May 7, 2024

Youth Involvement in 2024 European Capitals of Culture

Tartu, Estonia and Bodø, Norway are 2024 European Capitals of Culture. Within this framework, they invite youth identifying as Seto, Võro, and/or Mulgi – from Estonia – and Saami – from Norway – to come together and take part as cultural ambassadors. The goal is to strengthen Finno-Ugric cultural cooperation.

Seto, Võro, and Mulgi are indigenous identities and languages associated with Estonia. Saami is an indigenous identity, with members in Norway. Although the contexts of these identity categories and associated languages are diverse, people who identify with them are often united by the common goal of revitalising cultural and/or linguistic practices.

Youth from these communities aged 16-26 are invited to participate as cultural ambassadors. In the framework of this project, representatives from Estonia will have the opportunity to visit Norway, and representatives from Norway can visit Estonia. They will have the space to share experiences, learn from one another, and develop skills as cultural ambassadors. Participating youth will have the task of collaborating on an exhibition and digital collection drawing connections among their respective cultural contexts.

As stated on their webpage, the European Commission highlights that the European Capital of Culture project is designed to:

· Highlight the richness and diversity of cultures in Europe

· Celebrate the cultural features Europeans share

· Increase European citizens’ sense of belonging to a common cultural area

· Foster the contribution of culture to the development of cities

In addition to this, experience has shown that the event is an excellent opportunity for:

· Regenerating cities

· Raising the international profile of cities

· Enhancing the image of cities in the eyes of their own inhabitants

· Breathing new life into a city’s culture

· Boosting tourism

The initiative was developed in 1985 and has been awarded to over sixty cities across the European Union and beyond. Along with Tartu and Bodø, Bad Ischl in Austria is a 2024 European Capital of Culture.

Author: Christiana Sammal, University of Tartu