Gdansk is by all means a unique candidate. This is because Gdansk has always been a place of freedom and dialogue, free exchange of thoughts and cultural goods, the home of debate and daring views. Gdansk and Metropolis' motto in aspiring to this prestigious title is "Freedom of culture, culture of freedom".

The European Capital of Culture is not only a competition or a contest of candidates’ potential and possibilities.   It is first of all a great chance to show the uniqueness of one’s own place in the world.   On 13 May 1985 during the session of the European Council Melina Mercuri, the Greek Minister of Culture, introduced the idea of the European Capital of Culture. The project aims at integrating the European nations by means of presenting the multiplicity of the European cultural heritage. The diversity of ideas, art and worldviews is to result in experience, dialogue and intermingling of cultural influences of different countries. A chance to meet is to stimulate the development of new levels of artistic communication. They may link various traditions and forms of expression and allow for closer relations among representatives of various cultural backgrounds.

The European Capital of Culture project is an extremely prestigious enterprise and winning the title would be a powerful incentive for the local community. As well as a chance for development and promotion of local cultural heritage, the title opens great possibilities for cooperation and strengthening the position in Europe.  It is also an opportunity to present the region, which may contribute to the development of tourism and increase the knowledge about the city in the whole continent.

Gdańsk Metropolis consists of the urban areas of Gdańsk, Sopot and Gdynia with Pruszcz Gdański, Reda, Rumia and Wejherowo. The Metropolis spreads along the Bay of Gdańsk on the southern coast of the Baltic Sea and includes the coastal region of Kaszuby. It is inhabited by over a million people and its area exceeds 1500 sq km. 

Despite a coherent spatial structure, a specific feature of the Metropolis is the diversity of the identity, economy and character of the cities creating its axis. This diversity is additionally enriched by the distinctiveness and culture of Kashubians. All these factors create a multi-dimensional and multi-entity metropolitan system of a huge cultural and economic potential.

Gdansk – the City of Murals

The Second World War, fall of communism, Stanislaw Witkacy, rock'n'roll and freedom are the main themes of gigantic murals which are going to be painted on the walls of tower blocks in Gdansk district  - Zaspa, during the European Festival of Monumental painting in May . The images created during the event are going to become the biggest outdoor gallery of murals in Europe.

Gdansk has a great chance to become the European capital of monumental painting.  Murals have been present in public spaces of the Metropolis for a long time.  The best examples may be the ones on the pylons of Kliniczna Junction or houses of Biskupia Gorka district. A distinctive feature of all the paintings is their dialogue with the history of the city and their social and political topics. The Festival in May, which is organized by Gdansk2016 Office, is going to continue this tradition, and the murals are going to refer to significant anniversaries in the history of Gdansk, Poland and Europe:  the 70th anniversary of the outbreak of the World War II, the 70th anniversary of Stanislaw Witkacy's death, 20 years of the Round Table Agreement (the historical summit of Solidarity movement representatives and communist authorities, which marks the fall of totalitarian system in Europe) and 50 years of the first rock'n'roll concert in Poland, which was held in Gdansk. The Festival is going to take place in a tower block district of Gdansk – Zaspa. The walls of buildings will become the biggest gallery of monumental painting in Europe. The vernissage is scheduled  for June the 5th 2009.
A website of  the European Festival of Monumental Painting will be launched in the second part of April. It is not going to focus solely on the event but will also be devoted to the history of murals in Gdansk.

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