Linz European Capital of

Culture
The European Union

 The European Union (EU) is a political and economic union

of twenty-seven member states, located primarily in Europe.
It was established in 1993 as a result of the signing of the
Treaty on European Union (otherwise known as the
Maastricht Treaty), adding new areas of policy to the
existing European Community.
The European Union
 The European Union is composed of 27
independent sovereign countries which
are known as member states:
Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Cyprus, the
Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia,
Finland, France, Germany, Greece,
Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Latvia,
Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, the
Netherlands, Poland, Portugal,
Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain,
Sweden, and the United Kingdom.
The European Union
 Political centers:
Brussels
Strasbourg
Luxembourg

 Official languages:
23

 Area:  
Total 4,324,782 km²

 Population: 
2008 estimate497,198,740 
Culture in the
European Union
 EU culture is intertwined with the
culture of Europe and its specific national
heritages; policies affecting cultural matters
are mainly set by individual member states.
 Actions taken in the cultural area by the EU
include the Culture 2000 7-year programme,
the European Cultural Month event, the
Media Plus programme, orchestras such as
the European Union Youth Orchestra and the
European Capital of Culture programme –
where one or more cities in the EU are
selected for one year to assist the cultural
development of that city.
European Capital of
Culture
 In 1985, the European Union
began naming a city to serve for
a year as the continent’s Capital
of Culture.
 Since 2005, this annual title has
been bestowed simultaneously on
two or more cities.
 Linz will be sharing 2009 honours
with Vilnius, the capital of
Lithuania.
Linz 2009
European Capital of
Culture
 Linz has been developing into an
extraordinary prototype of the
modern European city—a
technology- and knowledge-based
urban industrial centre that takes
culture and the business of
staging a cultural calendar
equally seriously, and, at the
same time, places tremendous
value on ecologically-oriented
quality of life.
Linz 2009
European Capital of
Culture
 Investments for Linz 2009

- New ARS Electronica Center

- New Lentos Art Museum

- New Music Theater

Linz 2009
European Capital of
Culture
 Investments for Linz 2009

- New Train Station

- New Tower of Knowledge

- New City Highway

Program 2008
 The Academy of the
Impossible
A programmme that enables
everyone to explore his/her
own artistic and human
capabilities, and to
overcome (apparent)
personal limitations.
Having selected renowned
artists from across the entire
spectrum of the performing
arts, we’ve put together a
set of course offerings under
the motto “there is no art of
the question” that
emphasizes precisely this
boundary-transcending
approach.
Program 2008
 Do it all
Just the thing for those who want to
concentrate intensively on the
specialty field of one of the artists in
order to gain insights and acquire skills
progressively over a series of sessions.
 Mix and match
several shorter workshops and
assemble a programme customtailored
to their own needs.
Program 2008
 Create Your Own Title – The
Big Linz09 School Project
What’s school going to be like
tomorrow? Maybe like a model
that’s being launched today by
Linz09 in cooperation with
Upper Austrian schools and top
performing artists from around
the world.
Create your own title!
Select a name for Linz09’s big
art pro-ject. There are 10 titles
to choose from. You can vote
for a maximum of three.
Program 2008
 Concert dates on the Linz Europe
Tour West
Program 2009
 Linz Welcome
The European Capital of
Culture 2009 bids you all a
cheerful welcome. There
are surprises in store for
everyone, residents and
visitors alike.
 Linz Capital
Linz is a city with a history,
with stacks of stories just
waiting to be told. It has
everything a European city
needs and everything
anyone could ask for in a
European Capital of
Culture.
Program 2009
 Linz Power
The Regional Assembly,
the two town halls, dozens
of banks, churches,
antechambers and
corridors of power: the
powerhouses for the
energy needed to get
things done.
 Linz Journey
There is so much to see
here, so much that’s new
and exciting; much to do,
much to learn. So, leave
your daily life behind, take
up our invitation and join
us on our travels.
Remember, adventure
Program 2009
 Linz World
In 2009 Linz opens doors
between the known and
the unknown. In 2009 Linz
builds bridges to countries
near and far. In 2009, Linz
plays host to the world.
 Linz Memory
Soft and rich as velvet or
jagged and angry as scars;
memories can stunt your
growth or make you glad to
be alive. A city has
memories too, and the
same applies.
Program 2009
 Linz Knowledge
A city has to look out for
itself; it can never be too
curious, never have too
much knowledge. It must
keep its eyes open to the
world beyond its borders.
Cities are just like people,
they have to become wise
if they want to stay young.
 Linz Holiday
Forget the red-letter days
in your calendar. In 2009
every day has got what it
takes to break up the dull
routine of everyday life.
Any day can be a holiday.
Program 2009
 Linz Dreaming
A city must inspire dreams;
a city must be capable of
fulfilling dreams. Then and
only then is it worth living
in. Then and only then can
it reach for the sky – and
touch it.
Thank you for your
attention !

See you in Linz!