December 17, 2019 - A zip line connecting Trsat and Delta in Rijeka will be one of the highlights in the European Capital of Culture program next year.

Rijecanin.hr reports that the building of the former Exportdrvo warehouse on the Delta, along the Dead Canal, will be leased to the City of Rijeka for the Rijeka - European Capital of Culture 2020 program, the Ministry of the Sea, Transport and Infrastructure confirmed.

As part of the program, which will include several significant exhibitions and other events, the highly anticipated, two-kilometer-long zip line, from Trsat to Exportdrvo, will be built, confirmed the Rijeka's head of culture, Ivan Sarar.

“The City of Rijeka has applied for a concession for the special use of the maritime domain and to run the Rijeka - European Capital of Culture 2020 program. The Rijeka - European Capital of Culture 2020 program includes the production and implementation of cultural, artistic and entertainment programs and events related to the Rijeka 2020 European Capital of Culture project and its long-lasting heritage, organizing congresses, national and international gatherings and festivals and promotional events, organizing educational programs for children and young people, and setting up and using the Rijeka zip line arrivals station,” the Ministry of the Sea, Transport and Infrastructure said. They noted that, given the importance of this program, for the City of Rijeka as well as for the whole of Croatia, the Ministry has already proposed to the Government of the Republic of Croatia a decision to grant the requested concession to the City of Rijeka.

The Minister of Culture from Rijeka, Ivan Sarar, spoke about the future purpose of the building and why the building was chosen for the ECOC 2020 program.

“It is a port warehouse that has lost its original purpose over time as conditions and the mode of operation and/or operation of the port have changed. Also, it is a space in the center of the city that has so far proved ideal for various entertainment and cultural events, so using that space for the European Capital of Culture program is a logical choice,” said Sarar, adding that any work on the building itself is under the authority of the Port Authority and the Ministry of the Sea as the owner, that is, the authorities managing the port area.

Sarar also announced that, if the concession agreement between the Government and the City of Rijeka is indeed signed, a zip line will be constructed with the final stop at the Exportdrvo building, which will surely be one of the biggest attractions not only during the ECOC, but also in the years to follow. 

The zip line project from Trsat, through the Rječina canyon to the Exportdrvo building, stands out among the projects in the ECOC program and is the idea of Rijeka entrepreneur Eris Marotti, who already has experience in setting up a zip line in Croatia. Marotti envisioned that the ride would begin at Trsat, from where the descent, at an average speed of about 50 kilometers per hour, would lead to the Katarina tunnel, and from Katarina, the zip line would go partly through the Rječina canyon and across the city center, down to the Exportdrvo building.

Earlier last year, when the project was announced, Marotti said it would take about two million kuna to execute. Marotti also estimated the time required for all the works to be about half a year, so that, under ideal circumstances, the zip line could function in the next summer.

Exportdrvo will also host various temporary art installations as part of the European Capital of Culture program next year. 

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December 7, 2019 - Emina Visnic, director of Rijeka 2020, which manages the European Capital of Culture (ECOC) project in Rijeka next year, confirmed in an interview that preparations for the ECOC year and its opening at the Rijeka port on February 1, 2020,  are going according to plan.

Novi List writes that from the vibrant array of cultural programs, Visnic especially singled out the project of contemporary artist Sanja Ivekovic in the courtyard of the Bencic complex, in which, with her retrospective exhibition at the Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art, she will symbolically reconstruct the Monument to Revolution by architect Mies van der Rohe from 1926, which was demolished by the Nazis in 1935.

Find the interview by Dean Silic transmitted in full below. 

A concert in Korzo was announced for Monday, introducing the European Capital of Culture program for citizens, and citizens were also invited to propose programs and participate in the opening of the ECOC. Do you want to encourage them to participate more actively and show them the meaning of the project?

“Absolutely. Citizens are already significantly involved in the project. We have been saying from the beginning that the project cannot succeed if the citizens do not get involved, that is, if it remains only in the hands of the artists and the organizers. That is why we have been working on involving citizens from the beginning, from using 27 neighborhoods in the program, which also grows from the neighborhoods, or groups of citizens, not only in Rijeka, but in the entire Primorje-Gorski Kotar County, through all the programs at RiHub and the projects proposed and implemented by citizens.

Thus, the opening cannot take place without the participation of different groups of citizens, organized or not. With a concert at Korzo, we want to offer the citizens of Rijeka a party in December and present the greater part of the cultural and artistic programs that await us in 2020.”

How would you explain the value of the ECOC project to a doubtful Rijeka citizen?

“Specifically in Rijeka, this project brings about the restoration of cultural buildings in the former Rikard Bencic factory, and thus the creation of a Rijeka cultural quarter, the reconstruction of the Galeb ship, interventions in the Delta area, etc. among other significant EU funds. On the other hand, in 2020, the ECOC delivers 300 cultural programs in and around Rijeka with more than 600 individual events.

It is a year of top cultural programs, but we have made every effort to ensure that the program complies with our motto ‘Port of Diversity’. We strive to satisfy very different interests, from opera to new technologies, from the theater arts to citizens' initiatives and their projects. In addition, the ECOC contributes significantly to the international visibility, recognition of the city, the building of a different image of Rijeka and the entire region.

