Representatives of the Municipality of Budva visited Novi Sad in order to meet with Miloš Vučević, Mayor of Novi Sad and Nemanja Milenković, CEO of the ‘Novi Sad – European Capital of Culture’ Foundation regarding the candidacy of Budva, together with the three municipalities in Boka Kotorska for the European Capital of Culture in 2028.

Having in mind that Novi Sad is the city that has shown worthy of this prestigious title, Miloš Vučević, Mayor of Novi Sad, expressed his readiness to offer all gained knowledge so that Budva, Tivat, Kotor and Herceg Novi can prepare for the process in the best possible way.

‘We have more experience now than seven years ago when we were at the very beginning. We discussed specific things, while Nemanja Milenković, CEO of the Foundation, will show them two important infrastructure and programme projects – the Svilara Cultural Station and Kineska Quarter, i.e. Creative District. It seemed impossible and many didn’t think we would succeed. Today, we don’t have enough space for all interested people who want to join us. They are our real friends and they have our full support,’ pointed out Mayor Vučević.

Marko Carević, Mayor of the Municipality of Budva, reminded us that Novi Sad and Budva have been sister cities since 1995; thus, emphasising the three decades of continuous cooperation between the cities.

‘We are here to learn from the successful ones and then change and develop Budva and Boka Kotorska. The culture is the foundation for development. We would like to get the same important European acknowledgement with the support of Novi Sad. We abound in cultural heritage which has not been valorized and presented to the public enough,’ said Marko Carević, Mayor of the Municipality of Budva.

Nemanja Milenković, CEO of the ‘Novi Sad – European Capital of Culture’ Foundation pointed out that if we wish to succeed, we have to change ourselves, meaning that Budva has to be ready and open to change, and to deeply think about the city itself.

‘We had to reflect on how Novi Sad will look in 2022, from the 2014’s perspective. The same case is with Budva, which should try to answer the following question: What will Budva be in 2028? – these are tough but very important issues that are being formed through this process in a unique way. When you implement a 10-year strategy of a city, which is one of the binding elements for candidacy, that means that you have to deeply think about your city, reconsider its identity and create a vision of the direction you want to follow,’ stressed Mr Milenković.

On this occasion, representatives of Budva visited Creative District in Veliki Liman, Svilara Cultural Station that is part of the network of cultural stations – a unique cultural model, which is the result of the ‘Novi Sad – European Capital of Culture’ project. As representatives of Budva said, the prestigious title will include and promote the history and tradition of Budva and Boka Kotorska as something authentic, but focused on contemporary challenges and tendencies as well.

Photo: V. Veličković