The European capital of culture as a marketing mega-event: the challenge of getting nominated

Abstract

Purpose: Explore the recent evolution of the European Capital of Culture (ECoC) program in terms of both selection criteria and the profiles of the cities nominated to become a one-year 1cultural capital of Europe Design/methodology/approach: The case study was used as the research method. In this research, the case of the ECoC program was presented as a chance for European cities aiming at creating their competitive position based on culture and creativity. The authors have identified three subsequent periods in the evolution of the ECoC and concentrated on identifying the differences between them, referring to selection criteria and the characteristics of the awarded cities. Findings: The evolution of the ECoC formula shifts toward European cities with better recognition of intangible heritage, smaller size, and lower administrative status. Possessing the tangible heritage assets is not the leading advantage anymore, and the chances of success are bigger for locations which had not been recognized before as cultural centers. Research limitations/implications: The study is based on desk research, and no qualitative research was conducted. Therefore, the interviews with the city marketers involved in the celebration of the ECoC should be included in further studies for deepening the issue. Practical implications: The paper draws some implications for practice for city marketers aiming at improving the international recognition of the city under the cultural label. The call for the next nominations of the ECoC is open for Czech, French, Polish, and Swedish cities, and soon it will be a case for Cyprus, Belgium, Malta, Spain, Bulgaria, Denmark, the Netherlands, and Italy. Originality/value: The paper identifies the current trends in designation of the ECoC; it covers the unique description of the nominated cities from the selected categories, which enables to assess the chances to be nominated in the incoming calls. Keywords: City Image, Event Marketing, Place Marketing, European Capital of Culture (ECoC), UNESCO, Event Bidding. Category of the paper: case study, literature review.