It is based on image, the idea of what we do, openness, and welcomes different people. It represents a city that is lively, interesting, attractive not only for tourist visits but also for living and investing.

So, smart cities would use the ECOC itself not only this year, but would use all the energy, high visibility and great knowledge gained during the project for future development, which I believe Rijeka will do. We have a good foundation because not only artists, cultural institutions, citizens and citizens' initiatives are involved, but also numerous entrepreneurs. That is the legacy of the Rijeka ECOC project, which will be reflected in the people, apart from the mentioned buildings and structures that are being renovated and built.”

What is your vision of the city after 2020, with all the accomplishments of the project?

“We are working on a project according to which Rijeka really becomes internationally recognized as a European city, a city that promotes European values, which may not be geographic in the heart of Europe, but according to its values and interests, it is. The city is sure to change physically. The center will expand from Korzo and the surrounding area to the Bencic complex and the revitalized Delta area, a part of which will have many programs. We expect a new atmosphere in the city, new optimism and enthusiasm that will build the future of Rijeka.”

Can you reveal any details about the ECOC opening program itself?

“I cannot reveal the details, but I can say that the opening will be in the Rijeka port. It is not only the venue but also the theme of the event, as the ‘Port of Diversity’, it becomes a different port. We can expect the gathering of a large number of citizens and an interesting, specially designed program in which the citizens themselves will be involved, followed by an all-night party in cafes and clubs.”

What would you single out from the overall ECOC program as globally relevant and important, and which parts of the program would be particularly relevant to the citizens of Rijeka?

“Many elements of the program overlap with what is locally relevant and what is locally interesting. There is a vibrant exhibition program. Permanent exhibitions in new cultural venues, such as the Sugar Refinery Palace and the Galeb ship, will be of interest to Rijeka residents and citizens of Primorje-Gorski Kotar County, but will also be of interest to international audiences. One thing will undoubtedly be an exhibition on Gustav Klimt.

The opera program is worth highlighting with two big gala concerts featuring top names, Karita Mattila and Elina Garanča, a series of phenomenal classical music concerts, a new chamber music festival in the unusual venues initiated by our Croatian National Theater.

In the theater program, we should definitely highlight the Needcompay Theater, which forms the very top of world theater. The program is absolutely up-to-date, by topic and by the participating artists, and the Dopolavoro program addresses the issue of work and the future of work through very different works of art at the intersection of art, new technologies, robotics, and artificial intelligence.

A series of programs, exhibitions and public actions are being built here, such as a band appearing exclusively by robots, for the first time in Croatia. Lungomare Art, on the other hand, brings contemporary art to the community and leaves behind permanent installations. One of the top architects of the present day, Smiljan Radic from Chile and originally Croatian, and Liam Gillick, who is one of the top contemporary artists in the world, stands out here.

What does it mean for Rijeka to create a secondary center by renovating the Bencic complex and expanding the area of activity and city life from the city center?

“I am sure that Rijeka will receive not only new cultural infrastructure, but also a unique place for socializing, with excellent facilities when Bencic functions as a whole, at the end of 2020, with the Sugar Refinery Palace, the Children's House and the City Library. The Children's House is particularly emphasized in this as a place where not only programs for children take place, but also a place where children themselves produce programs, where their creativity is stimulated from the earliest days.

Do you think that there is a Rijeka identity and how it is reflected in the ECOC program?

“When it comes to identities, keep in mind that they are not fixed. Identity, however collective the form, is so individual. In the context we live in, Rijeka stands out as a city that does not have one strong solid identity, although it is difficult to say that another city has one. Rijeka is recognized for its openness, freedom, and coexisting with different identities. The ECOC program also bears these characteristics - it is inclusive, brave and unusual, as is Rijeka. And such a program will be implemented in Rijeka 2020."

Has the controversy surrounding Tito’s Galeb ship overshadowed other parts of the program, or is it perhaps an expression of pluralism of opinion?

“I am sorry that this controversy has rarely been constructive and referred to historical, social, or political interpretations, but instead has been politicized. It was conducted mainly in or around City Hall, or reduced to banal investment issues, investment levels without any comparison to any other projects.

I think the Galeb ship, when completed as a museum ship, will be a phenomenal attraction. We already know that. It is among the three priorities that foreign journalists said they want to see in Rijeka and want to write about.

In its permanent exhibition, the Galeb will open up a space of quality, constructive discussion, and on topics that are controversial in our society, although I personally find that there is nothing particularly controversial about it. It will tell the story of a fascinating ship, part of Rijeka’s and Croatian history, that is very attractive and through which we connect with the history of many countries around the world.

Finally, are preparations for the ECOC year going according to plan?

“They are going according to plan, and we are ready to welcome February 1, when the ECOC officially opens. The day before, at MMSU, David Maljkovic, a Rijeka native and world-renowned artist, will open an exhibition dedicated to the museum's collection. Two more exhibitions are underway in the Age of Power program, in the Maritime and Historical Museum of the Croatian Littoral - D'Annunzi's Martyr and the Violins Above Borders / Stradivari in Rijeka – Kresnik and Cremona.

