There is something new under the flags - city district publications

Veszprém is made up of 15 districts, each with its own distinct characteristics and different social structures, playing varying roles in the city’s economy. The residential environment shows a diverse structure throughout the city, with both housing estates and family home neighborhoods present, while the outskirts of Veszprém have developed distinctly rural areas. Over the past decades, the residents of these districts have developed different identities, or conversely, in some cases, their traditions have been in decline, a common consequence of urban life. The goal of the 'Community for Kádárta Association' was to revive these traditions with the help of programmes related to the European Capital of Culture 2023 title, in collaboration with district associations and local friendship circles.

One possible way to preserve traditions and foster local identity and cohesion is to create a symbolic system unique to each district, or to make more varied and conscious use of existing symbols. Our goal was to identify elements in the history of districts without symbols that could help build community identity and, with the help of experts, create these symbols. The 'Community for Kádárta Association' submitted the application on behalf of all 15 districts to better coordinate our ideas and needs.

As a result of the project, after lengthy consultations and research, we designed flags for the districts, so today every district has both smaller and larger portable flags, as well as scarves and kerchiefs adorned with these symbols. Over the course of two years, citizens had the chance to see these flags at several events, including the Gizella Day parade, the Bridge Picnic, and in the stage programme of the European Capital of Culture opening ceremony, where district residents proudly carried their flags.

Encouraged by these successes, the city decided that the flags should have a permanent place in prominent areas. As a result, flagpoles 6 metres high were installed in 15 locations, each displaying a 2 x 1 metre flag. The flag design and creation preceded the editing and publication of related brochures, and these two processes are closely connected. The brochure introduces the districts of Veszprém, filling an important gap, as it allows even the less frequented areas to be showcased and better known, whether among visitors or residents. The brochure was intended to be universal, usable at any event or occasion, and comes in two versions: a joint brochure introducing all 15 districts, printed in 400 copies, and a smaller 8-page booklet for each district, totalling 37,500 copies (2,500 per district).