Felicity Long
The phenomenal changes that can happen to a city when it is tapped as a European Capital of Culture are well documented. Money flows in from the EU to upgrade local infrastructure, restaurants spring up and cultural venues are created and shored up, all with the intent of showcasing the destination's cultural appeal. The title only lasts a year, but the aftereffects can be ongoing.
A standout example of a former Capital of Culture keeping the momentum alive is Lille, a city in Northern France that held the title in 2004 along with Genoa, Italy.
According to Thierry Lesueur, the coordinator of Lille 3000, the designation transformed the city so much that it drew 974,000 visitors that year alone. The city continues to be a contender in a country already ripe with attractive destinations.
Lille 3000 was founded at the time of the Capital of Culture designation to not only maintain cultural improvements, but also to host gigantic, themed festivals every two years to keep the party going.
The next Lille 3000 festival, called Eldorado, kicked off April 27 and runs through Dec. 1, Lesueur said, and features a blend of Mexican- and French-inspired programs throughout the city.
After an opening parade, complete with massive, colorful puppets wending through transformed city streets, there are exhibitions, street art, performances, design displays and, of course, gastronomy that pay homage to both cultures.
The city's main artery, Rue Faidherbe, which links the central train station to the Grand Place main square, will be taken over by alebrijes (Mexican folk art sculptures), which will be as tall as buildings for the event. The sculptures are being created by Mexico's Museum of Popular Art.
Key exhibitions include "Eldorama," an art show at the Tripostal; "The Green Goddess," a garden diorama at Gare Saint Sauveur; "Golden Room" at the Palais des Beaux-Arts, showcasing the role of gold throughout history; and "Alberto Giacometti, Une Aventure Moderne" at the Lille Museum of Modern, Contemporary and Outsider Art.
Concurrently, the city will celebrate the 50th anniversary of the first moonwalk with a giant, inflatable, outdoor installation by U.K.-based artist Luke Jerram.
Following the Eldorado festivities, Lille will almost immediately commence celebrating its designation as the Capital of Design, an award chosen every year by the World Design Organization. Festivities, which are still being organized, will run from Dec. 6 through the following December, according to Francois Navarro, director Hello Lille, the city's tourism office.
A Lille City Pass, available in one-, two- and three-day versions, offers free access to more than 40 museums and attractions and free public transportation.
Lesueur and Navarro spoke at the 14th Rendez-vous en France trade show, organized by Atout France. The show hosted 915 international tour operators, 35 journalists and nearly 800 French exhibitors. The event, which drew participants from 73 countries, was held March 19 and 20 in Marseille.