Curiosity and Passion-in the land of eight seasons

A long with Riga in Latvia, Umeå in Sweden has been designated European Capital of Culture 2014. The program is surely developing with creative borderless networks and open-source methods as driving force. Europe's Capital of Culture 2014 in Sweden will use new technology as a tool to ensure open-source, to create the program and to establish long-term co-operation. There is a strong belief that the venture will be leverage for a long-term, culture-driven development plan for Umeå and the region that will not end in 2014 but continue for many years to come. The overarching objective is empowerment of the citizens, the city, the culture, the Northern Region, and the European interaction.

Umeå 2014 is building upon existing cultural infrastructure and gradually strengthening the institutions, festivals and independent players. The aim with this process is to create resilient local, regional, national and international networks that have the possibility of continuous growth. In creating the program, Umeå 2014 is using a dramaturgy that is inspired by the eight seasons of the Sámi people-the Arctic indigenous people. The Sámi seasons have their own rhythm, shaped by the Sámi people's cultural history and closeness to the nature. The seasons influence people - subtle variations in the weather, variations in our mood, and variations in what we do with our time. Each season has its own special distinctive character -just like the activities in the program during the European Capital of Culture year. Every season will have its own opening ceremony that will draw attention to the city eight times during the year.

We have found that the dramaturgy of the eight seasons and the way we plan the events according to these seasons appeals to the people, the artists, our co-creators and partners. And it is also attractive to commercial and industrial life as well as sponsors, says Fredrik Lindegren, artistic director of Umeå 2014.

The bearing ideas in the application were shaped in a spirit and process of openness, dialogue and co-creation. Many open meetings and seminars and reference groups' representation has formed the foundation for the program. Umeå 2014 is now establishing new networks and forums locally, regionally, nationally and internationally. This has taken co-creation to the next level: operative planning. In 2012 the first draft of the program will be presented.

We already have strong networks, not least in the Baltic Region, but we have to make strong efforts to find innovative, creative and brave projects together with co-creators in the Baltic cities, says Marie-Louise Rö nnmark, Mayor of Umeå.

Culture is the driving force for innovation and culture makes people and cities grow.