Contents: ---- 1 - Introduction ---- 2 - History of San Sebastian European Capital of
Culture 2016 (= DSS 2016EU): Social responses early adulterated current institutional
climate consensus ---- 3 - What are the European Capitals of Culture? The commodification
of culture ---- Live in the tourist bombing ---- Other important issues ---- 4 - The
program and budget DSS2016EU ---- 5 Conclusion and readings ---- 1) PRESENTATION ---- This
document has been prepared by the Group of Donostia (San Sebastian) against the HST in May
2014. He tries to make a critical analysis of the true nature of the election of Donostia
in 2011 under Capital of Culture 2016 (DSS2016EU). It is a contribution to the discussion
to help reach a consistent position, which will act accordingly, action that will
inevitably and dissenting against the current, since this event is fully involved in
capitalist culture.
In this sense an open meeting was held on June 5, to continue the debate and actions
already undertaken and to stimulate social protest against Donostia Capital 2016. This
document is therefore in the logical continuation of a share of industrial action carried
out in January, when the great DSS2016EU logo on the slopes of the hill Igeldo, Donostia,
was replaced by the slogan "AHT EZ TAV" (No TGV), second table round held in February on
"Infrastructure, TGV and Cultural Capital 2016: Cultural Transformation or commodification
of the city?", bringing together dozens of people who wished to follow up the initiative.
2) HISTORY
Social riostes early climate adulterated current institutional consensus
The idea to nominate Donostia to the election of "European Capital of Culture 2016 in
Spain" was launched in 2009 by the then mayor, Odon Elorza (PS0E, Socialist Party) The
gestation of the project was the result of a compromise between the mayor and a team of
cultural agents, headed by Santi Eraso (Cultural Director of the application for capital
Donostia, current advisor to the Office 2016), which brought the "ideas" that lacked
municipal aspirations. However, the PSOE lost in favor of Bildu (sovereignist coalition
led by the left abertzale municipal elections, a month before the European jury proclaimed
in Madrid in June 2011, the victory of Saint Sebastian at the title of European Capital of
Culture (DSS2016EU) against other candidates such as Cordoba or Pamplona. cities Thus, the
atmosphere became heavy, fueled by the ambition of the previous mayor for the guardianship
of which was his "darling" and attacks launched by the Spanish right, which obviously saw
no more favorably than the sovereignist coalition manages the project. Originally, under
the PSOE mayor, there were social reactions of protest against the draft Donostia Capital
raised by the hypocrisy of the municipality who boasted of "active citizenship",
coexistence, peace and the promotion of Basque culture. Ente other posters denounced
"Donostia capital of torture" and other "cultural capital = Capital of Culture", drawing
logo Donostia 2016 transforming sculpture Txilida "the comb of the winds" in the euro
symbol. The beginning of the protest movement reached its peak in April 2010, when several
committees parties, neighborhood associations and groups of Euskara (Basque) convened a
demonstration denouncing the lies (around peace, harmonious coexistence Basque and
Castilian ...), shameless propaganda and marketing campaign orchestrated by the mayor of
Donostia candidacy for the title of European Capital of Culture. The call for protests
ended with these questions: "What is the purpose of this costly campaign Sponsor a cheeky
brainwashing using popular and progressive messsages Get an impressive increase in tourism
justify the construction of qualified infrastructure?? "strategic"? "
With the arrival of elected Bildu at City Hall, where they govern in a minority (8 of 19),
the conflict is diluted, partly because obtaining the title of Capital was followed by a
period of silence of the municipality and internal work of the organizing Office 2016.
From the outside, one might wonder if things would be considered otherwise, and give the
label Donostia 2016 a new meaning. This is what seemed to indicate the appointment of new
cultural advisors Bureau - composed of thirty professionals and consultants - who enjoyed
greater recognition in the middle of the popular Basque culture. In this ambiguous context
where many people had no desire to get involved in the dispute to an event where they
counted many relationships critical to constrained lives and faded.
From there, the problems do not come from a social challenge Donostia 2016 virtually
nonexistent during this period of governance of the city Bildu, but attacks by the group
Vocento first newspaper publisher in Spain, and especially by the PSOE, with Odon Elorza
his head. Gradually, indeed, disputes between parties - with their consequences:
challenges of the new positions of directors and advisors, misappropriation of documents
and accusations of "bigotry" of "opacity" and "lack of leadership" - went into increasing
until the Donostia Capital Management leads to a major crisis. It finally erupted last
April, when the Director General, Office 2016, accusing the institutions and "political
battle between parties" to "block" the project, resigned, followed by the departure of
Director of Communications and removal of cultural director, which left all the stuff
without any direction.
