Property in France will be at the very heart of European culture in 2013, following the decision to make Marseille the European Capital of Culture for the year.

The honour is to be shared between Marseille and Kosice, in Slovakia, with the French city already planning its agenda for the duration of its tenure.

One point of focus will be on Marseille itself as the Via Marseille initiative discusses art and the city – with property in France‘s cultural capital arguably combining the two.

Separate from this is InterMed, a strategy to highlight young people’s contribution to contemporary creation.

Marseille authorities planning the agenda for the year call it "a great artistic project" which they hope will promote diversity and enhance the appeal of the city on an international level.

They add that an "outstanding effort" to promote both public and private commissioning of art is allowing them to achieve the ambition and turn it into reality.

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