3182) Bodø (Norway): "Posten Bring" (formerly named "Posten Norge" or 'The Mail, Norway') has brought out a set of two stamps of the Domestic value of 20 g each commemorating the Norwegian City designated as the 2024 European Capital of Culture (ECOC): Date of Stamp issue: 05.02.2024:
Links to other posts on European Capitals of Culture Posts - 2024:
What is the European Capitals of Culture initiative?:
- It is an initiative putting culture at the heart of European cities with EU support for a yearlong celebration of art and culture.
The European Capitals of Culture (ECOC) initiative 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, to date, been awarded to more than 60 cities across the European Union (EU) and beyond.
Designation of European Capitals of Culture:
- Six years before the title year the selected host Member States publish a call for applications, usually through their Ministry for Culture. Cities interested in participating in the competition must submit a proposal for consideration.
- The submitted applications are reviewed against a set of established criteria at the end of a pre-selection phase by a panel of independent experts in the field of culture or culture-based city development. The panel agrees on a short-list of cities, which are then asked to submit more detailed applications.
- The panel then reconvenes to assess the final applications and recommends one city per host country for the title. The relevant authority in the Member State concerned then formally designates the recommended city as European Capital of Culture.
- The role of the European Commission is to ensure that the rules established at EU level are respected all along the way.
- Moreover, cities in EU candidate countries, potential candidates or members of the European Free Trade Association party to the Agreement on the European Economic Area (so-called EFTA/EEA countries) can also hold the title in 2022, 2024, 2028, 2030 and 2033. These cities are selected through an "open competition", meaning that cities from various countries may compete with each other.
Designated European Capitals of Culture:
European Capitals of Culture have already been designated until the year 2028.
They are as follows:
2024: Bad Ischl (Austria), Tartu (Estonia) and Bodø (Norway)
2025: Chemnitz (Germany) and Nova Gorica (Slovenia)
2026: Oulu (Finland) and Trenčín (Slovakia)
2027: Liepāja (Latvia) and Évora (Portugal)
2028: České Budějovice (Czech Republic), Skopje (North Macedonia, pending formal endorsement) and a city in France.
Competitions are running for title-years 2028, 2029 and 2030. About European Capital of Culture
The world's longest party - Bodø2024’s:
February 2024 marks the start of a year filled with hundreds of cultural events in Bodø, which has the honour of being the European Capital of Culture.
In autumn 2019, it became clear that Bodø would become the European Capital of Culture in 2024.
Bodø thus becomes Norway's third European Capital of Culture and the first city north of the Arctic Circle. Bodø municipality is working purposefully with the UN's sustainability goals "sustainable cities and communities" as it prepares to be European Capital of Culture in 2024.
More than 500,000 spectators are targeted during the project year, which is referred to as the "world's longest party" in terms of both time and space.
After all, the stretch of road through Nordland county from Bindal in the south to Andøya in the north is 800 kilometres – and the party will actually last a whole year.
Bodø2024’s program has split the year into five seasons:
Here comes the sun,
Spring optimism,
Midsummer madness,
Autumn storms and
Arctic light.
Bodø2024 should have something for everyone:
There will be dance, music, art exhibitions, outdoor activities, sports and much more. The cultural initiative will contribute to making the city of Bodø and Nordland County a more attractive arena for creating something together.
Through culture, Bodo can generate debates, raise questions and, not least, give people something to live for. Culture binds people's lives together.
Sometimes through experiences such as concerts, art or sporting events, other times because one can take part in this work oneself.
- Bodø and the surrounding Nordland county in Northern Norway is a European Capital of Culture 2024!
- More than 1,000 performances, concerts, art exhibitions, and other exciting events will take place throughout the year.
- The region's rich Sami culture will play a significant role. There will be mouth-watering Arctic cuisine.
The year-long celebration of the European Capital of Culture 2024 has begun in Bodø and the Nordland county! One can explore world class cultural events combined with breathtaking nature experiences.
Bodø, Nordland county's largest city, has over the years developed from being a small coastal town to a vibrant Arctic cultural hub.
- The construction of the award-winning cultural centre Stormen, including a a state-of-the-art concert hall and an amazing library, the annual Parken music festival, Arctic street art, the successful football club Bodø/Glimt, and rich culinary traditions have all contributed to a glowing cultural scene in the city.
- Bodø, and the whole region, will be buzzing with cultural events throughout the year. The real superstar of the programme is its broad diversity. With more than 1,000 events to choose from, there will definitely be something for every taste and many of the events will be free.
