Over three days, The Opening Programme will include a series of performances, openings and events throughout the city, as well as interventions in public space, commissioned by local, national and international artists. All of these are designed to highlight both the distinct multicultural heritage and openness to the important themes of the moment.
The celebrations will include a full programme of cultural activities, concerts, theatre, exhibitions, open workshops, dispersed throughout the city - a set of actions involving multiple local cultural operators and multiple urban nodes - in the spirit of co-creation.
It is a moment of premiers and innovation, but also of community togetherness, designed to inspire pride and confidence in the year that we will spend together. All the Cultural Programme hosts are invited to contribute to the opening with various events and cultural content, marking a common start to the long-awaited European Capital of Culture title year.