Sibiu – European Capital of Culture 2007 An assesment of its impact on local development and identity Sabina-Adina Luca Dragoş Dragoman „Lucian Blaga” University of Sibiu Romania

Sibiu ECoC 2007 and local development Meyerscough (1995) divided the European Cities of Culture occurring activities in three main approaches: arrangements with an emphasis on infrastructure festival programming developing artistic concepts Sibiu ECoC 2007, as other capitals, combined these approches

Estimated Infrastructure Spending in Sibiu ( ) Investment itemsEstimated cost (millions Euros) Funding institution Airport terminal28.5Local Council, County Council Historical center renovation 6Local Council, Ministry of Culture Main railway station renovation 5Ministry of Transportation Urban water system renovation 9Local Council Urban traffic regulation system 0.25Local Council Various churches renovation 1.3Ministry of Culture TOTAL50.05

The budget revenues of Sibiu Municipality,

Estimated Direct Expenses for Sibiu European Capital of Culture 2007 Euros Public spending on equipment and facilities New ASTRA public library building and ‘Gong’ children theater renovation 3,430,000 Brukenthal Fine Arts Museum renovation5,000,000 Multi-functional facility (tent)790,000 Steinway Piano100,000 Two concert stages800,000 Public spending on cultural programme 337 cultural projects13,400,000 3 rd Ecumenical Meeting of the European Churches500,000 Promotion5,000,000 OVERALL PUBLIC SPENDING18,900,000 OVERALL PRIVATE SPENDING ON NEW TOURISTIC EQUIPMENT 67,000,000 OVERALL SPENDING ON FACILITIES AND EQUIPMENT85,900,000

Sibiu ECoC 2007 and its impact on local identity Sibiu was nominated in 2004 with regard to its ethnic peculiarity, i.e a large Romanian city ruled by a German (Saxon) mayor Despite this peculiarity, people in Sibiu are not very different from people in Romania regarding various attitudes, values and beliefs The requirements for citizenship unravels an ongoing conflict between civic and ethnic aspects of citizenship

The structure of requirements for citizenship in Sibiu 1234 Having at least one parent from country Being born in country Having national ancestors Working in country Having lived in country for at least 5 years Speaking the national language Agreeing to abide by the country’s laws and institutions Passing a test about the country Taking an oath of allegiance to the country Feeling that one belongs to the country

Sibiu ECoC 2007 and its impact on local identity most West European countries have already begun to see themselves largely as multicultural and multi-religious communities Romanians and East Europeans still consider themselves as members of an ethnically based state they inherited a long romantic tradition that had a single aim, to put in place the idea of a single people, a single language and a single state

Sibiu ECoC 2007 and its impact on local identity Fuss (2003) found that people from various European cities under scrutiny display strong relations to Europe, that the national and European identities are closer than expected and strongly correlated By increasing contact with incoming tourists and investors, we withness a widening of local community in Sibiu The effective European membership and the internal EU mobility may trigger the same effect on the national identity and strengthen the weak European identity (only about 4 %)

Primary identification in Sibiu

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