Currently, the most intense preparations are related to the opening at the port on February 1st, and here, I can exclusively announce a program that we have not yet communicated - with perhaps the greatest Croatian contemporary living artist Sanja Ivekovic, opening her retrospective exhibition at MMSU in January 2021, and a special project was also arranged in the Bencic courtyard.

Through an interesting process involving many foreign partners, a kind of symbolic reconstruction of the Monument to Revolution will be made, that is, the murdered Rosa Luxemburg and Karl Liebknecht, by Mies van der Rohe in 1926.

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September 27, 2019 - Rijeka will be crowned as the European Capital of Culture next year. 

Novi List reports that Tourism Minister Gari Cappelli met with Mayor Vojko Obersnel in Rijeka on Thursday and said that the preparations for the European Capital of Culture are examples of good cooperation between the City, Primorje-Gorski Kotar County, and the Croatian government, regardless of party affiliation. 

Vojko Obersnel said that they also spoke about the good tourist results in Rijeka in the last six to seven years, in which the number of overnight stays has increased by about 20 percent a year, and the accommodation capacity and number of cruise ships are increasing.

Regarding the Rijeka 2020 Program - European Capital of Culture, it was assessed that the Government financially monitors the program and is proud of how far it has come. All agreements made at the first meeting were realized in the ministries of culture and tourism, and we expect that cooperation in 2020, Obersnel added.

Minister Cappelli pointed out that the ministries of culture and tourism have invested about 30 million kuna in the Rijeka 2020 project so far, and about 10 million euro is planned.

“We are pleased that everything is going according to plan so far,” Cappelli said. He announced that around four million visitors are expected in Rijeka in 2020, who will be able to follow more than 1000 events. Given that Croatia will chair the Council of Europe in the first six months of 2020, Rijeka, as the European Capital of Culture, will be an outlet for those coming to Zagreb for the events related to that presidency, the tourism minister said.

After the meeting, a new promotional video for the city premiered at the Art Cinema.

Check out Rijeka “I Miss You” below.

To learn more about what can be expected next year, here's a taste of the 2020 Europan Capital of Culture program.

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September 12, 2019 - A vibrant cultural program will help crown Rijeka as the European Capital of Culture in 2020.

HRTurizam announced that the program would be presented to the media and the public in succession, during September and October, according to seven themes which bring in several individual programs and projects.

The events that will take place in Rijeka and the area of the Primorje-Gorski Kotar County, in 27 neighborhoods, were presented earlier this week, which have a particularly pronounced regional and European dimension.

By bringing together 27 neighborhoods across the Primorje-Gorski Kotar County and connecting them with neighborhoods from the 27 EU Member States, the inhabitants of the islands, coast, hinterland, highlands, city of Rijeka and Europe are brought together to cooperate and exchange experiences, customs, and everyday life. Connections and informal networks of cooperation are the keys to future cultural activities that will continue beyond 2020.

Emina Visnic, the director of Rijeka 2020, who was brought on to implement the European Capital of Culture project, emphasized that the project also brings high culture, big names, exhibitions, performances and concerts that represent a top cultural offer. However, the launch of the 2020 program deliberately started with this program direction, as it brings lasting value to Rijeka and Primorje-Gorski Kotar County - with motivated and active residents, aware that culture can be the driver of development of their small communities, which can make them recognizable on a larger scale. 

“European cooperation and communication were launched with European neighbors, residents of Rijeka and the County to provide a European cultural passport. For to feel European or to feel belonging to Europe's cultural and historical heritage is not a matter of administrative treaties and borders. On the contrary - this feeling rests on a deep understanding that we share with residents of other European countries and can share a number of common issues, challenges, problems, but also find ways to solve them,” explained Visnic.

For example, Crikvenica's program focuses on the old village at the top of the Kotor hill, which is one of the few localities without the construction of apartments. Fužine focuses on the topic of depopulation of Gorski Kotar, telling the story of school closures due to an insufficient number of students, while the Kastav neighborhood highlights the issues of endangered languages and minority language rights, since less than 1000 people speak the Kastav Chakavian language today. The Border District of the Drenova Neighborhood Program, as a Rijeka neighborhood, is driven by the idea of harnessing the potential in the settlement that can become a driver for the development of various amenities aimed at quality leisure time. Opatija, in its program, raises the question of an ecological future without waste in tourism.

The program's name itself - 27 Neighborhoods - is symbolically related to the 27 EU countries that make up Croatia's European neighborhood. The City of Rijeka's European Capital of Culture program included officials and locals from 27 cities, municipalities and villages in the Primorje-Gorski Kotar County, and the Capital of Culture project linked them to as many local communities and organizations in the European Union.

The basis of the European Capital of Culture project is precisely to connect European citizens by presenting and learning about the cultural diversity of the countries that make up Europe's total wealth, the organizers point out.

The programs bring a variety of cultural and artistic events, in which small communities can talk about their everyday life interestingly and attractively, as well as problems that are integral to the urban and rural areas of Gorski Kotar, the islands, coasts, cities, and villages.

You can find the full program and more details about the 27 Neighborhoods here.

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