Capacity Development projects
CULTURE ROCKS THE CITY
The awareness project 'Active Citizens-Local Cultures-European Politics' was organised by the ECF together with SEE TV Exchanges (Brussels), ECUMEST (Bucharest) and the Interarts Foundation (Barcelona). This initiative is EU-funded. The results are a 26 minute TV documentary, which demonstrates how culture can radically change the image of European cities, and a 'Guide to Citizen Participation in Local Cultural Policy Development for European Cities':
The documentary ‘Culture Rocks the City' was filmed in Barcelona, Lille, Timisoara and Zagreb and demonstrates how culture can radically change the image of European cities. Comparing experiences of cultural activism between Eastern and Western Europe, SEETV explores culture's potentially powerful role in economic development and citizenship. The documentary will be screened by several local and national TV broadcasters across Europe. To preview, click here.
The 'Guide to Citizen Participation in Local Cultural Policy Development for European Cities': two renowned European experts, Jordi Pascual i Ruiz and Sanjin Dragojevic, explore the theories behind citizen participation in local cultural policy development and how participation can be achieved at city level.
Download guide English version
Download guide Spanish version
Download guide French version
Download the Ukrainian version
Download the Russian version NEW NEW NEW
This project has been funded with support from the European Commission (budget line:
Measures in favour of civil society.)
Turkey: Creating Capacities for Local Cultural Policy Development
Started in 2004, this project reviews the cultural policy needs in the cities of Kars and Kayseri. A strategy for the cities' future cultural development will be arrived at through discussion, analysis and training. Other Turkish cities plan to get involved also.
Implemented in cooperation with Anadolu Kültür, Istanbul - Diyarbakir.
Kaliningrad (Russia): Innovative Strategies for Local Development - Capacity Building for Cultural Organisations in the Kaliningrad Region
Download interview series 'Close-ups of a region in motion - Kaliningrad, Russia' held with cultural shakers of the region NOW
This project offers tailor-made cultural management training and strategic advice to 25 cultural NGOs and public institutions in the Kaliningrad region. It also assists strategic local policy development within local cultural administrations. This project is funded by the European Union and the Nordic Council of Ministers. Visit our Showcase to read more about this project.
Implemented in cooperation with Tranzit Agency, Kaliningrad.
South East Europe: ‘Policies for Culture' - Programme
Established by the ECF and Bucharest's ECUMEST Association, ‘Policies for Culture' has for a number of years been engaging South East Europe's cultural sector and public policymakers in mutual dialogue and strategic development.
Slovakia: Local Cultural Policy Development for the Žilina Region
The Slovakian region of Žilina is a focus area for on-the-ground local cultural policy action in the new EU member states. After a period of analysis of local needs, training and public debates, this project will draw up a new cultural policy for the region.
Implemented in cooperation with Foundation - Centre for Contemporary Arts, Bratislava.
Southern Mediterranean: Creating Capacities for Arts Management Training
This initiative offered capacity-building training to advanced cultural operators from Algeria, Egypt, Jordan, Lebanon, Morocco, Palestine, Tunisia and Syria. Certified as ‘Trainers of Cultural Management', participants then passed on their knowledge and skills to emerging cultural managers in their home countries.
Implemented in cooperation with Al-Mawred Al Thaqafy, Cairo.
Publications:The Arts, Politics & Change - Participative Cultural Policy-Making in South East Europe (Boekmanstudies, Amsterdam, 2005)
Arts Management in Turbulent Times - Adaptable Quality Mangement (Boekmanstudies, Amsterdam, 2005)
Previous Support Programmes:
‘Kultura Nova' - Building Capacities of a New Generation of Art Organisations in South East Europe
Between 2000 and 2004, Kultura Nova offered strategic development advice and structural funding to 15 cultural NGOs emerging in Croatia, Serbia, Montenegro and Macedonia. The programme created a solid knowledge-base for successor programmes in the field of capacity development.
Implemented in cooperation with the Open Society Institutes in Croatia, Serbia, Montenegro and Macedonia.