighborhoods and that we all contribute to culture.

KUL.TURISTA was given these tasks:

• Map the city and all its neighborhoods.
• Inform residents about the candidacy and involve them - it should be the candidacy of all of us.
• Connect actors mutually (some institutions, communities, clubs operating in one neighborhood had no idea about each other's activities or programs). We wanted to start their cooperation, exchange, and sharing of their spaces.
• Try to sensitize residents to the places where they live, work, or pass by. Examine residents' relationship to the place where they live.

We started to reach out to communities, clubs, teams, active individuals, institutions, schools and kindergartens, witnesses, and experts operating in different neighborhoods. We wanted to start communities and neighborhoods. Ignite and awaken the whole city. Involve residents. Build on traditions and create new ones. We emphasized the history and originality of the neighborhoods. We wanted to use public space.

That's how our journey began. We took part in various activities, met different residents, saw and recorded a different view of the city, and discussed visions for 2028 with you.

Where did you meet the KUL.TURISTA Office, and what did we experience together?

From March to September, every month in a different neighborhood.

The caravan was always stationed for four days, from Thursday to Sunday, in a different location. We joyfully observed the activities of the local residents and associations.

Through the Tourist Office, the rest of the city could also embark on a journey of discovery and exploration of the respective neighborhoods, their inhabitants, as well as interesting places and buildings.

We became KUL.TURISTAs in our own city.

KUL.TURISTA stops:

• March 24-27: City center

• April 21-24: Havlíčkova Kolonie, Mladé, Nové Hodějovice, Vídeňské Předměstí

• May 19-22: Suché Vrbné, Kaliště, Třebotovice

• June 16-19: Pražské Předměstí, Pražské Sídliště, Kněžské Dvory, Nemanice, Husova Kolonie, Nové Vráto

• July 21-24: Sídliště Vltava, České Vrbné, Výstaviště

• August 25-28: Háječek, Linecké Předměstí, Rožnov

• September 15-18: Šumava, Stromovka, Máj

First stop - city center

The cultural tourism office began its operations in the first week of spring, from March 24th to March 27th, 2022.

The caravan was located on Přemysla Otakara II Square. From there, we could embark on several interesting walks and tours through various cultural layers of the center of Budweis. It turned out that residents from all over the city considered the center their own. They were eager to learn more about it. We began to pay more attention to and enjoy the city in which we live, work, take walks with children, or go to offices and services, the city where we live every day! Read more about the first stop in our article.

We would like to thank all the experts and enthusiasts who helped us with the walk, tour, or cruise.

Second stop - Lannovka, Havlíčkova kolonie, Mladé, Vídeňské předměstí

From April 21st to April 24th, the caravan was parked on Lannová Street. We decided to explore and enliven its spacious area. We painted with chalk, danced in the country and street dance style, learned about graffiti, and for a moment became street circus performers. We became part of a great flash mob.

We peeked through Vídeňské předměstí to Gallery D9 and even made it to Malák, which clearly belongs to children! The commotion was caused by a fairy tale playing jukebox, sausage grilling, singing, and along the water we explored plants and small animals, indulging in rare ponds all the way to Mladé. Read more in the article.

We would like to thank Barbora, Jakub, Kateřina, Klub Aktiv, Malé Divadlo, Martin, Pražírna a kavárna Kmen, Tereza and Tomáš.

Havlíčkova kolonie still brings us great joy. Here, we managed to connect local residents who have been meeting regularly since the beginning of the year. The local community sparked a debate about public space. The local residents decided to beautify the Polní park, which has been a problematic place in the area for a long time. During the March Kul.turist, we organized a seminar called "How to Revitalize the Neighborhood" together with the Via Foundation. Participants could learn how to implement a project that responds to the needs and brings changes that the locals want to see in the neighborhood. The Havlinda initiative was then supported by a small grant from the Kaufland Foundation, which is managed by the Via Foundation.

The website www.havlinda.cz was created, which serves as a "virtual bulletin board for the district." It informs about current events, planned changes, events, collects stories and memories that are planned to be worked on. To enable offline involvement and information, a classic showcase was placed in the local grocery store.

Since Kul.turist, in good weather, a swap rack with clothes that neighbors can exchange with each other has been a part of Budovcova Street.

Local residents organized a neighborhood celebration as part of the nationwide "Experience the City Differently" event, and so we were able to come together in September to live in Havlinda. Thank you to Bára, Dobruška, Kateřina, Michal, Petr, and many others in Havlinda.