Bodø2024 is the largest cultural project ever hosted in Northern Norway, with things happening in all five regions of Nordland county:
Salten, Lofoten, Vesterålen, Ofoten, and Helgeland, all of which are within easy reach of Bodø, the biggest city in the county.
Nordland is also on National Geographic's list of the most exciting destinations to visit in 2024!
An epic opening:
The year of culture is off to a strong start thanks to an incredible opening ceremony at the marina in the city centre of Bodø on February 3.
Around 20.000 people came to enjoy the show from the floating stage – inspired by a cod's ear bone. The show was created and produced by phase7 from Berlin in collaboration with Nordland Teater. The show presented a celebration of music and stage art and ended by lighting up the sky with a spectacular firework show.
After the ceremony, the whole city came alive with a European cultural night filled with concerts and events.
All the galleries had exhibition openings, there was a Sami market at Rådhusparken and an official opening in Stormen concert hall.
Experience Sami culture:
Norway is home to most Sami in the world, with the vast majority of settlements being located in Northern Norway. In Nordland County alone as many as five Sami languages are in use. In other words, Sami culture is important in the north, and is also a key part of the celebrations in 2024 with a range of events.
February 6 is the Sami national day in Norway, which will be marked with a week of events.
The former Nordland Museum will turn into a Sami museum, the "Bådåddjo Musea", for the whole of 2024 and there will also be several opportunities to watch Sami plays and listen to "joik", one of the oldest song traditions in the world.
Seasons:
In Nordland, there is a huge contrast between the seasons, each of which gives Nordland a dramatic and beautiful new backdrop. In January, the sun returns to Bodø after being hidden below the horizon for months. It's time for the northern lights to dance!
When summer finally comes, the midnight sun glows in the sky over Nordland, making it possible to have just as much fun at night as in the daytime. The seasons also give a hint of what to expect during Bodø2024. The year starts with the theme Here comes the sun, followed by Spring Optimism, Midsummer Madness, and Autumn Storms, and ends with Arctic Light.
Northern lights:
Norwegians love to celebrate midsummer's eve, or "Sankthans" as Norwegians say (in some parts of Norway it's also called "Jonsok"), which takes place in June upon the summer solstice. To most Norwegians, the day means bonfires and barbecues. In 2024, you can expect it to be taken to the next level in Breivika in Bodø.
"Sankthans is going to be really special. English theatre company "Walk the Plank" has been brought in to create the opening event for the Midsummer Madness season. It will be a huge outdoor celebration with bonfires, food, theatre, dance, and music.
Focus on youth:
Bodø and Nordland county's motivation for becoming a European Capital of Culture is to remain an attractive place for young people. The goal is for the project to contribute to fewer people moving away from the region.
Arctic cuisine:
Bodø2024 is collaborating with the organisation "ArktiskMat" to document and develop Arctic cuisine and showcase sustainable food production in the county.
Since 2012, the annual food symposium ArktiskMat has been held in Mosjøen in Helgeland, where food lovers can meet star international chefs, watch exciting lectures, and more.
In 2024, Arctic Food Symposium will take place September 13-14, but ArktiskMat will also be present at several events during the year of culture.
Culture and Nature:
There are also several fascinating museums and galleries in Bodø and the surrounding areas that are well worth visiting, including Bymuseet i Bodø, Løp Gård Museum, the Norwegian Aviation Museum, and the Norwegian Jekt Trade Museum.
The idyllic traditional trading post at Kjerringøy contains fifteen original buildings and is situated in beautiful surroundings close to Bodø. The area has also been used as a location for film versions of Nobel laureate Knut Hamsun's novels.
The Stamps:
Technical details:
Issue Date: 05.02.2024
Designer: Kristin Slotterøy
Illustrator: Bjørnådal Arkitektstudio / Hans-Petter Bjørnådal
Printer: Joh. Enschedé Security Print
Process: Offset
Values: Domestic 20g, Europe 20g
Links to other posts on European Capitals of Culture Posts - 2024:
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6) 100 Years of Nature & Environment Protection, Luxembourg: Commemorating the Centenary Anniversary of the "Letzebuerger Natur a Vulleschutsliga a.s.b.l. (Luxembourg Nature and Bird Protection Society):A 0.80 Euro Stamp issued by Luxembourg Postes (Post): Date of stamp issue: 10.03.2020
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