Santo Domingo seeks to be named the American Cultural Capital of the World. The Center of European Studies of the PUCMM had the initiative and is working in collaboration with the Ministry of Culture, the City of Santo Domingo, the Ministry of Tourism and the Santo Domingo Tourism Cluster, among other local institutions to apply for the designation as American Capital of Culture 2010.
Xavier Tudela, president of the International Bureau of Cultural Capitals, will be in Santo Domingo 24-25 February to receive the application. Applications for the designation are taken in the first quarter of the year. According to the organizers of the Cultural Capitals movement, there is no charge to apply.
The benefits are usually internal social cohesion and international projection. The CAC organization collaborates in the international projection, with no cost to the appointed city. If the country is chosen, the Ministry of Culture would be appointed coordinator of the event, explains CAC.
The appointment would be an opportunity to promote the cultural diversity and its most important attractions worldwide, while generating a collective sense of self-appreciation.
The Cultural Capitals of the Americas program evolved from the original initiative dating back to 1985 that designated European Culture Capitals and became the most popular and unifying initiative of the European Union. As of 2000, it moved on to the Americas.
The Amerian Capital of Culture (CAC) dates back to 1997. It fosters the cultural integration in the Americas, improving the awareness of the cultural heritage among the peoples of the Americas, while respecting the national and regional diversity, and focusing on the common cultural heritage.
The Cultural Capital of the Americas Organization is a member of the International Bureau of Cultural Capitals. The CAC is accredited by the OAS and has the recognition of the parliaments of Latin America and Europe.
To date, the cultural capitals of the Americas in Latin America have been:
Merida (Mexico) 2000, Iquique (Chile) 2001, Maceio (Brazil) 2002, Panama City (Panama), Curitiba (Brazil) 2003, Santiago (Chile) 2004, Guadalajara (Mexico) 2005, Cordoba (Argentina) 2006 and Cuzco (Peru) 2007.