Oviedo joins the new FEMP working group for the European Capital of Culture 2031 candidacies

Oviedo’s candidacy is now part of the working group launched by the Spanish Federation of Municipalities and Provinces (FEMP) to strengthen the visibility and recognition of the cities competing to become European Capital of Culture in 2031. Oviedo was represented at the meeting by Rodolfo Sánchez, director of the candidacy, who travelled to Madrid to attend the session.

The meeting, held at the FEMP headquarters and chaired by its president, María José García-Pelayo, Mayor of Jerez de la Frontera, brought together representatives from the twelve cities that have already announced their candidacies: Burgos, Cáceres, Granada, Jerez de la Frontera, Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, León, Oviedo, Palma, Potries (Valencia) and Toledo, as well as two additional cities that have formally submitted their proposals. The deadline for presenting new candidacies remains open until 28 December.

García-Pelayo emphasised that the aim of this working group is to ensure that the efforts made by the candidate cities —strengthened cultural infrastructures, activities carried out and resources mobilised— receive clear institutional support. In this regard, FEMP will request that the Ministry of Culture create the title “Spanish Capital of Culture”, which would provide national recognition complementary to the European programme. In addition, the Federation will ask the Ministry of Finance to declare the European Capital of Culture 2031 designation an “exceptional event of public interest.”

Oviedo has welcomed the creation of this coordination space, which will allow cities to share progress, explore synergies and reinforce the national dimension of the project. Meanwhile, the city continues to advance in the preparation of its candidacy book, with the aim of presenting a solid, participatory proposal that represents the whole of Asturias.