The organisers are holding a spectacular cultural festival in the ground of the former colliery Zeche Zollverein to mark the start of the year. "Come to the Ruhr" could be the motto of the entire programme of the cultural capital.

As well as invited guests from all round Europe, the Federal President Horst Köhler, the Federal Government Commissioner for Culture and the Media Bernd Neumann and state premier Jürgen Rutgers were expected to attend. The programme is much more than just a taste of what is to come in the course of 2010. It offers something for everyone, with a wide range of attractions going from children's drama groups to jazz concerts, and discussion rounds to an after-show party.

The history of the Ruhr in the former 'coal-washing' plant

One of the highlights this weekend will undoubtedly be the opening of the new Ruhr Museum. It is housed in the former coal-washing plant, which was the largest building of the colliery Zeche Zollverein. The building has been converted to a museum over the last few years.

In future visitors will be able to find out more about the natural and cultural history of the region in the new museum. It sees itself not as a classical industrial museum, but as a memory of times gone by and a showcase for the new Ruhr metropolis.

Art and culture for all

Under the banner "Culture through change – change through culture", the region, with its total of 53 towns and cities, will then be offering for one whole year a wide spectrum of cultural activities for young and old. Three hundred projects are planned, with more than 2,500 events embracing all aspects of art and culture.

The German government is sponsoring a large number of these. In the budget of the Federal Government Commissioner for Culture and the Media a total of 18.8 million euros have been earmarked to promote selected projects, including the opening ceremony. The projects were selected on the basis of the contribution they make to cultural education, the cultural economy and European networking.

Sponsored by the German government

The Federal Government Commissioner for Culture and the Media is, for instance supporting the world's most extensive city twinning arrangement, TWINS. TWINS links the 53 towns and cities of the Ruhr with more than 200 partners throughout Europe and embraces more than 1,700 artists, groups and artists and institutions.

The projects sponsored by the German government also include a comprehensive display of the work of Hans Werner Henzes, who is one of the leading contemporary Germany composers and musical thinkers. Financial support has been made available to the choir project "!Sing - Day of Song" and a contemporary re-telling of the "Odyssey". The individual episodes of this ancient epic tale are to be performed on five weekends at various locations, together making up the entire tale.

The projects sponsored by the German government also include a comprehensive display of the work of Hans Werner Henzes, who is one of the leading contemporary Germany composers and musical thinkers. Financial support has been made available to the choir project "!Sing - Day of Song" and a contemporary re-telling of the "Odyssey". The individual episodes of this ancient epic tale are to be performed on five weekends at various locations, together making up the entire tale.

Musical education for all children in the Ruhr 

The German Federal Cultural Foundation is also involved in the presentation of the new European capital of culture with a project of its own and a contribution of another 10 million euros. The ongoing programme "An instrument for every child" is to be rolled out to embrace the entire Ruhr region. In 2010 then every primary school pupil in the Ruhr is genuinely to be given the opportunity to learn to play a musical instrument.