Decision-Makers’ Cultural Influence on the Implementation of the European Capital of Culture: A Longitudinal Study

Motives for nomination as Cultural Capital of Europe (ECoC) vary. Desirable post-ECoC changes include economic growth, touristic increase, job creation, infrastructure updates, cultural development and city rebranding. This research assessed changes in stakeholders’ perceptions during the ECoC and their cultural context. Three members of Pafos2017 and a member of another local organization participated in semi-structured interviews at the beginning and end of 2017, which recorded perceptions of the city/citizens, the participants’ role in the implementation of the ECoC, their goals and major obstacles, the expected legacy of the ECoC and their perception of European culture. Qualitative content analyses from Psychology and Anthropology were used. Results demonstrate a drive for cultural development, personal commitment and passion as ways to overcome problems, a disbelief in the citizens justifying a top-down approach with minimal community involvement, and traces of post-colonial influences in the definition of the new Pafos and the quality assessment of cultural products. We argue that stakeholders’ philosophy and cities’ cultural particularities explain the critical decisions affecting the ECoC’s implementation, and propose the assessment of cities’ goals and philosophy to become part of the bidding process. Based on cultural particularities, EU could appropriately guide and support cities in achieving those goals.