Two cities are divided by a border,
like two halves of a circle, where the easternmost corner of the
Latin world meets the Slavic world. Gorizia, the millennial
town, and Nova Gorica, the futuristic one, now become one to
celebrate European culture, art, and unity. It is with a
spectacular and symbolic ceremony, also attended by the
President of the Republic of Italy, Sergio Mattarella, and the
President of the Republic of Slovenia, Nataša Pirc Musar, that
Go!2025, the program of Nova Gorica and Gorica as European
Capital of Culture, will officially open on February 8.
A unique event in the history of the European Community:
never had two cities divided by a border shared the title, let
alone two cities separated (in 1947) by such a guarded and
delicate border throughout the Cold War.
There are four main themes: War and Peace, The Making of the
New, Smugglers, and A Lot of Green. It starts with the February
8 cross-border ceremony, From Station to Station, in which 11
European ministers of culture will also participate and which
will have its heart in the iconic Transalpine Square/Tgr Europe,
halfway between the two states. Confirmed artists include Remo
Anzovino, Daddy G (Massive Attack), and Andy Smith (Portishead).
Events not to be missed include the Friendship March and
Europe Week (May 1-9), Tastes without Borders to visit the whole
region through gastronomy (Sept. 26-28), and the Final Ceremony
with Christmas Lights Lighting (Dec. 1-5). In between are events
such as the Festival of Complexity, the exhibition dedicated to
Zoran Mušič, a tribute to Franco Basaglia, Dodecalogo, a
transgenerational docu-fiction by director Tomi Janežič, and
Anja Medved's documentary on World War II witnesses. Plus: the
May Day March in various European border cities, the Biennial of
Young Artists of Europe and the Mediterranean, a focus on
architect Edvard Ravnikar, who designed Nova Gorica, exhibitions
on Andy Warhol and Steve McCurry, and the Peace Trail, which is
also a candidate for UNESCO. In the summer, live performances by
Alanis Morissette, Sting, and Robbie Williams star in the
parallel GO!2025&Friends program (Info: www.go2025.eu).
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