05-02-2019 10:45
Over 100 organizations that operate in the area of culture from Bulgaria, Norway, Iceland and Liechtenstein took part in “Initiation of Partnerships”; an event with which the official start of the “Cultural Entrepreneurship, Heritage and Cooperation” Programme has been given. The event was opened by Mrs. Ameliya Gesheva, Deputy Minister of Culture and Head of the PO, Mr. Ivan Ivanov, Head of the National Focal Point at the Council of Ministers, Mrs. Grete Odegaard, First Councilor at the Embassy of Norway in Romania and Bulgaria, Mrs. Thea Breivik from the Arts Council – Norway and Mr. Arno Oehri from Liechtenstein.
“The Programme is quite important. During the current programming period apart from the aims and the results that we have put together, we will have projects with more than 50% participation from the Donor States. This is a mutual process in which we all should participate” said the Head of the Program Operator – Ameliya Gesheva. Furthermore, she expressed gratitude towards the partners from the Donor States for the beneficial work on both political and expert level.”
“Already in a third programming period, projects in the area of culture will be funded and the interest is quite high. For a first time, this programming period we work with a partner from the Donor States – the Arts Council – Norway”, Mr. Ivan Ivanov said.
In the words of Thea Breivik from Arts Council – Norway, the good communication, the joint planning and the inclusion of the partner in all stages of work as well as the long-term perspective for mutual cooperation are all keys for successful partnerships.
In the process of two days, the participants in event had the opportunity to meet and discuss ideas for possible joint projects.
The “Cultural Entrepreneurship, Heritage and Cooperation” Programme is focused over the role of culture and cultural heritage as resources for local and regional development. The PA14 “Cultural Entrepreneurship, Heritage and Cooperation” Programme will support projects which aim to improve the conditions for representation of the artifacts at museums, galleries, libraries and chitalistha (unique Bulgarian community centers) as well as projects that will digitize the cultural history of social, ethnic and cultural minorities, and groups. The improvement of access to culture is also among the aims of the Program as projects that will generate new cultural content through organization of festivals, performances, traveling performances, exhibitions, cultural routes and others.
The 2014-2021 EEA Grants Financial Mechanism allocates funding provided by Kingdom of Norway, Republic of Iceland and Principality of Lichtenstein. The aim of the Mechanism is to reduce the social and economic disparities in Europe and to strengthen the bilateral relations between the Donor States and the Beneficiary States through funding in a variety of priority sectors among which are culture, civil society, good government, fundamental rights and freedoms.
