UŽICE – THE CULTURAL CAPITAL OF SERBIA IN 2024
BELGRADE, November 23 – The working group for the preparation and implementation of the “Cultural Capital of Serbia” program made a decision that the national capital of culture in 2024 will be the City of Užice, the Ministry of Culture announced.
The working group assessed that the application of Užice is well thought out and based on the local specificities of the environment, that the program concept is meaningful and clear, and the implementation plan is workable, as well as that the innovative approach to the program contributes to the development of the cultural offer and the quality of the cultural life of the community.
In the explanation, it was stated that the applicants took special care of the development of the cultural identity of Užice through support for the promotion of the cultural values of the region and the nurturing of cultural heritage and contemporary creativity.
According to the assessment of the Working Group, the program concept is based on the fact that Užice is the first city in Serbia, and the second in the world, where a hydropower plant was launched, and that this is the motive for the development of all the pillars of the candidacy program concept.
The commission also assessed that six program units, as well as eight planned infrastructural interventions, were developed, connected to the concept and realistically set with regard to the time period of implementation, while the professionalism, creativity and dedicated cooperation of the representatives of the City of Uzice during the collection of information necessary for the evaluation were particularly highly valued. projects.
The Capital of Culture of Serbia contest, which was open from September 22 to October 24, received 12 applications, which shows that local governments recognized the importance of this project and its potential for the development of cultural content and programs, as well as the economic and overall development of cities. and the municipality.
The working group believes that this competition will be an incentive for cities and municipalities to continue in the coming period to develop cultural strategies and plan programs in accordance with the goals of this competition, which is the decentralization of culture and placing culture at the center of city life.
