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| The main square of Szombathely |
Representatives from Szombathely and Baltonfüred were presented the title on Thursday by state secretary at the Ministry of Education and Culture Márta Schneider and state secretary for tourism at the Ministry of Local Governments Miklós Kovács.
Minister of Education and Culture István Hiller decided on the title winners based on the recommendation of an evaluation committee. The title carries a HUF 1 million purse.
Szombathely was cited for its rich and colourful offering of events, its new theatre and its efforts to preserve centuries of cultural heritage. Balatonfüred was acknowledged for perseverance with developments even during difficult times.
The Ministry of Education and Culture presents the Hungarian City of Culture title each year in cooperation with the Ministry of Local Governments, the Foreign Ministry, state tourism agency Magyar Turizmus, the Association of County Seats and the National Alliance of Small City Local Councils.
Cities may apply for the prize in three categories: county seat, population over 10,000 and population under 10,000. The evaluation committee did not make a recommendation for the last category this year.
The evaluation committee assesses the applicants' level of culture, including cultural activity, cultural elements in city development plans, cultural investments, contemporary arts and the role of creative industry, networks within the city and without, cultural tourism, the state of tourism infrastructure and balance and sustainable developments.
Winners of the Hungarian City of Culture title over the past three years include Kecskemét, Keszthely and Vasvár, in 2005; Székesfehérvár and Sárospatak, in 2006; and Miskolc, Gyula and Tokaj, in 2008.
