Hódmezıvásárhely

EUROPEAN UNIONEuropean Regional Development Fund

Ms Aniko Varga – Municipality of Hódmezıvásárhely

Hódmezıvásárhely: Creative Clusters in Local Transitional EconomiesTransitional Economies

Launching Conference of CREATIVE CLUSTERS URBACT II project: “Creative Clusters in Small Urban Centers: Challenges and

Opportunities”

Óbidos (Portugal), 22 January 2009

Geographical facts

• Close to both Serbia and Romania,

• Population: 47 432

•Second largest administrative area of Hungary

Hódmezıvásárhely

Hungary

• A city is located in south-east Hungary, on the Hungarian Great Plain

• Rich and very important educational, economic, cultural and art centre of the South Great Plain Region.

Geographical factsHelsinki corridors through Hungary

Hódmezıvásárhely as a city – economic key elements 1.

• Hódmezıvásárhely (HMV) is

located in an underdeveloped region

of Hungary

• Due to geographical facilities: the

city was a basically agricultural city was a basically agricultural

centre in the history

• HMV gained the own municipal law

in 1873. From this period has been

upswinging the urbanization.

• Agriculture is still an important

factor in the local economy

• Szeged is the biggest city in the

region (brain drain)

• Strong industrialization in the socialism

• After the change of the regime: transitional economy. Positive and

negative trends.

• The ceramic industry based on traditions and the fabrication of

precision instruments are developing

Hódmezıvásárhely as a city – economic key elements 2.

precision instruments are developing

• Textile and building industry are also significant

• Low: industry issue

• High: amount of services and SMEs

Creative and cultural highlights in the past of the city

• 7000 years old ceramic culture in

Hódmezıvásárhely (HMV)

•„Rustic Paris” – nickname of the city

in the late 19th century due to its

culture and artist friendly

atmosphere, wide scale of

periodicals, readers’ clubs, bottom up

cultural life, etc.

• According to its relatively small

size, the city was an important art

and culture centre of the Hungarian

Great Plain

• The well known majolica factory

has a 100 years old history, but it is

closed now

Creative and cultural highlights in our days – 1.• The internationally known Ceramic

Symposium has been working for 10 years in

the city

• Ceramic Festival – Vallauris’ (sister city) and

HMV’s common exhibition in Alföldi Gallery

about the history of ceramic; conference,

workshops, performances

• Treasures of HMV: ceramic exhibition,

conference in one of the most trendy art

gallery of Budapest.

• 2008: 55. Autumn Exhibition of

contemporary art – 20 000 visitors in the city

• An unique cultural attraction and initiative:

Picasso’ ceramics in Hódmezıvásárhely

(Picasso’s ceramic works)

www.picassokiallitas.hu – 20 000 visitors

Creative and cultural highlights in our days – 2.

• The „maecenas city” and the „art” city

picture is growing

• In 1997, HMV was awarded with Honesty

Flag of the European Award by the

European Committee - activities of the

inhabitants in the area of the Union idea,

the development of the infrastructure and the development of the infrastructure and

environment protection and the grooming of

the relationship with the sister cities

• Good possibilities for creative places

based on the above mentioned traditions :

city cultural centre, library, Memory Point

Museum, education centre, museums, art

galleries, exhibition areas

HMV’s future vision based on the integrated urban development strategy – from cultural aspect - 1.

• HMV is one of the most important

cultural centre of the Hungarian Great

Plain with a strong influence for cross

border activities

• Szeged-HMV metropolitan area –

common way of developmentcommon way of development

• Culture as a driving force of the city

(cultural attractions, institutions, creative

public places, nationally known events,

etc.)

• The main objective of the creative

strategy of HMV is to preserve and

resuscitate the identity and the cultural

life

HMV’s future vision based on the integrated urban development strategy – from cultural aspect - 2.

• Renovated, designed public places

(11 million EURO)

• The city is the centre of

contemporary fine arts in Hungary

• European ceramic centre – ceramic

cluster (local ceramic industry, cluster (local ceramic industry,

educational institutions, craftsmen’s

community )

• Development of tourism based on

the improvement of the „city of culture”

brand

• „Culture for every day” program –

development of the cultural centre, the

library, Memory Point Musem,

education centre (4,5 million EURO)

Hódmezıvásárhely, the cultural city

is the open, creative place of the

South Great Plain metropolitan

area. The city is developing by

programs based on partnerhips.

The lively town ensures its

inhabitants:

• modern public services and digital

infrastructure, infrastructure,

• european cooperational

programmes,

• culture, traditions and modernity,

• medical scanning program under

Healthy Vásárhely Program

Years 2008/2009 – a milestone in the city life

Based on the above mentioned elements, the city has already started to

implement:

1. Tornyai János cultural urban rehabilitation program (4,1 million

EURO)

• Reconstruction of buildings

• To active the cultural institutions, to integrate them into the city’s • To active the cultural institutions, to integrate them into the city’s

everyday life and education (7 million EURO)

2. Liberty Square – social urban rehabilitation program

3. As a Lead Partner: „CeRamICa – Ceramics and CRaft Industries’

Increased Cooperation ” INTERREG IVC project (460.000 EURO)

4. As a partner: CREATIVE CLUSTERS - URBACt II. Project (53.000

EURO)

Total amount of supported projects: 27,6 million EURO

Projects in progress: 11,3 million EURO

Hódmezıvásárhely:

creative places and creative people

Hódmezıvásárhely

EUROPEAN UNIONEuropean Regional Development Fund

Thank you for your attention!

Ms Aniko Varga – Municipality of Hódmezıvásárhely

vargaa@hodmezovasarhely.hu