Third stop - Suché Vrbné, Kaliště, Třebotovice

Between May 19th and 22nd, a caravan stood on the turntable at Suchovrbenské Square. Together with members of the local Sokol organization, we watched in amazement as the park was transformed into a pleasant atmosphere. We witnessed how the locals benefit from utilizing the space and how much joy it brings them.

The students of the nearby Czech-English Gymnasium played a significant role in the May Kul.turist event by consistently integrating their activities with charity work. This time, they spent two afternoons raising funds to support the local hospice of St. Veronika. The support and engagement of young people, as well as the integration of charitable projects into education, are essential to us, and we deeply appreciate the approach of the local gymnasium.

A full-day trip exploring the history and present of two towns belonging to Budweis - Třebotovice and Kališť - showed us yet another perspective. Greenery, proximity to nature, and picturesque scenery characterized the whole Sunday. And we realized that even an active individual, a local volunteer fire brigade, or a ceramics workshop can provide the right impulses and shape the identity of the village or place where we live.

Read the entire article about Kul.turist in Sucháč.

Thank you, Nina. Thank you to the students from ČAG. Thank you, dear Štarkovi. Thank you to all the branches of the libraries, especially the one in Suchovrbenské. Thank you, Štěpán.

Fourth stop - Prague suburb, Prague housing estate, Husova colony, Nové Vráto.

Between the 16th and 19th of June, the northeast part of the city belonged to the "KUL.TURISTA" project. A caravan settled on the closed street of Fr. Šrámek in the middle of Palacký Square, which beautifully connected the area and created a large safe space. Trees above our heads, along with seating on the grass, showed us how valuable greenery in the middle of the city can be during hot days. Sitting in the shade and enjoying the light breeze, we watched children and teenagers having fun in the newly created skatepark in front of the church. The "Světadílna" team, responsible for the whole "Palačák" project, occupied the area and projected a purely Czech skateboarding film onto its walls, and even organized several concerts.

Based on our experience with "KUL.TURISTA," the square seems ideal for holding regular flea markets and community events. The communal dinner, attended by neighbors from the surrounding area and prepared by a local Asian restaurant together with Daniela and her lively kitchen, had a beautiful atmosphere.

Similarly, the neighborhood festival in Smetana showed that people can meet, have fun, and get to know each other even in the middle of a busy street. We were struck by how simple and natural it actually is.

The ambition to prove that this district could bear the nickname "literary" was achieved thanks to the literary relay of local authors and writers: Jan Štifter, Jan Cempírek, Jiří Hajíček, and Jiří Březina. Also, with the author's reading series by Simon Leitgeb and his guests, or the debate about the faces of Czech cultural journalism in the "Milk&Honey" cultural and social magazine at the Karmášek printing house.

Read the full article about the atmosphere in the Prague housing estate.

Thank you, Anna, Dana, Honza, Hynek, Magda, Martin, Radek, Šimon, and Zdeněk.

Fifth stop - Exhibition Grounds, Vltava Housing Estate, Czech Vrbne

This stop took place in the hot month of July, between the 21st and 24th. It showed us that life on a housing estate in the summer is a big topic.

We now know that this area is not just hot concrete, but also has green spaces, a functional community garden at the Cassiopeia ecocenter, and most importantly, the river. It and its immediate surroundings attract residents living in its close proximity the most. It cools down the area and provides opportunities for rest and sports activities.

And we thoroughly enjoyed water sports! On the canal, at the Lida Polesna canoeing center, where our Friday paddling trip took us. The canoeing center was in full swing during those days. Local associations offered paddleboarding, dragon boats, and kayaks. We also had the opportunity to tour the extensive waterworks, attend a theater and children's workshop, or watch a summer movie classic - Menzel's "Cutting it Short." At the end of the summer day, we all sat together with a guitar around the campfire and roasted sausages. This place has enormous potential for the city, not only because of its location and amenities, but also thanks to the people who work here.

Check out the whole article about Vltava!

Thank you Kač, Šárka, and Tom. Thank you Kuba

Sixth stop - Háječek, Linecké Předměstí, Rožnov

The last weekend of summer, from August 25th to 28th, belonged to the area south of the city center, which was full of people, and the City for People festival made sure it was bustling. We joined in with our KUL.TURISTA. The caravan watched everything from across the river in the quieter Háječek and the activities spread all the way to Rožnov.

