European Capital of Culture RUHR.2010 Now Open!

ESSEN, Germany, January 10 - The Ruhr is the European Capital of Culture 2010. The cultural capital
year was officially kicked off yesterday at the UNESCO World Cultural
Heritage site Zeche Zollverein, the region's main landmark, by German
President Horst Köhler with European Commission President José Manuel Barroso
and other political heavyweights in attendance. More than 100,000 Ruhr
residents braved icy temperatures to celebrate the grand opening until the
early morning hours.

Fritz Pleitgen, Chairman of RUHR.2010 GmbH: "Who needs Copenhagen when
you have the Ruhr metropolis? Despite climate change, we have a winter
wonderland here! And nobody gets cold feet because RUHR.2010 is full of
energy and everyone in the region is full of hot-blooded enthusiasm. We are
on fire!"

Oliver Scheytt, General Manager of RUHR.2010 GmbH: "Our motto for 2010 is
change through culture, culture through change. We will show the world that
the Ruhr is no longer breathing dust but the future!"

The city of Essen bears the title of European Capital of Culture as the
representative of the 53 cities of the Ruhr with around 5.3 million
residents. That makes the region the European Union's third largest urban
agglomeration behind Paris and London. Following the decline of the coal and
steel industries, the region has transformed itself into a cultural
metropolis. The title of European Capital of Culture marks the high point of
this development so far. 300 projects with more than 2,500 events will create
new images to replace the old clichés.

You can find pictures and additional information at

www.ruhr2010.de/en/press-media

    International media contact:

    RUHR.2010 GmbH
    Katharina Jarzombek
    Phone: +49-(0)-201-888-2049
    Mobile: +49-(0)-170-77-26-400
    E-mail: katharina.jarzombek@ruhr2010.de

RUHR.2010 GmbH, Katharina Jarzombek, Phone: +49-(0)-201-888-2049, Mobile: +49-(0)-170-77-26-400, E-mail: katharina.jarzombek at ruhr2010.de