Today, the answer to the crisis is to close ranks institutionally around the project and
it does not seem that the problem has actually resided in substantive differences. Indeed,
both the mayor that the Office 2016 and Santi Eraso (the "ideologue" and coordinator of
the project DSS2016EU) categorically deny having opposite different models, ensure that
they retain all "total fidelity" to the project and program original, "they do not alter
the values and objectives" that "Bildu did not change a single comma Project" ... at the
same time as they assault demonstration unit. Policies of the municipality engaged in an
intense presence in the media; during a press conference, counsel for all parties asked,
smiling and wearing shirts of advertising "2016 Capital", and made a solemn declaration to
"repeat the unanimous commitment of all political groups to advance the project Donostia
Capital and overcome the problems that impede their progress ", as guarantors also"
respect the spirit and the letter "project.
During this series of events, Bildu bowed and showed an increasing total subordination.
This was evident at the beginning of the year, because of the tension that followed for
several weeks the protest anti-TGV conducted in January action when the huge logo
"DSS2016EU" promoting cultural capital, was replaced by the slogan AHT EZ TAV (No TGV) and
that it remained visible for 10 days from the Bay of La Concha. Indeed, while the then
Director of the Capital said it saw no serious incident, she tried to separate Donostia
2016 TGV and defended the right of citizens to express themselves, however Bildu ended
yielded incomprehensibly pressures initiated by politicians and the media who can not
speak with your mouth full of concrete; so that mid-February all political parties of the
Town Hall (Bildu, PSE, PNV and PP) gave their unanimous approval to the proposal of the
PSOE to "communicate the deep malaise of the Town" and "blame Director 2016 his attitude
"for not ordered to immediately withdraw the anti-TGV slogan, and for daring" to question
the link in the Capital with the TGV. " We can consider this as the first municipal
agreement unanimous decision Donostia 2016 and a symptom of any drift that followed.
Since Bildu appears unable to sing any discordant note in this rotten climate of
institutional consensus; it is the same mayor Juan Karlos Izaguirre (elected Bildu),
unable since the beginning of the crisis to say anything other than "We will continue to
move forward, of course," and began to repeat calls mundane to "support the project" to
start "motivate and involve citizens" It is clear that institutions manage risk always
leads to accept the contents of the system - in this case Donostia Capital 2016 Despite
the. turn of events taken at the institutional level (Bildu arrival at the head of the
City Council in 2011), critical voices continue to be heard within the population ("the
model continues to be the same").
Meanwhile, the employees themselves of the technical team of the Office 2016 allowed
institutions to save face by agreeing to form during the crisis a "transitional direction"
until the Foundation appoints new CEO, a position that, according to Councillor Santi
Eraso, should return to a "leader in relation to the more political and entrepreuneriales
fringes of the project" to focus on finding private sponsorship. And in the back room, the
power elite managers of the city has undoubtedly strengthened whenever the Municipal
Government was willing to sell one of its representatives on the Foundation to introduce
in its place the PSOE (the only currently left without representation in this body) to
"stabilize" Donostia 2016. Moreover, the City itself has created a commission of
"coordination" formed of various "heavyweights" of the municipal administration related to
the management of the original project, such as the Director of Strategic (which was the
origin of the application) and Directors of Tourism Development of Culture, with the
former Chief of Staff of the City of Odon elorza.
Faced with all this, it seems obvious that if we do not act, the necessary social critique
in Donostia Capital may end up buried under a wave of disputes between parties and
questionable institutional arrangements.
3) WHAT ARE THE EUROPEAN CAPITAL OF CULTURE
The cities become European Capitals of Culture part of the capitalist culture in the
deepest sense. These "cultural capitals" is an exhibition of pure power, bombastic,
rhetorical, empty. In addition to being a source of symbolic legitimacy to the government,
"cultural" elements are a mere commodity. Trademarks are a commercial phenomenon and
communication of the new capitalism, warns Unai Fernandez Betono, Doctor of architecture:
"With the title of Cultural Capital Donostia in 2016, and with the brand Vitoria Green
Capital (Green Capital), which essentially what is sought is to attract money, tourists,
investors. cities have turned into key elements to develop the economy, and as a result,
the city itself becomes a commodity " . Indeed, culture is, in this sense, a commercial
image exploited by the elite managers who run cities. So that the European Capital 2016 is
undoubtedly in the first place, a marketing tool for the city, since it provides the
"brand" to sell Donostia sought through a marketing operation where the emphasis is placed
on the perspective of tourism promotion.
