The municipality of Arad, in western Romania, will spend more than EUR 50 million to support the city’s candidacy for the European Capital of Culture 2021 title. Arad City Hall presented the candidacy project on Saturday, September 26, in a production hall of the Astra Vagoane Calatori factory.

According to Arad mayor Gheorghe Falca, 80% of the city’s residents support the candidacy project, reports local Mediafax.

Over 50 million are to be spent in the next two years on cultural projects that support the city’s candidacy. The money will be spent on cultural infrastructure, namely the revamping of important buildings.

The EUR 50 million represent direct investments, according to the mayor. The total amount will reach more than EUR 200 million if the indirect investments are being taken into consideration, such as reconverting the Arad Fortress.

The candidacy file was completed, the mayor added. In early-October the City Council will approve the financing for each of the objectives.

"Subsequently, our team will travel to Bucharest for submitting the file to the Ministry of Culture, and in December will  support the candidature to the jury,” Falca said.

One of the project’s main objectives is to bring Mures river into the spotlight. The river runs through the city center.

The mayor announced that Arad is also the only Romanian city which decided to run for the title of European Green Capital 2018.

The European Capital of Culture initiative was developed in 1985. The 2015 European Capitals of Culture are Mons in Belgium and Plzen in the Czech Republic. Romania’s Sibiu was the European Capital of Culture in 2007.

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Irina Popescu, irina.popescu@romania-insider.com

(photo source: Wikimedia commons)