Dear Citizens and Visitors,

I welcome you in the only Serbian city selected to take part in the pilot programme: “Intercultural Cities” as a joint initiative of the Council of Europe and the European Commission, gathering twelve cities from different European countries. Based on exchange of good local practice in managing ethnic and cultural diversities, this co-operation programme opens a new space for establishing a dialogue on the concepts of intercultural governance and the challenges of bridging the traditional urban environment with the innovative responses to cultural diversities.

Subotica is a multicultural urban centre and the second largest city in the region of Vojvodina, within which a long standing and rich cultural heritage of its national communities intertwine with modern European values of democratic governance at local level. A flower with four petals turned to each other, symbolising the attraction of cultural diversity, mirrors the City’s historical trademark as a destination for settling, and today, as a Serbian gateway to Europe, welcoming the visitors, newcomers and tourists.

Visiting Subotica's prominent cultural sites, experiencing its cultural, linguistic, religious richness evidenced in numerous annually organised festivals, open stage film and theatrical performances, concerts, poetry and literary evenings, concerts in the City Hall and in churches, or the cultural programmes in  national minorities' cultural centres  has also become a part of our local development vision. Therefore, we proudly present this Calendar of cultural diversity programmes as a specific evidence of our development potential resources. The publication will be available both in the Local Economic Development Office and in the Tourist Information Centre in order to provide all the necessary information about cultural events taking place in our city.

Sincerely,

Saša Vučinić

Mayor