organiser

Partner

 
Project

European Regions of Culture Pilot project

EC Culture Fund 1.2.1 Co-operation Project


date:  2008
  • Sue Hill Mud Maid.jpg

    Sue Hill Mud Maid.jpg - 

    www.cornwallculture.co.uk
  • Habitcentre Nikkarikeskus in Jurva town, South Ostrobothnia, Finland.jpg

    Habitcentre Nikkarikeskus in Jurva town, South Ostrobothnia, Finland.jpg

Europe’s rural regions make a substantial contribution to the richness and diversity of European culture, but are not eligible to apply for European Capital of Culture (ECOC) status. The project partners’ long term aim is to investigate the possibility and advocate the merit of creating a parallel scheme to the ECOC which celebrates and connects rural regions, potentially to be known as European Regions of Culture (EROC), it’s purpose : “to harness rural culture to create a better, more sustainable future for rural regions individually, collectively and in Europe as a whole”.

The EROC project partnership of 3 regions in the UK, Poland and Finland, with associate partners in Bulgaria and Denmark, is designed to be the prototype for a new EROC network and first step towards the long-term aim of establishing an EROC designation. The EROC partnership has a shared belief that a) culture is a powerful change agent for rural regions and b) its ability to transform will be strengthened by intercultural dialogue and cultural exchange.

The EROC pilot project comprises: -

1)An artistic EROC RESIDENCY, in which a potent mix of the best artists from the partner regions will collaborate to create work in all 3 regions. The work will respond to, and comment on, the diverse cultural experiences they encounter. The works will travel between regions to stimulate dialogue at the CULTURAL EXCHANGE EVENTS, and to bring culture of high quality to places and audiences that are usually not part of the international cultural discourse.

2)A series of 3 CULTURAL EXCHANGE EVENTS during which cultural actors will undertake intercultural exchange and dialogue with specific themes (e.g. Lisbon Agenda, environment etc). Citizens of the regions will be invited to interact with the events and register their responses to the emerging values and stories.

3)The formation of an expert multi-regional EROC TEAM to develop the co-operation.

The project’s outcomes will include: -

-the basis for future artistic collaborations

-imagining creative responses to diversity issues presented by new rural realities (new migrant populations, combating the magnetism of cities and resultant brain drain etc)

-development of rural cultural policy for the regions involved, individually and collectively

-the production of Europe-level advocacy regarding the value of rural cultural activity to Europe

-widespread engagement of other stakeholders and citizens, through an actively publicized dissemination programme

-the origination of an evidence base for planned future lobbying in favour of the EROC idea

Most importantly, this cultural co-operation project will grow the intercultural competences of the EROC partners, with the result that they will become founder-members of a network of rural, isolated and peripheral regions throughout Europe, collaborating on a long-term basis to share ideas, foster creative partnerships, create ongoing intercultural dialogue and promote the role of rural culture in Europe.

If you would like to hear more, participate in one of the cultural events or join the network, please email miranda@cornwallculture.co.uk

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