We discovered the beauty and tranquility of hospital gardens. We enjoyed a rich program at the observatory and planetarium. We saw how open-air cinemas are made and what their significance is for the city. We walked around local villas, the boulder near the library, and stopped to watch the graceful flying swans.

We were delighted by all the neighborhood meetings and festivities. Local residents spent all four days together. And they showed that they are interested in the history of the place and want to live there modernly, family-friendly, sociably, or even sportingly. And the Vltava River, which flows through the area, unites them all. They now regularly meet together, have their online communication groups, and plan traditional events (St. Nicholas, Advent, and others).

Read the full article about Háječek here!

Thank you Honza, Pavel. Thank you neighbors from Rožnov, Linecké and Lučňák. Thank you Jiří. Thank you Petra. Thank you observatory and open-air cinema.

Seventh stop – Šumava Housing Estate, Máj, Stromovka

Between September 15 and 18, KUL.TURISTA met with "Experience the City Differently" and Výměník1, which operates in this area, and showed that they really care about it. They proved that they can and know how to be there for all residents of Šumava and Máj.

Cycling races, theater, dance, concerts, dance hall, brunch, guided tours, tastings of regional food, Nazdar Bazar, skate contest, swimming event on Bagr in Stromovka, sausages by the fire. Winter or rain didn't stop us! Locals enjoyed it with us, all the KUL.TURISTAs, and together we danced through these amazing - and for KUL.TURISTA the last four days. 

Thank you, Heda.

And finally: thank you to the team! We ended here together after a seven-month journey around Budweis.

Echoes from KUL.TURISTA

During the last two stops of KUL.TURISTA, a two-part audio documentary was created, in which its author, Kateřina Korychová, set out to explore public space in Budweis.

She discovers the potential and challenges of the city terrain with her guests: Radka Matouška and Martin Novotný from Akční Budějčáci, landscape architect Lenka Marcínová, Bára Paulátová from the initiative Naše Havlinda, and Hana Janská from Socionaut.

• How to create a living room for all of us from public space?
• With what aim were the gardens of the Budějovická Hospital revitalized?
• How does the initiative Sousedé z Havlindy liven up public space?
• What are the outputs from the urbanistic workshops held in Budweis from March to September as part of KUL.TURISTA?
• And what did the inhabitants themselves say in the survey?

You can already listen to both parts of the documentary on Spotify or in other podcasting applications.

Echoes from KUL.TURISTA 1#: The place where we live influences us. We can all transform public space. (Video - podcast)

Echoes from KUL.TURISTA #2: When nothing is happening, make something happen. What's going on in the public space outside the city center? (Video - podcast)

How to organize your own neighborhood event?

Get to know your neighbors! Break taboos, get to know your neighbors, change your street, start a tradition! You can start right away with Kul.turista!

Maybe you've thought of turning your street into an outdoor café, a temporary theatre or a playground for children? Organize a bazaar, flea market, or swap? Install a book booth in your neighborhood? Or spruce up a neglected corner of the area? If you don't know exactly how to do it, or are discouraged by the idea of the arduous administrative processes involved in organizing such an event, we want to make it easier for you! We have put together this Manual for organizers of activities in public spaces to guide you through the necessary administrative steps.

Ideas & Questions

Do you have ideas for a Kul.turista program in your neighborhood but don't have the time to get involved? No problem!

Send them to us via this form and we'll pass them on to the most appropriate people for implementation. We would also appreciate your suggestions for expanding the above attached manual.

By submitting the form, the participant agrees to the processing of personal data provided in the form by Budějovice 2028, z.s., registered office Ot. Ostrčil 179/13, České Budějovice, IČO 10683038.

Personal data will be processed for the purpose of private communication with the participant regarding the candidacy of the City of České Budějovice for European Capital of Culture. The processing will continue until consent is withdrawn. By submitting the form, the participant acknowledges that he/she has the right to withdraw consent to the processing of personal data at any time, for example by sending an e-mail or a letter to the organizer. At the same time, the participant acknowledges that the withdrawal of consent does not affect the processing of personal data that took place before the withdrawal.

All images of participants taken in connection with the European Capital of Culture project may be used to promote the event or the organizer without any claim to compensation to the participants. If you wish to request a download of the image material, please contact the organizer by email at lucie.bilkova@budejovice2028.cz