The European Union and the countries of its Eastern Partnership agreed to establish a common cultural programme. The Eastern Partnership Culture Programme will strengthen the capacity of the cultural sector in the region and enhance the role of culture as a force for reform, while encouraging tolerance and social cohesion. The aim of the RMCB Unit project is to support the overall European culture programme in helping civil society organisations – both commercial and non-profit – and government institutions at the national and local levels in implementing cultural exchange. This covers the cooperation between all countries involved in the programme and encompasses the entire cultural sector, including cinema and the audiovisual sector, contemporary arts, tangible and intangible heritage, as well as support to heritage conservation projects. The project is working to enhance cultural linkages and dialogue within the Eastern Partnership region and between the EU and countries of the Partnership. It supports policy reforms and the modernisation of the cultural sector in the region in order to promote the role of culture in national agendas for development. The initiatives supported by the project should have a regional impact on sustainable economic and social development, democratisation, and the intercultural dialogue.
Objective: To support the role of culture in the region's sustainable development and promote regional cooperation among public institutions, civil society, cultural and academic organisations in the Eastern Partnership region and with the European Union. Specific Objectives: to support and promote cultural policy reforms at the governmental level, build capacities of cultural organisations and improve "professionalization" of the culture sector in the region; to contribute to exchange of information, experience and best practices among cultural operators at the regional level and with the European Union; to support regional initiatives/partnerships, which demonstrate positive cultural contributions to economic development, social inclusion, conflict resolution and intercultural dialogue.
The project focuses on four main areas of work: strengthening the institutions active in the fields of culture and cultural heritage, through a number of activities and capacity building measures; support for the tendering process organised by the EU, which will call for proposals related to the cultural activities of the Eastern Partnership; advice for projects that are selected through the tender process, including monitoring activities and the strengthening of networks; awareness raising activities to promote the regional cultural programme, including the sharing of relevant information and good practices, and news about achievements and challenges. Expected Results The project is expected to have a sustainable impact on economic development, social inclusion, conflict resolution and intercultural dialogue in the Eastern Partnership Region. Anticipated results include stronger networks of civil society organisations and government institutions, through which exchange of information on best practice will become more efficient. The cultural sector will have been strengthened through assistance in cultural policy reforms and through support to regional partnership initiatives. Through the contribution of the RMCB Unit, cultural linkages will be fostered and dialogue within the whole region enhanced.