Timișoara 2023 – European Capital of Culture Association was founded in 2011 by 63 individuals and public and independent cultural personalities, academics, journalists, business representatives, opinion leaders, and citizens. It is a non-heritable, non-governmental, non-profit, apolitical and independent organization with a cultural and educational character of public utility.
Since its inception, the Association has aimed to prepare the city's candidacy file to obtain the European Capital of Culture title and subsequently implement it. Timișoara won the competition and was designated as the European Capital of Culture for the year 2021; however, due to the pandemic crisis, the project's actual start was delayed until 2023.
In the immediate period following the events held in 2023, the Association will focus on supporting and developing cultural projects to benefit the community, considering their sustainability. The Timișoara 2023 - European Capital of Culture Association aims to leave its mark on the people, spaces, and connections within the city, and after the activities of 2023, the most precious legacy will be the public educated in the spirit of European culture and education with an undeniable multicultural and multiethnic history.