The Øresund Aquarium—Elsinore’s national marine biology education center—has joined the Elsinore 2032 association. As a result, the aquarium will become an active partner in the effort to advance Elsinore’s bid for the title of European Capital of Culture in 2032.
For the Øresund Aquarium, this membership is a natural extension of its ongoing efforts to strengthen the connection between the marine environment, nature education, urban development, and citizen engagement. The aquarium views Capital of Culture 2032 as an opportunity to bring the Øresund, biodiversity, and marine research closer to both residents and visitors—and to position Elsinore as a prominent international coastal and cultural city.
“Helsingør is a port city—historically, culturally, and biologically. That’s why it makes perfect sense for us to be involved in shaping the city’s future,” says Jens Peder Jeppesen, director of the Øresund Aquarium.
“The Øresund is a unique and species-rich body of water, and our work in outreach, research, and education gives us a special role when it comes to connecting culture, nature, and science. Elsinore 2032 is a strong platform for sharing that story with far more people—locally, regionally, and across Europe.”
The Elsinore 2032 Association works to bring together local and regional stakeholders around a comprehensive bid for the title of European Capital of Culture, which is based, among other things, on community, free thinking, art, nature, and the city’s unique location between Denmark and Sweden. It is precisely the relationship between the sea, the city, and its people that plays a central role in the core narrative of Elsinore as the gateway between Europe and Scandinavia.
“The Øresund Aquarium is an institution of international caliber in Elsinore—and one of the places where major European issues such as the environmental crisis, climate change, sustainability, and education are brought to life every day,” says Jens Frimann Hansen, chairman of Elsinore 2032.
“Their commitment strengthens our work to create a Capital of Culture where nature, the sea, and science become driving forces on par with cultural production and urban development.”
The Øresund Aquarium’s membership means that the institution will now participate in the association’s networks, professional thematic groups, and development tracks—including those focused on nature and marine education, public engagement, education, and regional partnerships.
Aquarium Director Jens Peder Jeppesen believes that the Øresund Aquarium can play an important role in bringing culture, nature, and science together. Photo: Daniel Rasmussen, Copenhagen Media Center.
