The EROC Campaign calls for a new award for rural regions: European Regions of Culture. Just as European Capitals of Culture celebrates urban European living, our goal is to harness rural culture to create a better, more sustainable future for rural, isolated and peripheral regions individually, collectively, and in Europe as a whole.
In order to develop The European Regions of Culture campaign we are seeking 3 additional partners to join our existing partnership group - Cornwall, (UK), South Ostrobothnia (Finland) and Kujawsko-Pomorskie (Poland). The new EROC partnership will jointly commit to a minimum 5 year long cooperation and advocacy programme.
In 2009 we ran a highly successful Pilot EROC PROJECT through the Culture Programme which:
- established that the partner regions do have culture worth celebrating
- confirmed trans-national exchange as a powerful tool for development – at an individual level via skills as well as in terms of regional development.
- created innovative collaborations between artists, policy makers, politicians, cultural institutions and young people
- began to articulate shared European narratives as well as distinct regional stories
- stimulated a greater prioritisation of culture within local investment programmes and local regional development agendas
- left a legacy of strong partnership which has already grown into further co-operation between individuals, cultural institutions as well as regions
- has led to concrete advocacy gains at a Europe level, and the establishment of a network of 40+ regions.
The EROC Campaign Partnership Group actions will include:
• working together on Culture Fund multi-annual cooperation projects, as well as accessing other funds like Youth in Action.
• potentially working on other projects which fulfill the ROC goals with other partners
• jointly advocating on behalf of the EROC idea in Brussels and throughout Europe
• cooperating with a wide network
Timetable:
Expression of interest deadline: 15th February
Application deadline: 8th March
Shortlist of partners announced: 18th March
Partner selection by interview in Brussels: 22nd & 23rd March
To receive your application form, please sign up here or email Miranda@cornwallculture.co.uk