We are building a campaign to convince the European Commission that there should be a new cultural designation ‘European Regions of Culture’.
This would operate as a parallel designation to the existing ‘European Capital of Culture’ and would be designed for rural, isolated or peripheral regions.
The key narratives to underpin the overall concept are:
- Rural regions are currently excluded from the Capital of Culture process.
- Creativity and culture could be key drivers for regeneration / economic development / sustainability etc within rural areas. This is not just an urban agenda.
- The designation framework might look different for rural places i.e. not such a big emphasis on buildings and major cultural institutions but instead the development of new models around creative economy, social innovation and international exchange.
- Developing a model for rural regions to harness culture for positive change could be a big win for Europe.
The focus of the EROC campaign is about rural, isolated or peripheral regions. The regions that are currently involved in the project are technically classified as NUTS 2 regions (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nomenclature_of_Territorial_Units_for_Stati...) which is a European definition based broadly on population numbers normally between 800k and 3m. The thinking about exactly what definition of region will be used for an eventual designation is still to be done.
The EROC campaign uses the term “culture” in its widest possible meaning: as being characteristic behaviours of communities in meeting the challenges of existence in particular physical environments. Distinctive environments generate distinctive cultures, and distinctive cultures express themselves differently.
Fill in the sign-up form and pledge your support. We will keep you informed of activities and projects taking place as well as key milestones achieved in the campaign.
The earliest time new policy could be introduced is 2013.
The EROC campaign is developing proposals about exactly what form the designation should take. We are sure that it won’t be a carbon copy of the European Capitals of Culture scheme because we believe that rural, isolated and peripheral regions require different models to cities, although of course there will be some similar elements. If you are interested in your region becoming EROC partners and contributing to the scheme development, contact miranda@cornwallculture.co.uk
The average person in Cornwall will experience benefits when this designation is successful and celebrated in their region. In terms of economic benefits, Liverpool’s European Capital of Culture celebration generated an economic benefit of £800m (for more info see www.liv.ac.uk/impacts08)
The European funding is ring-fenced for culture projects so if the regions weren’t actively trying to bid for itthe money would be spent on culture in other regions.
Everyone in a region celebrating European Region of Culture status could potentially stand to benefit. This designation would raise profile on an international level, benefitting everything from education, tourism and the arts to trade and business.
You can’t guarantee anything but all of the evidence from the European Capitals of Culture programme shows that there are significant, lasting effects as a result of designation status as evidenced in Impacts 08.
During the last 6 years EROCCO and its partners have achieved:
- a European Parliamentary resolution recommending that the designation be established
- an investment of £350,000 from The Culture Fund to test the idea through a pilot project (happening in 09)
- the establishment of a network of rural regions (already 25 strong)
- Brussels is planning to showcase the idea at its next Open Days events
- a wide ranging public consultation in Cornwall including (over 100,000 hits on the campaign website)
- excellent PR and Press
- a sense of finishing line to aim for adding focus and urgency to sector development
The ERoC initiative has been adopted as Cornwall’s Cultural sector's key ambition and is the main factor in developing the Culture Strategy for Cornwall Council. The Arts Council England in the SW actively support the campaign and have offered a series of investments. Encouraged by a report adopted by the European Parliament in September 2007 detailing the wish to see the creation of a future action "in favour of small, traditional communities along the lines of that instituting the culture capitals”, Cornwall Council and the European Regions of Culture Campaign Organisation developed a cooperation project with Finland, Poland, Denmark, Eire and Bulgaria under the Culture 2007 Programme which began in October 2008. EUCLID have also been actively engaged in the development of this initiative. The Committee of Regions Culture Commission have recently requested that the COR and its officers work with EROCCO/ CC to develop the campaign.
The Culture Fund EROC pilot project is running through 09.
Its aim is to build the case for Europe by providing a clear sense that there is an appetite (we need to build a coalition of 50 rural regions) and to provide a concept of how it will operate and what the potential benefits will be.
During the project there will be 3 week-long residencies in each of the three partner Countries (Cornwall, Kujawsko-Pomorskie and South Ostrobothnia) which will involve policy makers, artists, decision makers, young people and the media. From this work a body of evidence will be generated (policy and creative) to help support the case.
At the end of Cornish residency the project will be hosting an international conference day (13th of November) the invite list will include the European Commission, DCMS, International delegates.
