"Before the announcement of the winner everyone congratulated us. Lublin showed itself as a creative, cultural city. We've built potential that wasn't there at the beginning. I am an economist and I adopt a technocratic approach to everything. But I was carried along and I'm happy with that" said Krzysztof Żuk, the Mayor of Lublin.
On Tuesday, June 21, the president of the Selection Panel - Manfred Galhofer - announced that Wrocław will be the European Capital of Culture 2016. For the remaining four cities, including Lublin, the ECC adventure is over. Theoretically. On Wednesday, Krzysztof Żuk - the Mayor of Lublin City, Krzysztof Hetman - the Marshal of the Province and Włodzimierz Wysocki - the Mayor Deputy declared that Lublin will carry out the program prepared for the application. The meeting was attended also by Adam Wasilewski - former Mayor of the City, the ECC team, artists and representatives of culture institutions.
One thing is certain - there is a lot to be carried out. We've achieved so much and if we stopped now all our efforts would be wasted. When we started in 2006, not many people believed in the success.
Thanks to the ECC competition Lublin has allocated more money in culture, there are new cultural initiatives, new cultural institutions and a lot of new cultural events that are recognized not only in Poland but also abroad.
What is also important is the social engagement: hundreds of volunteers, huge audiences, local patriotism. Adam Wasilewski said that he has witnessed the beginning of the project and no one knew at that time if the project would be popular with people. He also emphasized the change in the city's mentality. The ECC project has encouraged dynamic development of culture in Lublin and this cannot be taken from us. "We haven't won the title, so let's win Lublin!" said Adam Wasilewski.
