Aarhus 2017 wins prestigious communication award

European Capital of Culture Aarhus 2017 has just won the prestigious communication award Gold Quill 2016. The international communications network IABC (International Association of Business Communicators) awards the prize, and it is only the second time, the Gold Quill is awarded to Denmark. The first time was in 2010, when the pharmaceutical company Novozymes was awarded a Gold Quill award, which is considered the Oscar of the communication industry.

Aarhus 2017 is awarded the prize for the communication of the Capital of Culture programme around the exhibition "The Journey 2017" in Ridehuset in Aarhus in April 2015. With a strong focus on user experience, visual and substantive communication, Aarhus 2017 used a variety of media to deliver its key messages. The jury has assessed the communication on ten different areas, and concludes that the result was "very successful". The award ceremony takes place in New Orleans (US) on 6 June, 2016.

"We are very proud of this recognition from IABC, especially because we can share it with all the partners and staff who were involved in the event in Ridehuset, and it highlights the international level in our work," says Rebecca Matthews, CEO of Aarhus 2017.

At the event in Ridehuset in 2015, Aarhus 2017 for the first time invited the public to a presentation of the plans for the European Capital of Culture 2017, and more than 65 projects from all over Central Denmark Region gave samples of their contributions to the 2017 programme, combined with cultural events and debates. The event brought together over 8,000 people in the course of five days.

"The exhibition was in many ways a turning point for Aarhus 2017, and we could rejoice in the fact that the activities created great awareness and have helped raise expectations for the Capital of Culture year," says Rebecca Matthews.

In January this year, the event was followed by a presentation of highlights of the 2017 programme and it has already been announced that the presentation of the overall programme for European Capital of Culture Aarhus 2017 takes place on 12 October this year – exactly 100 days before the official opening on January 21, 2017.

The communication award is awarded to Aarhus, while a long-term cooperation with VisitAarhus and VisitDenamrk to create international awareness of the European Capital of Culture now resonates. In recent weeks, leading American, French and British media have brought mentions of Aarhus.