Being the 2023 European Capital of Culture offers a unique opportunity to promote the Bakony-Balaton region as a European creative and cultural centre; with Veszprém as its centre. It also provides, through InterUrban, a European, if not a world stage for the cultural riches of Veszprém’s fellow UNESCO City of Music cities and its sister cities around the globe.

The 29 featured InterUrban cities rotate every two weeks (see calendar below). The fifth city presented in the programme will be fellow UNESCO City of Music - Katowice, Poland.

Katowice’s InterUrban tenure will last 13-26 March, which also coincides with HungarianPolish Friendship Day on 23 March. Featured performers include 100NKA, Joanna Nowicka, Marek Pospieszalski and Sheol. ‘In our city, music is an integral and defining part of everyday life. It is no coincidence that Veszprém was awarded the title of City of Music by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) in 2019. Music and other arts contribute to the lives of individuals and at every level of society. It is important to note that up until now Veszprém's cultural life has already been extremely versatile and colourful. However, with the title of European Capital of Culture, we can organise even more varied musical, artistic and cultural programmes. InterUrban is one of many VEB 2023 projects that reinforces this. We can become more familiar with the musicality of other cultures; but at the same time, we will get a glimpse into the unique world of almost 30 other cities from around the globe. We, from Veszprém would like to use this opportunity to share our own cultural offerings, while welcoming the possibility to experience many other diverse artistic adventures from other cities’, says Gyula Porga, Mayor of Veszprém.

InterUrban is a year-long project conceived and carried out by Hangvető within the overall Veszprém Balaton 2023 programme.

Hangvető has been a hub for world music in Central Eastern Europe since 2003. Hangvető builds cultural strategies, consults with cities, organises world and folk music festivals, produces films, and publishes and distributes records. It has worked with several ECoC title holders and candidates, including Veszprém-Balaton 2023.

Hangvető is the leader of several large-scale international projects. For example, it is the first Hungarian company to ever lead a Creative Europe platform project with UPBEAT, the European Showcase Platform for World Music. MOST, the Bridge for Balkan Music, is another Creative Europe-funded cooperation lead by Hangvető. Hangvető organises local and international world and folk music events such as WOMEX, the Worldwide Music Expo in 2015 in Budapest; the hybrid WOMEX in 2020; and organises Budapest Ritmo since its launch in 2016, one of the most prestigious world music showcase festivals of Europe. Hangvető represents Veszprém in the City of Music network.

In attachement to this news all the program.