But be Capital is not only a tool for tourism marketing; strategy is finer and
sophisticated: beneath the rhetoric of cultural, it is a capture device that seeks "to
mobilize the emotions" and integrate citizen dynamics, in order to obtain a total
mobilization of the city channeled to a single project in which everyone has come to be
part of "Donostia in 2016."
This explains the dual role that the brand plays Donostia in 2016: it is a major operation
of tourism marketing that caters to the outside, but at the same time inside with the
constant exhortation to "citizen participation "and the call to" mobilize hope and
emotional link citizen born with the project, "the goal being that the local people" make
his mind of the capital, as it applies to his everyday life and it creates its own
proposals. " That is why, in the programming of Donostia in 2016, in addition to "big
events" designed by pure exhibitionism to seek "a significant international impact, so
these are the activities that can best mobilize citizens and attract tourists "are also
implemented a range of heterogeneous activities, designed to integrate all possible
expressions and dynamic citizens, including those who are on the margins of the official
culture. Basically, what characterizes this kind of event is the European Commission
itself that defines us (she who is the promoter of Capital): "Festivals and the European
Culture Capital in particular produce of significant economic and use as laboratories for
the development of citizen participation in the creative process benefits. " Thus, it is
necessary to mobilize the creative potential of diffuse urban populations, understood as a
new asset to operate and profitable in economic terms. This then, paradoxically, known
local artists say that "many professionals feel the culture capital as something foreign
and opaque thing" because "at no point in the process, they were not consulted or invited
to speak. "
Finally, we note that the constant call to "mobilize emotions" involves the inhibition of
thought and compulsory participation in an essentially misleading event. With the use of
the specious argument of "opportunity." But opportunity for what?
The commodification of culture
"Creativity continues to be a resource to be exploited," says a statement from the United
Nations (2004). It is impossible to address criticism of the Cultural Capital without
referring to the process of commodification of culture developed globally. Specifically,
the project of the European Capital of Culture was launched in 1985 by the Ministers of
Culture of the European Union in perfect agreement with the perspective of the European
Commission to increase investments in culture and creativity as economic engines. From
this conception of "culture" understood as active and exploit strategic factor for
economic growth, the challenge for policy driven by europ?ennees bodies is to promote the
areas of culture and creativity as key elements for economic growth in the EU and to forge
an attractive and dynamic image of the "Creative Economy" European, capable of asserting
its competitiveness and global presence. Just take a look at some documents - Creative
Europe program, project CATALYSIS, Europe 2020 Strategy, the Forum d'Avignon, Information
on Creative Economy Conference of the United Nations Programme of UNESCO Creative Cities,
Forum of Cities and Territories Creatives of Spain, etc.) - to realize the ideology behind
these proposals. disguised under the appearance of rewarding cultural creation, all
orientations are consistent with the commodification of culture and orient themselves
intensively to the "liberalization" when they proclaim that the economic forces of
business will take a leading role in the cultural sector for profitable exploitation of
the "value of ideas and their ability to generate profits "in entrepreneurial terms.
The draft Donostia 2016 Cultural Capital together in the "Final Document" DSS2016EU is as
such perfectly clear about its intentions: it aims to promote the creation of an
Entrepreneurial Foundation for Culture and Creativity, specifying more than that is taking
place "without giving up our goals, values and creative proposals, among other things
because it is this creativity, and because it is that it is these values that are highly
attractive to businesses." Thus the document calls for the creation of a private
foundation "who intended to be permanent, which brings together a large number of small
businesses and some large businesses who wish, which often already have their own policies
Social Responsibility corporate already defined. " Indeed, we read also "paradigms
antagonisms no longer work. Increasingly, convergence and cohabitation play a fundamental
role. Many of them occur when the private sector perceives that culture n ' is not a cost
but an investment "... so that" DSS2016EU is a decisive challenge for the creative economy
"and even has the steering group in 2016 (formed by the Mayor, the Council (diputacion
Foral), the Government Basque and the Minister of Culture) "not only as an organization
but as co-financer engine a more open relationship between culture, social needs and
management philosophy"; offering an "open design of the crop business relationship" with a
view to "the creation of structures and permanent channels of reconciliation between the
corporate world and culture." Moreover, according DSS2016EU "social factory operates 24
broadcast on 24. So, what is the domain of work, dream, rest (real, imaginary, symbolic),
everything will be productive, in a process of change leading to a paradigm dominated by
the "immaterial labor" society. ways of thinking and doing art occupy a place privi?gi?
instrumental in this model of the knowledge society. "
We must keep clearly in mind that the European capitals (Donostia 2016 will be the capital
53 or 54, with the Polish city of Wroclaw) are within the commodification of culture and
serve to legitimize restructuring deep capitalist society. After the decline of economies
and industrial cities are highlighted projects "Creative Cities" in which "creativity is
inexhaustible oil their economies" in the new "Era of Knowledge", linked to the ideology
of economic growth without limits demanded by capitalism. Somehow, we are entering a new
phase of development in which the capital goes where the richness and diversity of the
cultural fabric and training promote production of "creative ideas." The celebration of
major events as are the European Capitals of Culture are a catalyst for the candidate
cities accelerate a profound transformation generating new spaces for "Cultural and
Creative Industries" (these include the audiovisual sector, the entertainment and
multimedia, music, entertainment, design and fashion, architecture, cultural tourism,
luxury, etc..) located within the most dynamic emerging economic and commercial sectors.
