The bid by San Sebastián to become European Capital of Culture in 2016 has now defined its basic idea, which the entire project will revolve around:

"Waves of the People Energy"

This basic idea sums up the “soul” of the “San Sebastián 2016” candidature in a clear message: people and movements of citizens are the real driving force behind transformations and changes in the world. They provide the vital civic energy that makes societies advance and progress. Citizens, in short, play the leading role in the search for solutions to new global challenges.

Waves of the People Energy means a commitment to the basic role played by men and women, individually and collectively, and to the engagement of citizens and the involvement of social capital in the shared construction of society.

This Popular Energy will be transformed into the basic driving force that will coherently trigger the responses to the challenges raised for the city of Donostia - San Sebastián, Gipuzkoa and the wider area of the Euro-city associated with the bid by San Sebastián to be European Cultural Capital in 2016.

This basic idea of Waves of the People Energy underlies the 6 main themes that make up the pillars of the “San Sebastián 2016” Candidature

The definition of the Basic Idea and themes for the "San Sebastián 2016" Candidature is the result of some intensive, collective, participative activity that has been provided by more than 500 popular proposals. These reflections and ideas put forward throughout six months of meetings with social, economic and cultural agents, neighbourhood associations, universities and different bodies, are the fundamental core that underlies the basic idea of Popular Energy. The very process of popular participation and the active involvement of the people of San Sebastián and its associative fabric are examples of this Public Energy that defines the Candidature for "San Sebastián 2016".

In short, the basic idea of Waves of the People Energy aims to stress, emphasise and harness the popular energy that has always been a characteristic feature of San Sebastián, by combining this with the Culture of Peace and the focus on the Atlantic Ocean that links us with other cities and means that we share the same challenges. All this is represented by a suggestive image provided by the natural energy of the waves.

In a society that is as convulsive and diverse as the contemporary world, faced with crises in our financial system, ideologies, the environment, in major institutions, values, and in the very identity of Europe, we need ACTIVE CITIZENS. We feel that we won’t be able to do anything without the transformative energy and talent of the people who share and live side by side in the human space formed by our cities; without the power of their ideas; without the passion and commitment of citizens to work to try and find solutions to these crises through a culture based on values.

The San Sebastián 2016 Candidature must help to try and find responses and provide ideas to move forward, by opting to harness the actual energy of our citizens, the creativity of social capital, and education in values and civic commitments.

The basic idea behind the Candidature was presented at an event held at Tabakalera where a video was screened that captures the spirit of the basic idea for the candidature, accompanied by music by Mikel Laboa and the Orfeón Donostiarra.