ECF keydates
1. Think Tank role developed (1954-1978)
- Organisation of major conferences (1957-1964).
- Plan Europe 2000 (1968-1978).
2. Networks and Tools created (1960-1990)
- Setting up of the Foundation's National Committees (since 1960), now called the ECF Network of Fora.
- Emergence of 10 institutes supported by the ECF, including the European Institute of Education and Social Policy (1975, Paris), the European Institute for the Media (1983, Manchester), the European Foundation Centre (1988, Brussels) and the Institute for Human Sciences (1989, Vienna).
- Launch of the Grants programme in 1960.
3. Involvement with European Programmes (1980-2001)
- Management of EURYDICE (1980-2001), ERASMUS (1987-1995) and TEMPUS (1992-1993) on behalf of the European Commission.
4. Operating Foundation (1990-2000)
- Three priority themes outlined in 2000:
intercultural dialogue, participation through the arts, and strengthening the cultural sector. - Development of the Foundation's own programmes in Central, East and South East Europe in response to the fall of the Iron Curtain: Art for Social Change (1996), Policies for Culture and Kultura Nova (2000).
- Launch of the Foundation's first mobility scheme: APEXchanges (1994-2000).
- First cross-Mediterranean initiatives: Mémoires de la Méditerranée (1994-2000), Dia-gnosis (1994-1998).
- Grants focus on cross-cultural cooperation.
5. Towards a European Cultural Policy (2000-Present)
- Role of think tank and advocate of culture in the European integration and enlargement process assessed and reinforced (see fact sheet on LabforCulture).
- New Cultural Policy Development department within the ECF.
- Launch of new ECF mobility fund in 2003: STEP beyond.
Development of media activities: The One Minutes Junior, New European Deal.