European Capitals of Culture

Members of the cultural group Ngati Ranana perform rituals and blessings Nov. 18 before the opening of the exhibition “Gottfried Lindauer — The Maori Portraits” at Old National Gallery museum in Berlin. The exhibit will move to Pilsen as part of the 2015 festivities. (Tobias Schwarz / AFP/Getty Images)

Dec. 31, 2014 10:18 AM PT

A woman in traditional Maori tribal costume performs rituals and blessings before the exhibition “Gottfried Lindauer — The Maori Portraits” in Berlin. The show moves to Pilsen in June as part of the city’s European Capital of Culture celebrations. (Tobias Schwarz / AFP/Getty Images)

Pedestrians walk under the art installation “The Passenger” by Belgian artist Arne Quinze, in Mons, Belgium, on Dec. 2. The work was commissioned for the city’s celebration of being named a 2015 European Capital of Culture. (Olivier Berg / EPA)

“The Passenger,” an art installation by Arne Quinze made of wooden planks, unexpectedly collapsed Dec. 24. No one was hurt. The sculpture was one of the main attractions in Mons, Belgium, to kick off its 2015 European Capital of Culture events. (Olivier Hoslet / EPA)

Riga, Latvia, was a 2014 European Capital of Culture. It hosted the Festival of Light. In this photo, a video called “Circus of Light” is projected on the facade of the Astor Riga Hotel. (Valda Kalnina / EPA)