Essen, the capital of culture… (by Tobias and Violeta)

We both grew up in Essen, the biggest city in the Ruhr district which is still associated with coal-mines, dirty miners and smoking chimneys. But today most of the mines are closed and we have to admit that besides what we learned from books or in the local history museum we have never been really in touch with that regional industrial tradition. Now the name of the city resounds throughout the land because Essen and the entire district will be the EUROPEAN CAPITAL OF CULTURE in 2010. Na dann, herzlichen Glückwunsch!
As teenagers we thought of course that we are living in Germany´s most boring and most ugly (Essen is really ugly) city but the decision of the EU-jury is not that surprising because all cities in the region added up indeed come up with a rich and diversified cultural offering: theatres, operas, museums, galleries, concert halls, non-multiplex-cinemas etc. This means that the infrastructure exists. So far so good. To read up on the projects for 2010 we checked the official site and were knocked over: http://www.kulturhauptstadt-europas.de/start.php

Here we proudly present our favourite initiatives: THE FLYING CITYHALL. In 2010 a mobile city hall will replace 53 single city halls. We hope that this is not only meant symbolically because Essen has got the most ugly city hall you could think of (see picture) and we would very much appreciate its disappearance.
THE FOLKWANG ATOLL. Artistically designed islands will be floating on the water of the river Ruhr and visitors can reach them by boat. Nice idea but the last time that we heard talking about an “atoll” was when Jacques Chirac tested nuclear bombs on the atoll “Mururoa”…
THE BEAUTY IN A HIGHWAY. The project under that title aims to convert the most frequented highway of the Ruhr district, the B1/ A 40 (ohhhh, which we got to know during our driving lessons…), into an exhibition. We heard that they want to illuminate the entire highway. Why? Make it visible for the astronauts or the hypothetical creatures on the moon?
We don´t want to make only fun of all this. There are really interesting ideas pointing out the characteristics of the region like multimedia installations in the former layers or a festival of contemporary art focussed on the works of the migrants who played and play an important role in that district. The whole area really has an incredible cultural potential, in this regard it is perhaps the most exciting part of Germany. But up to now it seems like they would like to tunnel the Ruhr district with firework and than, in 2010, press the button.

Essen – Good night and Good luck!