Capacity development
‘From Cultural Values to the Value of Culture':
Regional Parliament of Zilina, Slovakia adopts new cultural policy framework initiated by ECF-run project with overwhelming majority
On October 30, 2007, a great majority of deputies from all political parties represented in the Regional Assembly of the Self-Governing Region of Žilina in the North-West of Slovakia, voted in favour of a new cultural development strategy for the entire region. The adopted strategy was initiated by an ECF project in the framework of our cultural capacity development activities
If cultural life is to flourish, then adequate support structures are needed. These include professional cultural organisations and up-to-date policy frameworks.
This cultural infrastructure is often taken for granted in Western Europe. But in places affected by political, social and economic instability, extra efforts are required.
The ECF strives to make individuals and organisations capable of sustaining cultural life in their town or country or region; and more than this, to make them capable of cooperating culturally with others in Europe.
Active in many transitional countries in Europe and neighbouring regions, the Foundation helps organisations improve their working structures and develop their management skills. We also support those who can reform and develop cultural policies locally.
We believe that developing and sustaining cultural infrastructures:
We offer cultural management training and advice on how to create new organisational strategies. This training and advice helps cultural organisations strengthen their internal capacity; it also prepares them for dialogue and creative partnership with local administrators and policymakers (‘participative' cultural policymaking).
Our projects are centred on locally developed ideas and initiatives. We base our engagement on local expertise and human capacities and we emphasise local project ownership.
Read more about ongoing projects.