"There's a lot of money in the world and it lacks projects for capture," says Alfonso
Vegara (President of the "Fundacion Metropoli-proyecto cities" and editor of Territorial
Organization Guidelines "Euskal Hiria NET" (Basque Capital NET) of the Basque Government);
the new socio-territorial model "Basque Capital" has been realized in the construction of
major infrastructure and the development of "Axes processing and Creativity": "Axes
Transformation is an opportunity to drive innovation and creativity which are the basis
for life and the twenty-first century economy, and they have the quality to boost the
attraction of the "creative class" of our society. "
In this context, as in Marina Garc?s said "Open the possible" culture has become the main
instrument of advanced capitalism, which transforms it into mechanism and hobby system is
both colorful and brutal where everything can be consumed and integrated. For this, in the
current phase of capitalism, culture also assumes the function to neutralize and
depoliticize social relations, without any emancipatory potential or any power
transformation or dispute. And this neutralization, as the warning text "Barcelona 2014:
the postmodern fascism" (published by Espai en Blanc about the "Forum of Cultures"
celebrated in Barcelona in 2014) takes place through total mobilization socio-cultural
diversity and its simultaneous subordination to capitalist economic universe. In this way,
"each option, duly organized and neutralized mobilized and put to work" for the whole
machine works. Thus, through the total mobilization that we also convene Donostia Capital
2016 offers a depoliticized culture experience of freedom and participation.
Live in the tourist bombing
Another aspect to note is the sharp increase in tourism that the city will suffer in the
coming years. Today, all the towns and cities are moving towards tourism, because far from
being a common phenomenon, it is converted to one of their bigger shops, a factor
"internationalization" of the first order and an indicator of the transformation of the
territory and towns in companies that offer as such on the market. Also the title of
capital europ?ennede culture Donostia 2016 he one of the axes of the tourism project to
boost the tourism market of the city abroad. In fact, DSS2016EU claims pose a milestone in
the growth of tourism linked to international middle class rich if, in 2013, Donostia
recorded about half a million visitors, which means a record, in 2016 tourism should
reach, according to forecasts, 1,400,000 hotel nights in the city and, at the same time,
2.5 million in its immediate environment. Councillor for Tourism, Joshua Ruiz, says that
"Donostia is a destination that is trendy" and plans to develop an "online" campaign with
the goal of creating a "brand image of the city" to the market worldwide as a destination
of "quality, excellence and exclusivity for a type of tourist with a good economic,
cultural tastes and interests."
The Director of Tourism, Manu Narvaez added that in the coming years, in addition to
promote the conquest of "emerging markets" that represent Japanese and Russian visitors,
the capital of Guipuzcoa preferably target the North American market, which is "closely
linked to the concept of exclusivity" and "love discovering new areas with very similar
values of excellence." This is consistent with the objectives of the Basque Government,
which is also strongly bet the "Cultural Tourism", an expression which is a euphemism,
tourism is massive and predatory in nature: for example, he says that if in 2011 Euskadi
(autonomous community with 3 Basque provinces: Guipuzcoa, Biscay, Alava) reached a record
2.7 million tourists visited in the coming years the aim is to grow even more in the
international market until reach 4 million tourists in 2020, strengthening the "Basque
Country brand" that sells Euskadi as "a unique destination with an offer that feeds a
lifestyle, style, places and frames unique life to the world. "
The project will target tourists conventions, business, weekends, and most importantly,
culturophages tourists. For them, the project loses DSS2016EU modesty and "focus on
maintaining their own identity as unique and special tourist resource, both for cultural
and social reasons for its differential value and source of competitive advantage ". To do
this, he says, "Specifically, we seek to attract the attention of those people who usually
travel for reasons halfway between work and free time, attracted by large cultural events
or specific activities and specific. A very common profile among workers of culture and
the emerging creative class. " And finally, as if all that was not enough, comes the
European Committee for Monitoring and Control of Capital to urge that the program
"actually guarantees the European dimension" of the project and avoids "any kind of
tropism leading to organizing a celebration of Basque cuture directed exclusively to the
local public "; for it must offer real "pre-developed attractive to the Spanish and
European tourism packages".
