Local commerce and cultural life bolster joint efforts for the European Capital of Culture
Espergærde Centret has joined the Elsinore 2032 association, thereby becoming part of the growing network of local and regional stakeholders working to develop North Zealand as a cohesive cultural and tourist destination region leading up to 2032.
Espergærde Centret is a new member of Elsinore 2032, the association working to develop and advance Helsingør Municipality’s bid to become the European Capital of Culture in 2032. By joining, the center is signaling its desire to strengthen collaboration between business, culture, and civil society—across the entire municipality of Helsingør.
In Espergærde, the center serves as a natural gathering place for the town and represents a broad range of local businesses. Center Director Ulla Louring-Andersen views the membership as an extension of the work already underway locally:
“We want to contribute as much as possible to the positive collaboration in our part of North Zealand. In this context, the Espergærde Center can serve as a clear, unifying force in the town. We have already seen local forces in the network surrounding the Capital of Culture collaborate across commerce, associations, and culture, including with Culture Week, which was launched in 2025 in connection with the annual Culture Night,” says Ulla Louring-Andersen.
Culture Week in Espergærde is a concrete example of how the town’s business community works closely with cultural organizations, associations, and civil society to create shared experiences and foster a sense of local identity. And these are values that are directly in line with the ambitions of Elsinore 2032.
For Chairman Jens Frimann Hansen, the announcement underscores a key point of the project:
“The fact that Espergærde Centret has joined the initiative sends a strong signal that Elsinore 2032 is not just a Helsingør project. The local communities in the municipality have also embraced the idea—first Hornbæk and now Espergærde—which is entirely in keeping with the spirit of the project. It’s not about concentrating culture in one place, but about spreading it.”
He elaborates:
“Culture must reach the public just as much as the public must engage with culture. That is why it is crucial that local stakeholders outside the city center get involved and help shape the narrative and activities leading up to 2032.”
Today, Elsinore 2032 brings together a broad range of businesses, cultural institutions, associations, and individuals, all of whom are contributing to the development of a shared vision for the City of Helsingør’s potential bid to become European Capital of Culture. With the Espergærde Center joining the initiative, its geographical and community roots are further strengthened.
CONTACT: Jens Frimann Hansen – jfh@helsingor-teater.dk || Ulla Louring-Andersen: ulla@e-c.dk
