Kranj, February 25, 2020 – The Kranj 2025 team presented the candidature of Kranj for the title of European Capital of Culture in 2025 today at the Ministry of Culture in Ljubljana and defended it before a 12-member international jury of independent experts.

After submitting our bid book at the end of December 2019, the presentation to the European jury was another important step towards the title. The team, consisting of members of the working group who intensively participated in the candidacy, and representatives of the City Municipality of Kranj and the Municipality of Jesenice, stepped forward before the jury with a strong and confident conviction that they believe and stand for the candidacy. Members of the working group: Selman Čorović, Zala Orel, Andrej Urbanc, Mirjam Drnovšek and Alenka Štrukelj presented their presentation as authentically and heartily as possible because they live and create the culture in Kranj. Kranj Deputy Mayor Janez Černe and Kranj Mayor Matjaž Rakovec expressed strong political and financial support to the project, not only at the city level but also at the regional level. The mayor of the Municipality of Jesenice, Blaž Račič, added his support to the project as well, he especially accentuated the projects aim of establishing regional collaboration.

Above all, we wanted to convince the jury that our candidacy is outstanding, innovative and feasible enough so that Kranj could be named European Capital of Culture in five years.

The decision on which cities will be included in the next round of the sellection will be announced on Thursday, February 27, at a press conference organized by the Ministry of Culture.