Of course, we do not speak of the social consequences of this wave of touristification. On
this ground, the right of the people remains dominated by the law of tourists and we are
witnessing the mass and total commodification of urban space, turning the streets every
day in a large tourist area, leisure and retail simultaneously disappears that remained in
the city remains the working culture and remnants of the independence of quarters: "A
Donostia they destroyed all that was in contact with the working world (...) Tourism is
invasive and brings bondage, "says the writer Koldo Izagirre.
A good example of this, as we have in the new "bylaw terraces" that denounces the
Association of the inhabitants of the Old Quarter (Neighborhood Association bustling Old
Quarter), because "it yields to the leisure industry and Tourism, the hospitality sector
in the head, occupation and privatization of much of the public space of the city and the
Old Quarter ", while the" supposed economic benefits that hotel generates for the city,
which actually goes into the pockets of the hotel, include only taxes collected,
precarious employment and inflated economic data provided by the sources. " In turn, the
immobilil?re and commercial speculation destroyed heritage with operations such as the
planned demolition of the old building of the "Fine Arts" to a hotel; it is also about the
great "cultural infrastructure" Donostia 2016 currently under construction "Tabakalera"
("farmer Tobacco Company"): in fact, as they do not know how profitable the enormous
dimensions of the building of the old factory designed to hold an "International Centre of
Contemporary Art", this building will house a classy and expensive restaurant with one of
the most "spectacular" city of the rooftop floor views at the same time, according to some
comments the enclosure may be counted in more area for FNAC, a Corte Ingles, or Inditex
first space dedicated to culture. Finally, the expulsion hidden populations without
resources in a city with high prices and where young people do not find housing, police
control and limitation of widespread protest mechanisms do the rest.
Other important issues
In connection with the commodification of culure and promoting a commodified image of the
city to tourism exist aures aspects should be emphasized:
Finance a costly financing of the total budget of EUR 89 million originally planned for
Donostia 2016 (soon reduced to 62 million) project falls mainly on the Town Hall, the
Diputacion (Council of Guipuzcoa)) and the Basque Government, which provide about 18
million each to cover more than 60% of the programmed costs around this event to the year
2020 (eg, the budget for this annn?e 2014 is approaching 8 million); while the Ministry of
Culture bring 11 million and the rest would be achieved through the sponsorship of private
companies (20%) among which are several building contractors (Amenabar, FCC ...) and shops
(5%)
The enormous weight of the marketing
It should be emphasized the enormous burden of expenditure on marketing and advertising of
the event, which alone comprise part of EUR 18 million. Moreover, in its communication
plan and marketing strategy, the Office 2016 emphasizes the design "a whole digital
strategy" that will "strong emphasis on social networks and new relational spaces
generated by the last communication technologies ", where the DSS2016EU project proposes
to make" digital campaigns and actions in which prevail transgressive, emotional and
attractive style that should be any action that claims to be contagious "; and as,
moreover, he said that "we will work to promote agreements with businesses in the Basque
areas, but also with the most international Spanish entrreprises and are present
throughout the world, such as Inditex, Movitor, Repsol, Spanair or Santander Bank "so that
they broadcast the DSS201EU project" to project ourselves in Europe and internationally
and reach a much larger "mobilizing effect.
The apology TGV and major infrastructure DSS2016EU The project is not at all short in his
apology development when he said that, "coinciding with the period of preparation and
development DSS2016EU are provided superior investment 5,000 million euros, which
culminate investment in major infrastructure of transportation and communication as the
TGV or the subway, so that in 2016 the city will be in the best conditions to accommodate
the title of European Capital of Culture ". (...) The flagship projects will be the TGV
and Metro (...) In 2016, the TGV link Donostia to Bilbao, Vitoria and Pamplona in half an
hour and Madrid in just over 2 hours; it will increase the flow of visitors to the city
and facilitate the visit by Europeans (...) The participation of the city in the European
TGV network - which will connect to the main Spanish and European tourism markets - the
network of international airports in the territory, and internal connectivity Basque Y
(railways high speed Y-shaped) and the Metro metropolitan area provide, generate a key
transit area for tourism bet Submission. "Etc, etc..
