17 cities
ArtGenda
The Visions of ArtGenda
The Visions
Tuukka Luukas
Tuukka Luukas
As part of its international profile Copenhagen ‘96 wanted to put strong focus on the concept of a "new Europe" - a Europe which was in the process of rediscovering its past and redefining its boundaries to create its future. One of the central projects of Copenhagen was to develop the project ArtGenda.

The Baltic region split for many years by political barriers and a region which is asserting once again its natural position where artistic dialogue and cultural contact is both natural, politically relevant and socially needed.

The Baltic region is a so called "new" region in Europe and a particularly important region. Parallels with the Mediterranean are obvious - the sea connecting the Nordic countries with central Europe and the former Easter European states.

The decision to concentrate on cities around the Baltic was made primarily to create the necessary focus for the project and at the same time to underline these cities as the natural forces which are forming a new region in Europe.
The common characteristics of urbanism and urban life styles together with youth cultures, sub cultures and the international media are furthermore factors which make the cultural dimension more equal and compatible.

ArtGenda represent a wish to create a permanent activity on the basis that three European Cultural Capitals took place in the region as well as the European Month of Culture (Copenhagen 1996, Stockholm 1998, Helsinki 2000 and St. Petersburg 1996).

The project has the following foundation:

  • the notion of the Baltic as a new and vital region in the "new Europe"
  • the belief that cultural exchanges and cultural action are vital in the creation of a cultural regional dimension
  • the notion of cities rather than national states as the driving force within the arts
  • the needs of young professional artists in an international context
  • the belief that interdisciplinary work and international projects are vital for the arts today

The model for ArtGenda is to be found in The Mediterranean, where the Biennial des Jeunes Créateurs de la Méditerranée has functioned successfully for a number of years.