Maribor 2012: Most of the programme already known
September 2011
At the end of June, the organisers of Maribor's European Capital of Culture were proud to present 277 cultural projects, representing about three quarters of the entire programme. Art Director Mitja Čander and the director-general of the Maribor 2012 Institute emphasised that the detailed programme would be known towards the end of September; however, given the circumstances, much intensive work was done in the first half of the year and at present, the character of the whole project has become clearly visible.
Among other large projects, it is worth mentioning the Twelve Project (projekt Dvanajst) which consists of 12 lectures of world-renowned intellectuals, a visiting of German-Dutch photographer Ulaya, a performance by pianist Ivo Pogorelić with the Zagreb Philharmonic Orchestra, a visit of the Vienna State Opera with The Marriage of Figaro and a performance by the Osipov Russian Folk Orchestra. Maribor’s own productions are in any case rather impressive: Carmina Slovenica is preparing the Turban Tribe opera, Director Jan Cvitkovič is preparing the Film Omnibus Project, Tomaž Pandur is working on a dramatisation of War and Peace, Dušan Jovanović on the Funeral Fashion Show and the Betontac group on Audition for Life. An immense common project of both Slovenian operas, Kogoj’s Black Masks, should open an event in the Capital of Culture in January.
Čander and Fišer emphasised that the programme had been launched in accordance with the existing financial funds amounting, at present, to €24.3 million for the programme needs. This amount means that Maribor will be the second least expensive Capital of Culture; less money was spent only in Vilnius. This alone is not commendable. However, most important must be the effects that can be satisfactory even with less money. The venue creates a problem, since according to some people from the programme committee there will probably be no central venue – Maribor Culture Centre Maks - built. If there is no other solution to be found, a central venue made of prefabricated buildings is being considered. However, the Municipality of Maribor has promised that the centre would be built in any case, and that it would be located in the former Merinka factory in Studence.
Text by Jože Osterman, Sinfo, September 2011 
European Capital of Culture Website
Feature
March 2011
At the beginning of 2012 Maribor is to become European Capital of Culture. The basic concept of this ambitious project entitled »Reanimation of the City« has an innovative approach and it opens up some fundamental questions regarding the introduction and fulfilment of cultural substance in urban communities such as Maribor and the cities (the European Capital of Culture Maribor 2012 includes partner cities from the Eastern Cohesion region: Murska Sobota, Ptuj, Slovenj Gradec, Novo mesto and Velenje) that have joined up to carry out the programme.