It is not for nothing that was planned to conclude the construction of the TGV in 2016,
which coincides with Donostia European Capital of Culture, although completion is
currently delayed due without credible despite the enormous expenses that have made the
rulers. In addition, DSS2016EU also sells as the city "exceptional items" "dense network
of motorways and 2x2 Guipuzcoa and all of Euskadi", without forgetting that "beyond the
airport San Sebastian, in a radius of 100 km, are the airports of Bilbao, Vitoria,
Pamplona and Biarritz "," the new underground intermodal station will be built in
connection with the TGV train station "to Atotxa and that" the port will transferred
outside "in Passages. Thus, the fact that a "creative city" can not stand as "attractive"
as through major cultural events and the consolidation of a broad-based infrastructure is
fully supported here. Even more clearly in an article in which he had to propose the
creation of an "Association of Friends of the Basque Y" Jon Azua (former Vice President of
the Basque Government and President Enovatinglab, SL Platform generating innovative ideas
for the implementation of competitive strategies in Bilbao.) also wrote that the TGV
"creates a new space for the creative economy to which we aspire (...) The creative
territories with a clear international fame have to offer the best entrepreneurial and
innovative climate, well-being and excellence connected with the world from megastructures
transport "(" Basque Y: Well beyond infrastructure ", published in" Hermes "of the Sabino
Arana Foundation in October 2007)
Praise made Eurocity Closely related to the foregoing, DSS2016EU looks like a capital
"Atlantic and cross the middle of the large Eurocity Bayonne-Bilbao" (sic) and the paper
concludes his little geography lesson by explaining that the "conurbation of San
Sebastian, in a broad sense, is the core of a project that encompasses the entire
Euroregion going from Bordeaux to Bilbao" ... So it gives a guarantee of natural thing to
a territorial model and m?tropolis? predator territory.
Membership in an arrogant pro-European mentality order to seduce the European Commission,
DSS2016EU dare to lecture saying that "if Europe wants to continue to play an important
role in this globalized world, it must raise the banner culture and democracy, as the home
of humanity. " It also includes in its program of activities designed to promote literally
"hope in the future of the European Union." She added that Donostia is "a city proud of
its liberal-progressive tradition" and "as his identity euskaldun (Basque) which is able
to adapt to new times and reconcile its plural cultural identity with modernity,
globalization" .. . With these banalities, it legitimizes any model widely questioned and
challenged.
Unilateral reading of the issue of violence and use an ambiguous slogan as "The Culture of
Coexistence" DSS2016EU assumes possession of the absolute truth: when the document speaks
of dealing with violence, he not only refers the Basque question, but "also the various
social conflicts that extend far and wide throughout Europe (...) We want Donostia-San
Sebastian be converted into international standard for the culture of peace and education
values, among them the ethical superiority of nonviolence conceived as rejection of war
and terrorism, as well as any other form of violence. " Many questionable assumptions also
generally self-serving.
Creative economy?
It is also important to avoid a possible misunderstanding when they speak to us of
"creatve economy" and "invest in creativity." Indeed, the concept of "creativity" seems to
be the idea that joker is used to make up the new stage promised economic growth; but we
know that the whole system is characterized much more by what it destroys as it creates,
to the extent that it can not continue to grow further as from the continuing expansion of
its physical bases (extraction of raw materials, energy, infrastructure, production,
transport ...). What happens now is that the exploitation and transformation will, in
addition, "largely by the constant updating of the human capital of the metropolis,
forcing focus on people and their values as a strategic key to the development "of the
economy, according to what has been announced the association" Bilbao Metropolis-30. "
"The creative abilities" - also said the European Commission-"must be acquired at an early
age," among others "in order to stimulate consumer demand access to a wide variety of
content and more products and diversif?s More sophisticated ". There is also a new
division is emerging in society, as the protagonists of this story are the "creative
class": they are the owners of a rich social capital "networks", ie who the ability to
participate in the design and management of projects, which accumull? experiences,
contacts and diverse references. The sum of these skills and their willingness to produce
"ideas" that enterprises use to define their options promotion.
4) THE PROGRAM AND COST DSS2016EU
In terms of programming year Donostia Capital, "we believe that there is an unlimited
potential to generate strong explosion of programs and activities," the document says
DSS2016EU. Here are some samples of the 62 activities, throughout the year 2016 "flood the
territory" and have already been programmed, mostly in the "final document" European
winner of the 2011 competition:
Major events: - For the inaugural act called "Drums of Peace" (1.8 million euros), it was
announced that "more than 9,000 children from all over Europe will signal the opening of
the European Capital of Culture "participating in the" tamborrada "(concert drums) of the
feast of the city.
