Europska prijestolnica kulture je inicijativa Europske unije kojoj je cilj istaknuti bogatstvo i raznolikost europskih gradova, kao i zajedničke kulturne aspekte Europe, kako bi pridonijela zbližavanju europskih naroda i njihovom boljem međusobnom uvažavanju. U skladu s općim ciljevima, od grada koji ponese naslov Europske prijestolnice kulture očekuje se da svojim aktivnostima poboljša opseg, raznolikost i europsku dimenziju svoje kulturne ponude, uključujući i transnacionalnu suradnju; proširi pristup i sudjelovanje u kulturi; ojača kapacitet svog kulturnog sektora i njegovu povezanost s drugim sektorima, te podigne svoj međunarodni ugled pomoću kulture. Kandidatura Dubrovnika za Europsku prijestolnicu kulture bila je jedinstvena prigoda da se pokrenu procesi revitalizacije i obnove grada, a bitno je utjecala na promišljanja kulturnog identiteta grada, opterećenog imidžom mega-popularne turističke destinacije, a sve u cilju otvaranja grada onima koji u njemu žele stvarati nove vrijednosti i ostavljati trag među bogatim slojevima kulturnog nasljeđa. EPK se, između ostalog, promatra kao sredstvo kojim se gradu nametnula potreba za preispitivanjem svojih identitetskih struktura, prihvaćanju postojećih raznolikosti, te da se, kao zaključak, pokuša doći do odgovora postaje li grad, kroz ovaj projekt, svjesniji sebe kao kulturnog čimbenika u europskoj globalnoj priči te na koji sve način projekt utječe na budući strateški razvoj, kako na lokalnoj, tako i na međunarodnoj razini.

The European Capital of Culture is a European Union initiative the aim of which is to bring out the richness and diversity of European cities, as well as the common cultural aspects of Europe, so as to bring European nations closer together and contribute to them having a greater respect and understanding for each other. In line with the general objectives, the city that takes the title of European Capital of Culture is expected though its activities to advance the scope, diversity and European dimension of the range of its culture, including trans-national collaboration; to expand its approach to and participation in culture; to reinforce the capacities of its cultural sector and its correlation with other sectors, as well as to raise its international reputation through culture. The candidature of Dubrovnik for the title of European Capital of Culture was a one-of-akind opportunity to set in motion processes of revitalisation and regeneration of the city, and it had a crucial effect on the way the cultural identity of the city was thought of, burdened as it is with the image of mega-popular tourist destination, for the purpose of opening up the city to those who want to create in it new values and leave a trace among the many and ample layers of the cultural heritage. The ECC is looked at, among other things, as a means through which the city was led to re-examine its identity structures, to accept existing diversities and, in conclusion, to try to arrive at an answer as to whether the city could become, through this project, more aware of itself as a cultural factor in the overall European story, and how the project would affect future strategic development, at both the local and the international level.