THE Swedish ambassador was in the region yesterday to promote Newcastle-Gateshead's bid for European Capital of Culture.
Mats Bergquist visited Baltic (The Centre of Contemporary Art), in Gateshead, yesterday, to meet regional leaders and representatives from a range of organisations.
He talked about Sweden's current presidency of the European Union, as well as Stockholm's experience as the European City of Culture in 1998.
Newcastle-Gateshead's bid for the Capital of Culture title for 2008 will be submitted in March 2002.
Neil Rami, chief executive of the Newcastle-Gateshead Initiative, said: "We are delighted the Swedish Ambassador, like many other people from across Europe, has taken the time to come and see what is happening here, and also share with us some of Stockholm's experience as a cultural capital."
Baltic, which is a major international centre for contemporary art, is due to open in March 2002.
The £46m project will transform the former Baltic Flour Mills, a disused 1950s grain warehouse, into a leading international contemporary visual arts space.
Baltic's Swedish director Sune Nordgren said: "Baltic is a significant and adventurous project, a new international gallery which will simultaneously excite, entertain and educate people in the region, from Europe and beyond."
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