Simultaneously be achieved "Bombing of poems for cohabitation" "A plane carrying messages
of coexistence, peace, harmony, love, hope, forgiveness, announce this to the entire
European continent launching the program is launched DSS2016EU" (250,000 euros). "The aim
is to spray Poland - where the city of Wroclaw share the title of Capital of Culture 2016
with Donostia - to spread the message of peace and massive invasive way (...) Our fleet to
bombard peace During the year 2016 throughout Europe with poems of peace, in collaboration
with networks of "Intercultural Cities" and "Educating", Paris, London, Madrid, Berlin,
Belfast, Lisbon, Warsaw ". And the program adds: "Everything was destroyed Guernica More
than half a century after totalitarianism sowed destruction with unprecedented violence
against the civilian population, we Europeans are limpliqu?s in an integration process
based on. values such as human rights, respect for diversity and coexistence between
peoples and nations. "
Other examples of this vast marketing operation for the city are a train, a boat, a circus
and a mobile agency that will serve as "mobile platforms" of DSS2016EU, putting to the
fore the construction of the nave San Juan undertake several trips along the European
coasts, as "the flagship of the European Capital of Culture 2016" at the same time serve
(2,640,000 euros) "attraction to San Sebastian Pole." It is hoped that during one of the
trips back whaler San Juan - this is a replica of a boat of the fifteenth century who
participated in the route to India for transporting gold and hunting whales in
Newfoundland - "thousands of boats and barges, yachts and boats from all over Europe will
accompany us to celebrate this fun way back to the port." Ultimately, the nave of San Juan
- for the construction of which we never say that were slaughtered in the Etxarri-Aranatz
200 oaks, many of whom were old forest - "put Euskadi (the Basque Country) on World map of
maritime heritage. It will get visibility in Europe, "said an adviser to the 2016 Donostia
team.
Are also planned a thousand concerts for three days will bring together over 10,000 young
European musicians in different Basque localities (including macro-festival in the Anoeta
stadium where they hope to gather 23,000 people)
The production of 15 short films whose central motif is "Donostia as thread" (240,000 euros)
An "International Festival of Kites for Unity and European Diversity" which promises to be
"a popular air show of solidarity and hope in the future of the European Union (200,000 euros)
The use of a "Citizen Mobilization Event International" organization in which Donostia
become "European Capital of Ocean Initiatives", which begins with the arrival of whales
floating-drawn traineras and continue with 48 hours of concerts on floating stages and the
beach; also participate associations, universities, companies and institutions engaged in
"protecting our coasts" (550.000 euros)
Other spectacular actions as the "installation of a lighting system never realized until
now," and "significantly modifies the urban landscape in a part of the center and the
seafront of the city," with which claims invite people "to reflect on the winter solstice"
and to "adopt more responsible drinking habits" (85.000 euros)
Peace activities in the field of activities for "peace" and "cohabitation", will be made
of "shows on the Peace Agreement", "a series of forums brotherhood and reconciliation
involving people willing to build a scenario of sustainable cohabitation ", an"
International Meeting of Commissions for Truth, Justice and Reconciliation "(800,000
euros), and a human chain accompanied by festive activities that will connect in the
localities and Aduna Tolosa (Guipuzcoa), places where died the first civilian guard killed
by ETA and the first ETA militant killed by the Guardia Civil (150,000 euros)
Activities to integrate social dynamics of any type: In the context of "good child" who
seeks to integrate heterogeneous expressions and elements located on the fringes of the
official culture, it must include:
The organization of a "Congress of popular self-organization initiatives" (180,000 euros)
An "International Meeting just saving, alternative currency and micro-financing" which
presents itself as an experience offering citizen-ing to try new alternative forms of
financing (time banks, microcredit, community currencies), there including the creation
"as a pilot experimental mode" of "alternative currency DSS2016EU which, along with the
usual money will flow in 2016 and allow the people of Guipuzcoa and people visiting to
participate in an economic system we separate ". In addition, an international conference
will be organized "Can we live without money?" On possible less monetarist economic models
that exceed the money system (750,000 euros) ...
The realization of an International Congress of Food, Nutrition and food sovereignty "and
other activities festivo-participatory nature as an event entitled" Mother Earth "to
celebrate the" International Day of Slow Food "(650,000 euros)
A "European Campus for the meeting of NGOs and other organizations of international
cooperation" will host a sort of "G20 solidarity" (500,000 euros)
A "Women's Time" with activities of all types that will culminate with "Futurm?res", an
international meeting of "mothers and fathers of the future, with an aging Europe, offer
the adventure of rejuvenating motherhood, moving, amusing educator and happy "(200,000 euros)
Programming "Hundred sessions based on the school of Theatre of the Oppressed" (150. 000)
One that tries to highlight the act of creation and invention of new symbolic worlds from
internees "art done by persons confined in prisons, psychiatric units or centers for
minors exhibition" ", including the exposure of more than sixty works that make up" the
written records, inscriptions and art "angry" "cooperative" Sensitive to the madness
"(950.000 euros)
- Not to mention a "Cooperarock" - a neologism formed "cooperative" and "rock opera" -
promoted with the collaboration of a group of which the embryo is born in 1998 in a squat
in a musical association that has obtained the support factories Creation of the Basque
Government (350,000 euros)
Activities related to the issue of linguistic diversity and standardization of minority
languages in Europe. Finally, one of the most eye-catching aspects of the program refers
to the issue of linguistic diversity and standardization of minority languages in Europe.
