International initiatives: Large scale events in Cultural Capitals of Europe - 2015

The Belgian city of Mons and Czech Plzen are declared the Cultural Capitals of Europe in 2015. In both cities, there is an active preparation for a series of significant cultural events - exhibitions, festivals and cultural programs.

In Mons in full swing is taking place the participation of a large-scale program "Where technology meets the culture" which starts on January 24. In the city in 2015 will take place about three hundred cultural events, of which only art exhibitions - two dozen. "The highlight" of the program will be a large-scale exhibition devoted to the early work of the great Van Gogh.

Plzen authorities were able to win in a competition for the title of European Capital of Culture thanks to several ambitious projects, which will be held under the motto "Discover Plzen» (Pilsen Open up!; Otevřete si Plzeň!). Among them are the construction of a new theater, the opening of a quarter for non-professional designers and artists to create a new amusement park.

In both cultural capitals of Europe - 2015 by the Russkiy Mir Foundation were created Russian centers. In Mons the Centre of the Russian language and culture was opened in 2008 at the Faculty of Translation and Interpreting of the University of Mons. The Russian Center in Pilsen was opened in the West Bohemian University in 2012.

The title "Cultural Capital of Europe" is awarded annually to two cities in order to support European cultural cooperation. Last year, the cultural capitals of the European Union were Riga, Latvian and Swedish Umea.