Culture 2000 : Presentation

What was the Culture 2000 programme?

Culture 2000 was a Community programme established for seven years (2000-2006) with a total budget of 236,5 million euro. In contrast to the financial instruments that preceded it, Culture 2000 provides grants to cultural cooperation projects in all artistic and cultural fields (performing arts, plastic and visual arts, literature, heritage, cultural history, etc.).
Culture 2000 was established by the Decision No 508/2000/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council, adopted on 14 February 2000 and prolonged by Decision No 626/2004/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 31 March 2004. These decisions were examined in accordance with the procedure provided for in Article 151(5), according to which actions in the area of culture are adopted by the Parliament and the Council according to the co-decision procedure, and unanimity is required in the Council. The Committee of the Regions is also consulted.

The objective of Culture 2000 is to promote a common cultural area characterised by its cultural diversity and shared cultural heritage.

It seeks to encourage cultural creation and mobility, access to culture for all, the dissemination of art and culture, intercultural dialogue and knowledge of the history of the European peoples. It also accords culture a social integration and socio-economic development role.

The European Commission implements the programme with the aid of a management committee. It selects projects on the basis of the opinions of a panel of independent experts.
So far, participants from 30 European countries have taken part in the Culture 2000 programme: the 25 EU Member States (Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Portugal, Spain, Sweden, the United Kingdom, the Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Slovakia, Slovenia, Cyprus and Malta; the three countries of the European Economic Area (the EEA - Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway) and the following two candidate countries: Bulgaria and Romania. Memoranda have been signed with each of these countries.

Created to promote artistic and cultural cooperation in Europe and to move towards a common cultural area, the Culture 2000 programme supports artistic and cultural projects with a European dimension, at the level of their creation, their organisation and their implementation. Activities supported by this programme include festivals, master classes, exhibitions, new productions, tours, translations and conferences. They are intended for artists and cultural operators, as well as for a broader audience, in particular young people and those who are socially or economically disadvantaged. Most of the projects include a multimedia dimension, in particular via the creation of Internet sites and discussion forums.

Three main categories were eligible: specific annual activities, multiannual activities forming the subject of cooperation agreements and special cultural events such as the European Capitals of Culture.