Back to Newsletters 2003

Culture 2000 is aimed at culture professionals from the European Union and 15 associate countries. It was established to encourage cooperation between artists, promoters and other partners in the field of culture. Its objectives are to highlight cultural identity and diversity in Europe and to promote the dissemination of works.
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European Heritage Days

This year, the European Heritage Days were launched in Ireland, in Dublin and Glendalough (Co Wicklow), a sixth century monastic site, on 5 to 7 September.

During the weekends of September and October, this event gives millions of visitors the opportunity to discover sites and monuments normally closed to the public in the 48 European countries participating in the scheme.

The scheme is co-financed by the European Union under the Culture 2000 programme (Action 3) through an initiative run jointly with the Council of Europe.

The event is also an opportunity for us to draw attention to the Commission's letter of 22 August 2003 inviting the competent authorities in the Member States and other countries participating in the Culture 2000 programme to submit potential projects for the 2004 "European Heritage Laboratories".

The closing date for submission is 31 October 2003.

Modern re-uses for historical architecture

At an international meeting held on the island fortress of Suomenlinna (Helsinki) on 19 to 21 September 2003, the organisers of this project presented the fruits of their research labours on the re-use of Europe's architectural heritage.

These include a book (" Reviving monuments - Approaches to historic building re-use in Europe today"), which has just been published in French and English by Le Moniteur. Along with philosophical reflections, the publication gives practical information for organisers of projects to re-use historic sites and for public authorities and private owners in charge of historic monuments.

This project, coordinated by the Governing Body of Suomenlinna (Finland) with partners from Belgium, Poland, France, Germany and Italy, receives Culture 2000 funding under Action 2. Its many other activities between 2001 and 2003 include creation of a database, experimental artistic development, training and social integration through the planning of parks, gardens and landscapes around historic monuments, etc.

Are you a participant in a project funded by Culture 2000? If so, we'd like to hear from you (feedback, dates, etc.)! Contact us...

Culture 2000

- Publication of a call for proposals to select projects celebrating the enlargement of the European Union.
With a view to increasing cultural cooperation between Member States and celebrating the arrival of ten new countries in the European Union on 1 May 2004, the Commission has launched a call for proposals addressed to the national authorities in the Member States around the theme of enlargement. The initiative falls under Action 3 of the Culture 2000 programme, which provides funding for specific cultural events with a European or international dimension.
Around five large-scale projects will be selected.
The call for proposals expires on 17 October 2003.

- New on "Culture" Unit's Internet site
The list of projects funded under Action 1 (annual projects) or Action 2 (multiannual projects) of the Culture 2000 programme in 2003 will soon be published.

You will also find on the site a list of the cultural operators who have participated in Culture 2000 since the year 2000.

News about Culture 2000

- Studies
On 4 and 9 September 2003, the Commission published two invitations to tender in the Official Journal. The first was for an inventory of government indemnity schemes covering works of art while in transit to and from exhibitions in Europe (OJ S 169/2003). The second was for an inventory of best practices for linking culture with education in the Member States, the twelve candidate countries and the EEA countries (OJ S 172/2003).

These two contracts will be awarded via an open tendering procedure. For more information, please read the specifications which can be downloaded from our Internet site. N.B.: the respective closing dates for submission of bids are 20 October and 3 November.

- Call for proposals "Preparatory actions for cooperation on cultural matters"
The call is for cultural events and projects commencing in 2003 presented by cultural operators from the European Union. Around eight cooperation projects will be supported in the following four subject areas: cooperation between Member States (2 projects); cooperation between cultural operators (2 projects); cultural industries (2 projects); education and culture (2 projects). Closing date for submitting proposals: 31 October 2003.

- European Parliament Resolution on Cultural Industries
At its plenary session in September, the European Parliament adopted the text of a resolution included in the Parliament's Report on Cultural Industries. The report, presented by Ms Zorba on behalf of the European Parliament Committee on Culture, calls amongst other things for a more precise definition of cultural industries, a European map of cultural industries, and more support for these industries and for the mobility of persons and circulation of works in the cultural sector.

Newsletters Directorate-General for Education and Culture