Polish city Wroclaw ends year as European Capital of Culture with "Heaven" show

"Heaven" show staged in Wroclaw, western Poland on Saturday marked the end of the city's year as a European Capital of Culture (ECOC) and was also the closing ceremony of the event.

Between December 15-18, a closing weekend of ECOC Wroclaw 2016, plenty of attractions were held throughout the town.

Staged at the Centennial Hall, sound-and-light multiple arts show "Heaven" included two hundred artists from Poland and abroad. It recounted the story of Wroclaw in the 20th century.

Apart from the main show, events are held in various cultural institutions, including Wroclaw Opera House, exhibitions at the Main Railway Station and at the Zajezdnia History Centre, two musical festivals: Friendship Festival and WROsound, street theatres and workshops for children.

The European Capital of Culture means a city designated by the European Union for a period of one year during which, the city organizes a series of cultural events.

It is an opportunity for the city to generate considerable cultural, social and economic benefits and it might help change the city's image and raise its visibility on an international scale.

The idea was raised by former Greece Minister of Culture, Melina Mercouri and her French counterpart Jack Lang in 1985.

The main goal for such action was to highlight richness and diversity of European cities and cultures. Each year, the Council of Ministers of the European Union formally designates European Capitals of Culture. So far, more than 40 cities have been designated.

Wroclaw, the capital of Lower Silesia in southern Poland, was chosen as European Capital of Culture 2016 by a panel of Polish and European Union experts on June 21, 2011. Another city designated for ECOC 2016 title was San Sebastian in Spain.

In 2017, Aarhus in Denmark and Pafos in Cyprus will share the title. Endit