Dubliner becomes millionaire as patch idea goes global

Dublin People 25 Jul 2015

The Dublin2020 campaign is in full swing and the DublinPeople has come on board to help get Dublin talking and to ensure our city is shortlisted for the designation of European Capital of Culture in 2020.

What is Dublin2020 European Capital of Culture Campaign
all about?

The European Capital of Culture is awarded for one calendar year, highlighting the diversity, richness and integration of cultures in Europe and the chosen city. For 2020, Ireland and Croatia have been announced as Europe’s chosen countries. Four cities in Ireland are now competing to win the title for Ireland.

The story so far

Dublin2020 was launched on Europe Day, 9 May at an event hosted by the former Lord Mayor Christy Burke at the Mansion House where 28 young people with roots in EU member states shared their hopes and dreams for Dublin in 2020. He urged citizens to get involved in the campaign:

“Being European Capital of Culture brings real and lasting benefits. It helps to create economic growth, build a sense of community and regenerate cities. I urge everyone to back Dublin’s bid and have their voices heard. Help Dublin make a successful European Capital of Culture bid.

Throughout May, Dublin2020 hosted public consultation events for the citizens of Dublin to discuss what matters to them, taking place in venues such as Glasnevin Cemetery, Freemason’s Hall, the RDS and Croke Park.

Then on 21 May, Dublin2020 hosted an all-day dance party on Henry Street which saw 150 performers and 6200 passers by take part in dance events, dance classes and pop-up poetry and spoken word readings in support of
the Dublin2020. An audience of 100,000 passed by the main stage on the junction of Liffey and Henry Street and a video of the event reached almost 30,000, adding to the success of the event.

In June, Damien Dempsey showed his support, by releasing a song and video on WB Yeats’ 150th birthday, putting the poet’s The Death of Cuchulainn to music. Dublin rapper and producer Lethal Dialect also followed suit, reworking the 1940s classic, The Dublin Saunter (Dublin Can Be Heaven) into New Dublin Saunter, accompanied by a video shot by Patrick’s Day director Terry McMahon. Lethal Dialect said:

“Getting involved in the Dublin2020 is something I am very proud to do – to me it is a look to the future, to what Dublin could be in 2020. I want to show Dubliners that now is the time to start talking about and celebrating the amazing culture that we all share – to quote the original song,

‘Dublin could be heaven’ in 2020 but to get there, people need to get talking about Dublin2020, about what makes Dublin tick. I hope this song and video helps to keep the conversation going.

Senator David Norris also showed his support and spoke about his love for Dublin in a short film by Dublin2020 saying:

“I think anybody is a Dubliner, people who come to Dublin, fall in love with Dublin, they are natural Dubliners

?¦I think it’s important that everybody puts their shoulder to the wheel and supports this movement to have Dublin declared as the European Capital of Culture in 2020.

This month, Dublin2020 launched a mini-series with director Wissame Cherfi, entitled

‘We Are Dublin’. The short videos showcase a variety of Dubliners, their stories and their love of Dublin. Throughout the month of July and August, at 20:20 each Thursday, a video will be released on Dublin2020’s YouTube channel, featuring a character in love with Dublin.

The Artane Band got in touch with Dublin2020 to see how they could lend their talents to the campaign, and at 8am on 15 July, the 35 strong band surprised and delighted commuters in Connolly Station with exuberant renditions of Twist & Shout and Happy.

Dublin2020 has also teamed up with the Centre of Creative Practices to launch Ireland’s first FuckUp Nights (F.U.N). This monthly event series, which happens worldwide, involves people talking about their biggest professional or business failures, in an effort to show how failure is a positive step that everyone must overcome on the road to success.

Why do we want to win?

The cultural, social and economic benefits of being European Capital of Culture would be vast for Dublin. It will allow Dubliners an opportunity to rethink the city. Previous Capitals of Culture are testament to how the title could provide an excellent opportunity for regeneration, raising international profile, enhancing perceptions of the city in the eyes of its own citizens, boosting tourism and giving a new lease of life to the city.

Ray Yeates, Dublin City Arts Officer and Dublin2020 Director said:

‘The reason we are bidding for the European Capital of Culture 2020 is to build a new story for Dublin based on shared ideas, inclusion and confidence. Dublin can be a leading city in Europe, and take advantage of its talented young population, to initiate major progress in communities and neighbourhoods during this campaign and beyond. Join in. If you are part of the city you are part of the bid.

Support TeamDublin

Awareness amongst Dubliners is at the core of the Dublin2020 campaign. Between now and the shortlisting process in October, the team must generate awareness and engagement, to encourage communities to become active in formulating their own ideas for projects that will reach fruition in 2020 should Dublin win.

Throughout June, Dublin2020 talked to people of all ages, from all walks of life, to discuss their Dublin, their issues and shape the future of their city. The team will keep the conversation going into July and August. This is a chance for the people of Dublin to talk about what it means to be a Dubliner and how, together, Dubliners can shape the city’s future. So, if you, your community group, sports team, collective or simply a group of friends want to take part please get in touch on the email below.

Team Dublin is growing by the day; a huge amount of business and organisations are showing their support by adding the Dublin2020 logo on their website, email and social media. If you want to get involved, send your own logo to the team through the contact information below and they will display it on the supporters section of the site. If you have any initiative or events you’d like to organise to show your support, simply get in touch.

The ways in which you can show your support are endless, anyone interested in getting behind Dublin2020 and sharing their ideas about how to help Dublin make a successful European Capital of Culture candidate can contact the team by emailing info@dublin2020.ie.

See more about the campaign and upcoming events on www.dublin2020.eu and keep the conversation going on Twitter (@Dublin2020bid), or by finding us on Facebook, YouTube and Instagram.

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