20 Years Cultural Capitals – A Journey Throughout the World“
Between March 27 and May 15, 2006, the 1st travelling exhibition “20 Years Cultural Capitals – A Journey Throughout the World“ was held within the project PATRAS 2006 – European Capital of Culture in Patras.
The exhibition was a comparative journey throughout the cities which have been awarded this title in the history of the project European Capital of Culture and simultaneously a journey throughout the cultural programmes which these cities offered within the project in the respective year. The City of Prague was one of the cities that participated in the exhibition and the Czech Republic had another opportunity to present its culture in an international multicultural event.
The exhibition “20 Years Cultural Capitals – A Journey Throughout the World“ took place in the exhibition premises of the Patras Port Organisation and it was held between March 27, when it was officially opened by Mayor of the City of Patras Mr Andreas Caravolas, and May 15 2006.
The exhibition was dedicated to the distinguished Greek actress and the ex-Ministry of Culture Mrs Melina Mercouri who initiated the idea to organise the cultural project European Capital of Culture in the 80´s of the last century. The first city which was awarded this title was Athens in 1985. The curator of the 1st exhibition in Patras was the brother of Melina Mercouri Mr Spyros Mercouris.
22 cities participated in the exhibition – besides Prague, i.a. also Athens, Amsterdam, Berlin, Geneva, Lisbon, Copenhagen and others. In addition to the exhibits which documented the conception and the course of the project in each European Capital of Culture, each participating city had also sent a short promotional document which were, as short shots, shown in the premises of the exhibition in the course of the whole duration of the exhibition.
Prague, which was the European Capital of Culture in 2000, was represented in the exhibition by various exhibits provided by the Archive of the City of Prague. The exhibits were provided in co-operation of the Archive of the City of Prague, the Prague Information Service and the City of Prague. The exhibits presenting Prague were well situated and visible – for instance just in front of the main entrance an impressive poster of the Old Town Square and the famous Astronomical clock was installed and drew attractions of the visitors.