Ruhr.2010 - European Capital of Culture for one Year
Some people in North Rhine-Westphalia celebrated New Year’s Eve at a former industrial plant, because the Ruhr Area is European Capital of Culture this year. This is—if I know it right—the first time that a whole region (it was registered as Essen + Ruhr Area) receives the title. Essen and Ruhr Area won the competition against some other cities, including other cities in North Rhine-Westphalia like Cologne.
Industry in Ruhr District
There was a lot of heavy industry in Ruhr Area, which means they have some problems with regard to unemployment nowadays. Still, there are some companies mining coal, but German coal is too expensive for the world market, so it has to be subsidized by the state.
This however will lead to even more problems in the future, not only in North Rhine-Westphalia: If the state spends money on outdated technology instead of using it for the future, then Germany will use its leading position in the technology market.
However, you should not reduce the Ruhr District on heavy industry only. When I talked to a girl from there (she by the way was even from Essen), she protested that the area was not as bad as people think about it.
Ruhr Citizens proud of it?
However, it seems like many Ruhr people are proud of their region and the heavy industry. As already said they even celebrated in a former industry plant, the Zeche Zollverein (Zollverein Coal Mine Industrial Complex). There have been 100.000 people each day at the celebration on January 9 and 10.
Press photo taken by Manfred Vollmer
The German singer and songwriter Grönemeyer even wrote a song for the Ruhr Area. He sings about the typical character of people living in this area, however this is of course not true for everybody. Though, there might be special attitudes in different regions.
European Capital of Culture
It seems to be their way to show excitement about the new title, even though it does not change anything. Would it not have been the same region even if it was not called European Capital of Culture now? There would have been the same places, there would have been the same sights and there would have been the same people.
The only difference seems to be, there are a lot o parties these days over there and government has to pay for it. Federal government pays 17 million, state North Rhine-Westphalia and Regionalverband Ruhr (regional association Ruhr) each 12 million, and the town Essen 6 million Euro. There are some more public institutions and a lot of private sponsors.
Monday, January 11, 2010
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