The Colombian city of Barranquilla was declared the American Capital of Culture 2013, in an event that acknowledged the city's engagement with music, literature and traditional culture.
The president of the International Bureau of Capitals of Culture, Xavier Tudela from Spain, led the announment event in Quito, Capital of Culture in 2012. He ceded the baton to Barranquilla, known as the "Golden Gate of Colombia" because of the city's role in the ideas, innovations and cultures that make up the country.
Barranquilla was chosen from five candidates "for its strong determination to make culture a strategic element of social cohesion, civic revitalization, economic development and international expansion," said Tudela.
The Carnival of Barranquilla was declared in 2003 "Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity" by UNESCO, and features a colorful imaginary characters of the local mythology.
The traditional rhythms of Barranquilla like cumbia, puya, bullerengue, merecumbé and vallenato, among others, formed part of the ceremony.
The Metropolitan Symphony Orchestra paid tribute to singer-songwriter Alvaro Jose "Joe Arroyo", died in July 2011, and who despite being born in Cartagena de Indias was linked to the neighboring town with the frase "In Barranquilla I stay."
The event was also attended by the mayor of Barranquilla, Elsa Noguera, and the Minister of Culture, Mariana Garces, who celebrated the announcement, which coincides with the 200th anniversary of the city as a town of Colombia.
"If we want a comprehensive development of the city, we have to work with culture," said Noguera, while the minister stressed the importance for Colombia that Barranquilla is the first city in the country worthy of that title.
Other Latin American cities that have been American Capitals of Culture are: Merida (Mexico, 2000), Iquique (Chile, 2001), Maceió (Brazil, 2002), Panama City (Panama) and Curitiba (Brazil), both in 2003, Santiago (Chile, 2004), Guadalajara (Mexico, 2005), Córdoba (Argentina, 2006), Cuzco (Peru, 2007), Brasilia (Brazil 2008), Asuncion (Paraguay, 2009), Santo Domingo (Dominican Republic, 2010) and Quito (Ecuador, 2012).
In the event, the Ministry and the New Iberoamerican Journalism Foundation (FNPI) announced the creation of a scholarship Gabriel García Márquez of cultural journalism, which will remain open until October 2, 2012.