GastGastgeber

In 2010 the Ruhr area is, together with the cities of Istanbul and Pécs (Hungary), European Cultural Capital: RUHR.2010 (www.ruhr2010.de). A lot of organizations, institutions and individual artists and some Dutch cities started in 2008, as part of RUHR.2010, to develop different plans and projects with the intention to expose these in 2010. The different ideas and plans have been conducted during the first months of 2009. A closer look is taken to the possible connections that exist between different plans and in which way it is possible to develop a ‘red thread’ between the diverse projects.

October 2008 “On basis of the specific filled in project proposals/ proposals that have to be filled in and the individual ideas and potential projects, an overarching coordination and a collective PR-/ marketing plan and communication in the Netherlands and NRW about RUHR2010 has to be initiated. In parallel/ prior to this a strong substantive concept has to be developed (beyond sectors) and where necessary the different sector plans and individual plans and ideas need to be brought into line, stimulated and/or drawn up.”

This resulted in an inventarisation that gives a good view of what, where, when and with which partners are committed in the projects. On behalf of the consulate-general Düsseldorf, Hans Venhuizen, Lucas Verwey and Boris Sieverts also developed a concentrated substantive concept, on the basis of the already existing plans and projects and in harmony with the diverse involving organizations and sector institutions. The goal of this concentrated concept is to be visible and recognizable in the Ruhr area as the Netherlands in 2010. With these synergy and benefits of the whole a strong, substantive, collective promotion of the Netherlands and Germany can be set up.

In the report, titled GastGastgeber, the binding concept will be further introduced and clarified. We start this document however with an inside in the backgrounds of the Ruhr area and principles of RUHR.2010.