Cultural Ambitions of Cities in Central and Eastern Europe in the Light of Two Cities' - Tallin and Maribor - Case Studies

Abstract

The cities of Central and Eastern Europe have recognized those trends, which are already visible in the Western Europe on cultural sphere. The Western European cities generate development of society and economy based on culture. These trends came up with the age of knowledge-based economy. The cultural economy and the creative economy are spreading more and more in the Western Europe. The progress is helped by the European Union through several cultural project. For example the European Capital of Culture program. Participation in this process has become a strategic weapon for cities seeking to attract cultural visitors. Nowadays, the event has certainly developed beyond its cultural origins. It is becoming a part of urban economic and cultural revitalization. Since 2007 Central and Eastern European cities also can be the title holder of the European Capital of Culture. The first city was Sibiu in Romania in Central and Eastern Europe. I examine the impacts of the European Capital of Culture program on the local economy and society in the cities in Central and Eastern Europe.