Circumeuropa 2024 is the continuation of the first sea-river expedition of a Romanian crew around Europe. The project started in May 2023, assuming the role of cultural ambassador of the city on the waterways, promoting the European Capital of Culture and the spirit of Timișoara. The initiative belongs to Cristian Ilea (director of image at Romanian Television), and the crew consists of Cosmin Jitariuc (journalist at TVR Timisoara) and Mihai Pătrașcu (director of image, guest skipper on the maritime navigation segment). The expedition aims to promote the concept of Timisoara's water connectivity, to support cultural events and to promote the theme of longitudinal connectivity on rivers (in partnership with WWF-Romania - World Wide Fund for Nature, the largest global environmental organization).
The expedition will provide, as in the past, a special framework for cultural exchange with the cities it will reach. The four cultural events scheduled will take place in former European cultural capitals: Marseille (on June 15th, with Robert Șerban as guest speaker), Vienna (July 15th, Petre Ionuțescu concert) and Novi Sad (July 25th, with Unfold Motion), with the last event to take place on the return to Otelec (August 2nd, Basca Theatre).
The project is part of the national cultural program "Timișoara – European Capital of Culture in 2023" and is funded through the Legacy Timișoara 2023 program, carried out by the Project Center of the Municipality of Timișoara, with funds allocated from the state budget, through the Ministry of Culture's budget.