In 2029, Poland and Sweden will nominate the European Capital of Culture, but there is still a lot of indecision in the cities with choices that, in some cases not starting from the bottom, are conditioned by variable political majorities.Today we see what is happening in Sweden where it seems that both the ministry and the Swedish Arts Council have not stimulated much participation from the cities.

In Sweden, the call for proposals was published in December 2022. For Sweden, this will be the third time that one of our cities has been nominated. In 1998, Stockholm received the title of Capital of Culture and in 2014, two European cities received this title: Umeå in Sweden and Riga in Latvia. The intention to submit an application must be notified in writing to the Swedish Arts Council by 2 December 2023.

An application in English that includes a declaration of honour must then be submitted in hard copy in 20 copies and in electronic format (PDF file). All printed copies must be handed in to the Swedish Arts Council.  Applications must be submitted no later than 2 January 2024 at 5pm. Attached to this news item is the announcement. Attached to this news item is the call for applications.

At the moment, only a few Swedish cities have decided to apply for the European Capital of Culture in 2029 with public acts and not mere announcements. The most determined ones are Kiruna and Uppsala. Few for a country as big as Sweden.

Kiruna in the municipal council on 15 May 2023 decided on the candidature. "Kiruna is in many ways one of the most contemporary places in Europe and the world. It is here that the green transition of industry begins, and it is also here that climate change crosses the Arctic landscape. Here, people from all over the world meet to dig deeper into the mountain and aim for ever higher spheres. But there are also traditions rooted in incalculable historical depths and kilometres and kilometres of vast cultural landscapes, including rivers, mountains and lakes. Sparks fly in the contrasts, in the encounters and contradictions, where something new and unique arises. We want to share it with the world,' says Markus Forsberg, head of culture/administration (read here).

The Municipality of Uppsala is also preparing an application to become European Capital of Culture in 2029. "With culture as a force, we will work towards a more sustainable society in which residents are involved in the transition. The goal is a city with a strong creative ground in which you can and want to actively participate in society and your living environment. An attractive, permissive and exciting city'. A candidacy that currently seems quite stable and is being worked on (read here).

Borås had also decided to apply. But in recent days it seems that the withdrawal of the candidature has become official: 'Boras will not spend SEK 200 million to become European Capital of Culture (read here).

Also very controversial is the situation in Malmo, which first decided to bid, then politics decided to reject the idea. In the meantime, a group of citizens decided to insist on the candidature by bringing together people from the culture and inciting the whole local community (read here). But on 7 June the door was decisively closed for Malmö's chance to become European Capital of Culture. The initiative of the Centre Party committee to revive the application process was rejected by the city council (read here).

Finally, another city entering the competition again is Lund. The Lund Liberals want to once again invest in making the city the European Capital of Culture in 2029. Already in 2021, the proposal was on the table and a feasibility study was made, but it was rejected by the majority of the city council in the autumn. Applications must be submitted no later than 2 January 2024. "Time is limited, but we believe we can do it. The preliminary study has paved the way in a very positive way,' says Fabian Zäll (L), second vice-chairman of the culture and leisure committee (read here).

Of Jönköping and Orebro, there is no news after a few announcements.

So at the moment only two cities are certainly in the competition. And there are only a few months left until the submission of the dossier. A problematic situation that the European Commission should give much serious thought to.