The Department of Theatre Studies and the School of Performing Arts at UM, are pleased to be hosting esteemed European Capitals of Culture (ECoC) expert and cultural consultant Robert Palmer, who will deliver a public lecture as part of the Performing Arts Encounters series. Attendance is free and open to the general public.

The lecture will trace the history and development of European Capitals of Culture (ECoC) and their role in urban transformation and regeneration. A critical appraisal of this European initiative which began in 1985 will highlight its potential and successes as well as its problems and major challenges.

As a cultural project, the ECoC embraces a multi-dimensional approach that includes a vast range of artistic initiatives and other facets reflecting a broader understanding of the wider conception of the culture of communities.

Each EcoC needs to define its primary objectives and longer-term strategy beyond the specific year it receives the designation.

One of the weaknesses of past approaches has been the absence of legacy planning and capitalising on the experience (both good and bad) of delivering the ECoC. More specifically, the lecture will focus on projects in the domain of the performing arts and illustrate how these have contributed to ECoC processes and ambitions.

Although the lecture will not deal with the specific case of the Valletta 2018 ECoC, the open discussion that follows the lecture will offer a platform for reflection on that experience. In 2031 one city in Malta and one city in Spain will win the ECoC title.

Bids from candidate cities in each of those countries will be evaluated by an independent European jury appointed by the European Commission. It appears that the cities of Birgu and Victoria will become candidate ECoC cities of Malta for 2031.