Évora's bid book for European Capital of Culture in 2027 was submitted today. With the Alentejo word "vagar" as its motto, Évora 2027 aims to make the city and the region a centre for culture and thought on the action of humanity, based on the holistic culture of the Alentejo. The concept is embodied through the cultural and artistic programme which reflects a consultation process developed in the city and the region over a year and a half.

The application programme was designed based on three axes: cultural heritage, intangibility and biodiversity. Évora 2027 focuses on the challenges that society shares as a collective, starting from the territory to address issues such as climate change, forced migrations, global cooperation or even digital transformation. The application presents itself as an opportunity to strengthen active dialogue in the local cultural and creative sector, building bridges with other areas of society, with the rest of the country and with Europe.

"With this application we intend to enhance the authenticity and diversity of Alentejo's cultural identity. Our strategy comprises a number of cultural projects for heritage rehabilitation, equipment revitalisation and connection to other European cities that are already underway, and which are part of the Strategic Development Plan for 2030. We believe that the title of European Capital of Culture in 2027 will allow us to reinforce the continuation of this commitment to the cultural and creative sector", says Carlos Pinto de Sá, Mayor of Évora.

The bid book will be publicly available after the hearing with the jury on a date to be announced by GEPAC - Cultural Strategy, Planning and Evaluation Office, as required by the regulations. Soon, the Évora 2027 Mission Team, coordinated by Paula Mota Garcia, will start a second wave of meetings throughout the city and Central Alentejo, in order to share the next steps and developments of the application.

By early 2022, the shortlist of cities will be published and they will be invited to detail their proposals, according to a set of recommendations. The jury's final decision will be known between December 2022 and January 2023. In 2027, the European Capital of Culture title is awarded to two cities, one in Portugal and one in Latvia.

Évora's candidacy for European Capital of Culture in 2027 is held under the responsibility of the Executive Committee "Évora 2027", led by the Municipality of Évora. This Executive Committee also comprises the Alentejo Regional Agency for Touristic Promotion - ARPTA, the Alentejo Regional Development Coordination Commission, the Intermunicipal Community of Central Alentejo, the Regional Directorate of Culture of Alentejo, Eugénio de Almeida Foundation, Turismo do Alentejo - ERT and the University of Évora.