Guimarães in Portugal along with Maribor in Slovenia are the two European Capitals of Culture for 2012: a year of music, theatre, dance, film and literature events showing their culture to the world!

In Maribor, the basic starting point, summed up in the slogan Pure Energy! (čista energija!), is grounded in an understanding of culture as creative energy and its ecologically and socially responsible attitude toward the world. Culture is the generator of development and a medium of social participation.

In Guimarães, the artistic products imagined and created by its residents will merge with those coming to the city from all over Europe. Over the course of one year, the city will be the promoter of Europe’s cultural diversity, revealing its creations and welcoming those from other countries.

For general information about the European Capital of Culture, visit the dedicated website of the European Commission.