News – EU culture consultation

A consultation exercise to seek views on the European Commission?s proposal for the future Culture Programme 2007-13 has been launched by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS). A new scheme will replace the current Culture 2000 Programme, which expires at the end of 2006, and through which projects involving cultural co-operation across the EU have been eligible for grant funding. Whilst the new proposals are thought to address several of the perceived shortcomings of the current Programme, the DCMS is keen to gather views on the proposed aims of the new Programme.
The Commission proposes that the successor programme should focus on three main objectives: the transnational mobility of people working in the cultural sectors; the transnational circulation of works of art; and intercultural dialogue. It is proposed that the programme should have three strands of action: direct support for cultural co-operation projects; support for European cultural co-operation organisations; and support for studies and information on cultural co-operation issues. Negotiations on the new Programme will be conducted in Brussels by a working group known as the Cultural Affairs Committee, and DCMS officials will represent the UK, taking into account advice received through its consultation process. Negotiations will begin in Autumn 2004 under the Dutch Presidency of the Council, and are likely to be completed by the end of 2005 during the UK Presidency. The DCMS view is currently that future cultural projects should have greater lasting value, and that higher profile, long-term projects that will ?demonstrate real European added value? are most desirable. Full details of the consultation process, which closes on October 29, are at http://www.culture.gov.uk, or contact Michael Helston or Aidan McIvor at the DCMS t: 020 7211 6169;
e: [email protected]