Cultural melting pot

Being European Capital of Culture is a fantastic opportunity and challenge, but it is one that Stavanger is ready to take on, says Leif Johan Sevland

Rarely has a year in the history of Stavanger started with such anticipation and excitement as 2008. We wanted something, and we dared when the Stavanger region in 2003 applied to become European Capital of Culture 2008. We applied and it was granted. We have now entered a world full of experiences, where surprise and joy, inspiration and even irritation await. Culture is fundamental. It shapes us, gives us identity, a sense of belonging, vitality and creative power. Through art we will cross boundaries, and not only choose the well known, but also dare to enter into the unknown. Although small in size, the region’s position as energy capital makes us very cosmopolitan and international, and we feel close to Europe and the rest of the world. Being European Capital of Culture is a fantastic opportunity that requires responsibility, which we are eager to take. And now, the year is finally here.

The whole region has been looking forward to this event. And 12 January was when the year-long celebration kicked-off. We have received a lot of positive feedback on the opening ceremony, which was a day full of celebration and performances of artists from the whole of Europe. About 60,000 people, which is 50 per cent of the inhabitants of Stavanger, joined in and celebrated in the streets of the city.

Some 40 years ago, a slogan was created: ‘Stavanger is The City’. The title expressed the vision and the strong will to become the city and capital of energy. In the Norwegian parliament, the Stortinget, it was emphasised that it was crucial that the oil age was turned into an epoch and not only an episode. Today we say the same thing; the year of culture is going to become an epoch rather than an episode. We think that through culture the region will become an even more fascinating region to live in.

And the experiences of the cultural year will not finish on 31 December 2008. Rather, we want a region where the year of culture will live for the future; we want it to leave deep and lasting traces. But if this year is going to leave traces, a sense of community is required. The American social-philosopher Henry George said in the 19th century “culture is cooperation”. And it is exactly through cooperation we can turn the city and the region into an exciting melting pot for cultural experiences. Cultural events can bring the people of a town, a city, a region, a country and even a continent, closer together. We shared that view with the EU, that through culture people are brought together and a stronger sense of community created.

The year of culture also provides an opportunity for the Stavanger region to forge even closer ties with the rest of Europe and the EU. We believe in participating in the European project. And although we are not a EU city per se, we do feel like one. We are particularly keen to take part in all the fantastic EU programmes focused on young people. We hope that through the cultural year even more young people from our region will ‘discover’ Europe, and that other European young people will ‘discover’ Stavanger and Norway. 

The European project has been very successful and has provided lots of opportunities. We are very lucky to be able to take part in that project. European Capitals of Culture has been an initiative in the true spirit of the EU, and I am very thankful and proud that the EU chose the Stavanger region as the cultural capital of 2008. Thank you everyone who has believed in this region in the outskirts of Europe and given us this fantastic opportunity. It is forever appreciated. Please come and visit us in Stavanger during the year of culture 2008. You will get a warm welcome.