A series of seminars titled Cultural Mega-Events and Urban Heritage ...

The International Cultural Centre is one of the partners of the international HOMEE project, which aims to examine the impact of major cultural events on various aspects of urban life. As part of this international research initiative, between March 20 and April 17 at the Politecnico di Milano were held open to the public seminars devoted to the changing importance of mega-events.

Outstanding experts, among them professor Jacek Purchla, attempted to analyze problems related to the election of selected cities to the European Capital of Culture: Wrocław (European Capital of Culture 2016), Paphos (European Capital of Culture 2017) and Matera (European Capital of Culture 2019). The organizers of the seminars are: Politecnico di Milano in support of JPICH Heritage in Changing Environments, DAStU and Dipartamento di Eccellenza.

Research shows that the cultural mega-events organized in recent years have gradually lost their importance as a potential catalyst for the development and form of city promotion. As a response to the problem, the city authorities decided to change the strategy of building the program of these events, referring directly to the urban fabric. The organization of cultural mega-events can expose cities and their cultural heritage to new threats. On the other hand, the presence of these events gives the opportunity to emphasize the importance of heritage and be an impulse for the broadly understood development of the city.

The formula of meetings, setting up a discussion panel, was a great opportunity to exchange views on this complex and controversial topic. The exchange of thoughts between students, researchers and decision-makers of individual cities seems particularly important.

Seminars were held on Wednesdays, between March 20 and April 17, at 16.30 in the building of the Politecnico di Milano (Leonardo Campus Milan).

We invite you to familiarize yourself with the detailed schedule of the seminars:

• March 20: Sampo Ruoppila (University of Turku): Effects of Turku 2011 European Capital of Culture: a long-term perspective

• March 27: Enrico Tommarchi (University of Hull): Mega-events and heritage: learning, legacies and the urban space in the case of Hull UK City of Culture 2017

• April 3: Evanthia Dova (Neapolis University Pafos): Fast Events and Slow Heritage: The case of Pafos 2017 European Capital of Culture

• April 10: Mariavaleria Mininni (Università della Basilicata: Matera-Basilicata 2019: Events, heritage and ongoing analysis of their urban effects

• April 17: Jacek Purchla (Międzynarodowe Centrum Kultury): The Politics of Heritage and the Urban Economy of Mega-events: Kraków 2000 and Wroclaw 2016 two Polish European Capitals of Culture contrasted