The final report for the European Capital of Culture year 2011 now complete

Turku used most of the large investments on the cultural programme

Of the overall finances (2008-2012) of €55.5 million for Turku’s year as European Capital of Culture, a total of 65% was used for the cultural programme and activities supporting it. This share is a little larger than the average for European Capitals of Culture.

The total amount invested in cultural content comes to light in the final report for the project compiled by the Turku 2011 Foundation. This report contains all the key financial figures concerning the preparation, implementation and follow-up work for the Capital of Culture year, as well as numbers of spectators and performers. 

The 70-page report covers the whole almost ten-year span of the project, from its early preparation all the way to post-project follow-up activity. The report was published in Turku on Monday 18 June 2012.

The financial support shared by the projects in the Turku 2011 Foundation’s programme was about €12 million. The amount that the projects provided themselves was about €17 million.  Altogether €36 million was invested in Turku’s Capital of Culture programme and the work that supported it. Funding for the programme is also considered to include the investment in its main arena, Logomo, as well as the funding of the project production support service and research programme. The overall sum also includes a forecast of the funding for follow-up work in 2012-2013.

- The Capital of Culture 2011 project was a major investment in Finnish culture, without doubt the largest ever. Investing in culture has always been a wise thing to do and, after Turku’s successful year, we are seeing that it is still very wise, even in these economically difficult times, says Christoffer Taxell, Chairman of the Board the Turku 2011 Foundation.

Of the funding of Capital of Culture activities (2008-2012), one-third came from the City of Turku, one-third from the State and the rest from co-operation with companies, from the region, other cities and partners, as well as from ticket sales and other sales revenue. 

On average, the Turku 2011 Foundation funded each project to the tune of €71,600. This sum is equivalent to about 41% of the overall budgets of the projects. The programme contained a total of 167 projects, which organised about 8,200 different events. 

The bulk of the programme comprised city events, exhibitions and performances. Circus and puppet theatre emerged as strong fields in the programme. Admission was free to more than 60% of the events.

The total number of visitors to Turku’s Capital of Culture year was about 2.2 million, of whom more than 245,000 visited the main arena, Logomo.  

Sevón: The success of Turku can only continue if the follow-up is equally strong

Turku’s year as European Capital of Culture has been a success by any measure. The lion's share - 85% - of Finns who attended Capital of Culture events were satisfied with what was on offer, the city’s community spirit has increased significantly, Turku received an unprecedented €57.5 million worth of media coverage, the programme made more than €260 million for the regional economy and follow-up work has also been going strongly.

- I hope and believe that the enthusiasm stirred in Turku people as a result of the successful year will last long into the future. This is a wonderful opportunity for the entire cultural field and for the City of Turku, says Christoffer Taxell.

The independent evaluation of Turku’s year as Capital of Culture ordered by the European Commission is still ongoing but, based on advance information, the assessment will be positive. Jan Truszczynski, Director-General of Education and Culture at the European Commission, has already preliminarily put Turku on a par with the most successful capitals of culture of all time such as Graz (2003), Lille (2004) and Liverpool (2008).

- Turku succeeded because culture was everywhere in the city and available to all. The large and small events on the streets, in the squares, at Logomo and at venues such as care homes brought cheer to thousands of people and are still working as a source of joy and strength, says Cay Sevón, Managing Director of the Turku 2011 Foundation. 

The year as Capital of Culture has brought Turku cultural, social and economic benefits. It has also changed the image of the city in the eyes of its residents, other Finns, the media and the European Union, for example.

- Turku’s high profile as an interesting European city of culture will remain, if all everyone carefully nurtures its continuation. Turku will only remain a topic of EU cultural speeches and events if there is reason for it. Culture should continue to be supported in Turku and should be considered an important thing, both in public- and private sector activity, continues Cay Sevón.

The Turku 2011 Foundation has funded 52 programmes and projects, which are continuing the legacy of the Capital of Culture year. Follow-up projects are based on a Turku 2011 follow-up report prepared under the leadership of Risto Ruohonen, Director-General of the Finnish National Gallery, and on positive experiences of the Capital of Culture year, especially of events that took place in the urban environment itself.

The most popular offerings during the year were large projects that utilised the urban environment in a surprising way. These events were also the best attended. On average Turku people took part in the year’s events seven times, other residents of Southwest Finland five times, and other Finns three times.

- The participation of the townsfolk in the programme was excellent. We were surprised by the community spirit that the Capital of Culture year created throughout the province. As a result of the year, Turku people became true ‘capital of culture’ citizens, says Jukka Saukkolin, Research and Development Manager of the Turku 2011 Foundation, who compiled the report.

Final report of the Turku 2011 Foundation in flash format

Final report of the Turku 2011 Foundation in pdf format