Daring to think differently
Our work on the bid to make Aalborg the European Capital of Culture in 2032 is well underway. As part of the process, a programme panel was sought and subsequently selected to help refine and further develop the many exciting proposals for the future cultural programme. The aim is to use some of these concrete ideas as supporting examples for the programme concepts Aalborg will present in its bid.
Shaping the Cultural Programme
The panel consist of 32 members who together represent a cross-section of cultural life in North Jutland: from young cultural creators and engaged citizens to experienced developers and volunteers. They share a curiosity about what the AA32 cultural programme might become and an openness to ideas that have not yet been fully formed.
Curiosity and Collaboration
A clear ambition runs through the panel: to help create something that does not simply repeat what we already know but builds upon it collaboratively. Above all, Aalborg and North Jutland must dare to raise their ambitions and think big.
Johannes Andersen, Associate Professor Emeritus in Democracy and General Social Studies at Aalborg University, puts it quite clearly:
"The greatest potential in Aalborg becoming European Capital of Culture in 2032 is the opportunity to think bigger than we usually do."
His motivation for joining the programme panel is clear: a desire to be part of the process where new cultural ideas take shape and where different worlds can meet. He insists that culture should be both accessible and of high quality, and that citizen engagement only works when approached with respect and a willingness to listen.
“We can and should take people’s own stories and experiences as our starting point. At the same time, I also believe we have an obligation to create a professional framework around the many good ideas.”
The panel also includes Julie Tokkesdal Bak, a steering committee member of Ung Kult IVÆRK and a strong voice for young people on the AA32 programme panel. She sees AA32 as an opportunity to strengthen Aalborg’s cultural identity and create a cultural scene in which many more young people actively engage and find their place. At the same time, it is crucial that young people are not merely considered as an audience, but as active participants in the shaping the programme:
“Young people should also be included in AA32 cultural projects as voices that need to be heard and as active co-creators. This will also provide young people with better opportunities to find communities centered around art and culture.
Her hope for Aalborg as a European Capital of Culture is that, by 2032, young people in tin Aalborg will be able to say that AA32 gave them a greater opportunity to influence the cultural scene and made them more aware of the many cultural initiatives and events taking place across the city.
Beyond the city: Networks and new connections
Aalborg’s bid and consequently the focus of the program panel, extends well beyond the city and municipality of Aalborg itself.
Karolina Heidarsdottir Kanstrup, a social worker and chair of Skørping Kulturforening applied for a seat on the panel because she is passionate about creating stronger networks across urban and rural areas. She highlights the value of collaboration and knowledge sharing, particularly among smaller-scale actors:
“If, through AA32, we can build a stronger network and thereby strengthen one another, we can also launch collaborative projects that span these different areas. I certainly dream that, through AA32, we can create a more cohesive cultural landscape across the entire region.
And when culture moves across geographical boundaries, it becomes both stronger and more accessible.
A panel seeking out potential
The panel has met three times this early summer, providing valuable input on the submitted proposals while also being given the opportunity to dream and think big themselves.
Now, the major task of drafting the proposal begins in earnest, with the final application due on October 5th.
A huge thank you goes to the 32 panel members who have generously volunteered their knowledge and expertise. Their work has helped prioritise and shape new exciting cultural concepts. With more than 115 programme proposals and many different perspectives in play, the diverse backgrounds of the panel members have been a tremendous asset.
It is through both diversity and collaboration that solid foundations are laid for creating cultural concepts with deep local roots, strong regional connections and international relevance across Europe.
Stay tuned
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