International Bureau of Capitals of Culture
The International Bureau of Capitals of Culture is responsible for creating the US Capital of Culture. It has already established the American Capital of Culture (www.cac-acc.org,) the Brazilian Capital of Culture (www.capitalbrasileiradacultura.org,) and the Catalan Capital of Culture (www.ccc.cat,) all of which are currently fully operational. The Bureau is also responsible for the development of supporting projects.
The American Capital of Culture, unanimously endorsed by all thirty four members of OAS (Organization of American States,) is supported by all political parties of the European Parliament and all twenty-two country members of the Latin American Parliament.
The Brazilian Capital of Culture is an initiative declared of national interest by Brazil's Federal Government and holds collaboration agreements with the Brazilian Ministry of Culture and the Ministry of Tourism.
The Catalan Capital of Culture has been recognized by all political parties of the Parliament of Catalonia.
Goals and objectives of the Bureau:
1. To promote and coordinate the development of the US Capital of Culture, the American Capital of Culture, the Brazilian Capital of Culture and the Catalan Capital of Culture.
2. To coordinate linkage of the above organizations with all Capital of Culture projects around the world.
3. To promote the creation of capital cultural initiatives around the World, where this program does not exist.
4. Collaborate with institutions and cultural entities to reach common shared objectives.
5. To provide know-how to public and private institutions on development of cultural projects.
6. To establish the promotion and selection process of cultural capitals.
Staff
Xavier Tudela, President of the International Bureau of Capitals of Culture was born in Barcelona (Catalonia, Spain, European Union). He holds a Bachelors Degree in Communications and in Political Science and Sociology, and a Masters in European Studies. In the last ten years, he has dedicated his work to the capitals of culture. He was appointed Honorary Citizen of the City of Austin, Texas, of the city of Curitiba in Paraná, Brazil, and of Córdoba in Argentina), among many others. The city of Guadalajara in Jalisco, Mexico, recognized his work as one of true American integration.Maria Teresa Velasco, Delegate of the International Bureau of Capitals of Culture in the USA, born in Mexico City, has a long career in Education. She holds a degree in English Language and Literature from the Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, where she specialized in applied linguistics. She also studied English Literature in Cambridge, England; she holds a diploma of Teacher of Spanish as a Foreign Language at her Alma Mater. In the USA, she has taken graduate courses in Education at Florida State University.
Since 1997, she has been education and public affairs manager for Discovery Networks Latin America/US Hispanic. Before joining Discovery, she worked at Miami Dade College in Miami and at the Universidad Iberoamericana in Mexico City.
On September 15 th , 1997 Velasco was awarded the Medal of the Orden del Calendario Azteca in recognition of her significant contributions in the creation of educational alliances between Mexico and the USA. She continues collaborating with local educational and cultural institutions. She teaches German, Spanish and ESL and is an active member of many civic and cultural associations that promote culture and education.
