| EUROPE: Challenges, Examples & Opportunities |
EUROPE: Challenges, Examples & Opportunities Department for Culture, Media & Sport, London A series of conferences focusing on key European issues and challenges. Each conference explored these issues through stimulating presentations from experts from across Europe and the UK, and provided an opportunity for discussion and debate about the topics raised. Where appropriate, practical suggestions and proposals were shared and explored. Click on the conference title below for more information 10 January: Cultural Policy as a Tool for Change 17 January: European Co-operation: Case Studies 7 February: The new Structural Funds 2007-2013 15 February: Citizenship and the new Europe 7 March: The European Union Approach to Culture Due to popular demand, two additional conferences on the new Structural Funds were also held - in London on 8 March and in York on 11 March. Cultural Policy as a Tool for Change It is generally accepted that culture (in the broadest sense - including entertainment, leisure, sport and the creative industries) can be a tool for regeneration and development in regional, urban and rural contexts. In the newly enlarged Europe, where even more cities and regions are facing the need for innovative policies to deal with massive change in employment patterns and economic circumstances, cultural policy is evolving to constructively deal with these challenges. This conference provided presentations from a range of European cities, regions and EU Member States, as well as presentations that provided an overall analysis of significant trends and issues. Speakers: Attendance: European Co-operation: Case Studies Support from the EU for development projects has become increasingly focused on co-operation between partner organisations from at least three countries. This no longer applies just to the trans-national funds - the Structural Funds from 2007 will include a strand that focuses specifically on projects where such co-operation will be essential. This conference provided practical examples of co-operation projects across a range of EU funding programmes - Culture 2000, Media Plus, Leonardo da Vinci, Socrates, 5th & 6th Framework programmes, and the Interreg programme (the one Structural Fund that focused on co-operation across regions and countries). Speakers: Attendance The New Structural Funds 2007-2013 The 2000-2006 round of Structural Funds concludes at the end of 2006. The next round will be different - out will go Objectives 1, 2 and 3 and the existing Community Initiatives. In will come a new three strand approach designed to not only specifically address the needs of the new Member States, but also to build on those areas which have proved particularly successful in the current round - including an emphasis on co-operation projects across Member States and regional country groupings. This conference provided both background and detail on the new Structural Funds, and outlined ways in which the cultural sector might lobby for a greater role for culture, and how organisations can start to plan now to take advantage of these new opportunities. Speakers: Attendance: Due to popular demand, two additional conferences on the new Structural Funds were also held - in London on 8 March and in York on 11 March. 40 delegates attended on 8 March and 30 on 11 March. Citizenship and the new Europe The new Europe of 25 Member States, with Bulgaria, Romania, Croatia and Turkey waiting in the wings, provides a breadth of opportunities and challenges - not least as to whether it will even survive, given the level of negative views held across many Member States. At the time, the referenda on the proposed new Constitution were yet to be held, and these were seen as a powerful focus for both the supporters and opponents of the EU. In the meantime the EU was looking to focus on the issue of citizenship as a means of instilling renewed vigour amongst the European population as to the potential of the European Dream. This conference explored the arguments for and against the EU, and provided more detail on EU proposals in this area (which included some specific funding opportunities). Speakers: Attendance: The European Union Approach to Culture The EU has a chequered history regarding culture. While there have been many successful cultural projects supported by EU funding - the Cities of Culture, some European networks, projects supported by Media Plus, Culture 2000 and their predecessor programmes, as well as projects supported via funds not specifically tagged as cultural - there has also been a feeling that the reluctance of the Member States to allow the EU to "interfere" in culture has meant missed opportunities and a limited vision. However, in early 2005, there was a feeling of change is in the air - including a new Commissioner, a new European Parliament Committee, new programmes from 2007, and new initiatives such as a possible European Cultural Observatory. This conference explored the background and context for the EU's stance on culture, as well as the current state of change and the likely implications for culture in the UK. Speakers: Attendance: |
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| Last Updated ( Wednesday, 10 May 2006 ) |
