Mons in Belgium and Pilsen in the Czech Republic have kicked off festivities for a year of special events after they were named joint Capital of Culture for 2015.

Every year since 1985, the title of European Capital of Culture is awarded to two cities from two EU member states with the aim of supporting cultural cooperation. Previous locations have included Florence, Amsterdam, Berlin and Liverpool among others.

On Mons’ side, there is a schedule of 300 major events and more than 1,000 cultural and artistic activities in the former mining town, ranging from a Van Gogh exhibition to a maze of 8,000 sunflowers. Pilsen’s programme will allow visitors to enjoy an array of concerts, street theatre, art and architecture, including a Fresh Air Gallery among other exhibitions.

One of the most impressive new additions to Mons is a wooden structure known as “The Passenger”. Installed on 6 December, the Arne Quinze artwork hovers above the town’s main shopping street, though it hasn’t come without issues as the road had to be closed on 24 December when part of the structure collapsed.

In February, organisers in Mons will open up a traditional London working men’s club inside an old school building. The exhibition will be temporarily open between 19-22 February and is designed to offer “a mix of British eccentricity and cutting-edge culture”.

Among the events taking place, on April 4, Mons will unveil five new museums including an art library at the heart of a new museum cluster, as well as the Mons Memorial Museum, Doudou Museum, the Silex’s flint mining museum and the fully renovated baroque-style Mons Belfry.

In Pilsen, celebrations kick off on 17 January, where the the Pilsen Philharmonic will perform The Symphony of Bells in the town’s Republic Square. Also performing in the kickoff event, Swiss tightrope walker David Dimitri will perform acrobatic and circus stunts for 10 days at Republic Square starting in late January. In February, the city will host a Festival of Lights with illuminated walkways from the city's main depot down to the famous Pilsner Urquell brewery.

Among art exhibitions through the year, a Maori exhibition at the West Bohemian Gallery in Pilsen will take centre stage. The exhibition runs between 6 May and 20 September. Running from now until the end of the year, a subway space has also been transformed into an art gallery with local artists presenting pieces that are personally important to them.

Being named Capital of Culture is expected to increase footfall to both Mons and Pilsen by around two million people in each city. At the end of the year both locations will hand over their mantles to San Sebastián in Spain and Wroclaw in Poland.