This fact deserves special attention for the effect of symbolic recognition that it seems
to assume Euskara (Basque) and minority languages. "The cultural program should be invited
to create an awareness in Europe of the richness and diversity of minority cultures and
languages that exist in European countries," said the European Committee for Monitoring
and Control of Cultural Capital in its recommendations.
However, besides this theoretical compliance miniritaires languages, we can not forget
that the European institutions do not recognize nationalities and linguistiques situation
in Europe, in addition to established the dominance of a hegemonic language (the English),
is a serious inequality and hierarchy made between different national cultures and
communities; so, many of them tend to weaken and igh are clearly becoming assimilated as a
consequence of the action of states seeking to reduce and eliminate national identities
deemed subordinate.
Approximately 50 different languages are spoken in the European Union, 24 of them are
official languages, while states recognize the existence of about 20 other languages they
call "regional" (eg Breton and Basque) and 31 other "minority" languages spoken by
significant minorities located in different regions and countries (the case of the
Balkans, Romania, Poland ...) where complex linguistic situations exist (eg the Hungarian
spoken by the Hungarian minority in Croatia). In this context, the Spanish state of
autonomies would have converted during the last thirty years, an "example" or "true
experimental laboratory Language Policy", insofar as the "European Charter even regional
or minority languages "considers in any case that" the protection and promotion of
regional or minority languages should not be to the detriment of the official languages
"or" national sovereignty and territorial integrity "of states. In addition, there are
many who believe that any form of globalization carries impulses to uniformity, together,
beyond the linguistic differences that minority languages eventually convey is not the
patrimony of each people but membership in a system that claims make a profound unity
around the dominant culture with its values and goals, reproducing a single model that has
an increasingly strong cultural domination in the world.
Therefore, it is necessary to highlight the contradictions posed by the project itself
DSS2016EU when he tackles the subject. Indeed, a side he celebrates "the growing
multilingualism opens new horizons of hope for the integration of minority languages,
ensuring simultaneous communication, naturally, in two or more languages," and also argues
that, "contrary to appearances, globalization and technology does not necessarily bring
dispose of minority languages, but instead suggest significant opportunities for
revitalization."
But on the other hand, and in a contradictory way, he warned: "But despite efforts and
significant progress, various indicators have a pessimistic general overview for minority
languages in Europe and the world, in fact, all the languages that do not fit into the
hegemonic linguistic map of international relations power. " In addition, the meaning of
his proposal is open to different interpretations when he announces, for example, the
organization of a "meeting of writers from different countries usually use these minority
languages in their works, for they work narrative experiences together on the theme "take
the loss as the possibility of reincarnation," to create a new language that resurface all
these as if it were a new species, a new mythological animal "...
That said, the language issue will be the subject of various activities, including the
announcement of the organization of a "Summit on linguistic diversity" which will bring
together experts and intellectuals and which will be presented a protocol for the
protection and promotion of endangered languages (512,000 euros), at the same time that
coincides with the "European Day of Languages", throughout the territory of the Capital
"shall cover sheet which will be written basic phrases in various languages that overwhelm
the shop windows, balconies of houses, fences yards, etc.. "; and the model of the Book
Fair and Hard Durango (which is described as "largest commercial meeting" of Basque
culture) will be held in Irun "professional language fair, which will cover all aspects of
the market" (450,000 euros )
5) CONCLUSION Y Lecturas:
We have reviewed in this text information as to why, in our opinion, it is necessary to
stimulate debate and social protest against the capital Donostia 2016. Aware scans that we
are questionable and may also sometimes be mistaken, this work seeks anyway to invite all
individuals and collectives to express their own opinions. We recommend reading the
following text (which can be obtained easily by searching on the Internet):
"Barcelona 2004 el postmodern fascism" (Barcelona 2004: the postmodern fascism) (published
by Espai en Blanc).
"Los Abrir possibles" ("Open the possibilities") Marina Garc?s.
Capitalidad Europea de la Cultura 2016 in Donostia "Documento Final". (European Capital of
Culture in 2016: "Final Document" to know what it is DSS2016EU, throw at least a glance)
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