Zaragoza is facing the thrilling challenge of competing with other Spanish cities for becoming European Capital of Culture in 2016. Competition is more exciting than a possible nomination, since the road we are starting to walk now will serve us to draw up the First Strategic Plan of Culture, aiming at transforming our cultural model in a newest and efficient one.

In order to carry out this change Zaragoza should become a creative city able to recognize cultural policy-making as one of the best ways to make the city a more open and even more friendly place, transforming its urban model, reinforcing sustainability, and improving all its citizens'well-being.

Culture creates well-being, wealth and jobs, and commercial brands, a is a reference that defines a particular community as well as being a mirror of its changing identity.

This plan is the result of a wide-ranging participation process of all the people of Zaragoza, considering participation as a political concept of permanent debate and joint decision-making.

A plan that will take us to 2016 after five years of implementation of this top-priority cultural model, and after having changed the image and essence of Zaragoza to become European Capital of Culture or a referential European city of culture.