It was yesterday. Just before the February 26 launch of Esch2022, in his office overlooking the Belval site, not far from the Rockhal. “I always say that we Luxembourgers experience Europe every day,” said Nancy Braun, general manager of the event. “We are lucky to be immersed in this open-mindedness” Thursday evening was (already) closing day. Covid-19 had suspended time, the European Capital of Culture 2022 saw it go by at breakneck speed. How to look back on several months of shows, events and exhibitions with professionals and amateurs?
In order not to have to decide, Nancy Braun and her teams have chosen to punctuate the 2,400 events organized on more than 280 sites (architecture, design, performing arts, music or theater, etc.), or 33 million euros (M€ ) dedicated to the program on the 54.8 million euros of the total budget, for ellipsis. Like a book without the word “Finish”.
A way to make this cross-border heritage bear fruit after 2022. A presumed way of not setting limits. “We really want to invite people to dare, test, experiment and form their own opinion,” Nancy Braun said before kickoff in February. “Above all you must not be afraid” To go out, to meet and reach out to others.
A cultural tower of Babel
“In Luxembourg, one in two people has a second nationality or another nationality,” recalled Sam Tanson, Minister of Justice and Culture, on Thursday evening. “The Esch2022 program has been extended to eleven Luxembourg municipalities and eight neighboring French municipalities. Our territory is representative of Europe” More than 1,200 meetings in French were thus organised. More than 900 in English, more than 750 in Luxembourgish, more than 500 in German but also more than 130 in Portuguese. A real tower of Babel.
It is still premature to want to translate a year of culture into figures. Too early to know the exact attendance (results will be published in the spring) but the organizers and partners are already satisfied with the diversity of the audience, both international and intergenerational. “Hundreds of thousands of visitors” both in the ten pro-southern communes and in the eight, in France, of the Community of communes Pays-Haut Val d’Alzette”, anticipates Nancy Braun. “Nearly 32,000 people attended the opening ceremony (with health restrictions The traditional “fire festival” in Bascharage, the European carnival in Pétange and the literary festival in Bettembourg welcomed more than 35,000 visitors. In Villerupt, the “pop ball” attracted around 5,000 dancers.
