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Details have been unveiled of new priorities for European funding through the Culture 2000 framework. The overall purpose of Culture 2000 is to promote cultural diversity by encouraging co-operation between Member States and participating countries, supporting artistic creation and preserving the common cultural heritage. Its specific objectives are to fund quality projects, encourage innovation and creativity, and provide European ?added value?; but in the 2002 call for applications, which will close on November 15, two new concepts are incorporated.
Firstly, applicants will have to respond to at least one of three themes: ?addressing the citizen?, ?new technology and media?, and ?tradition and innovation?, linking the past and the future. Another new funding constraint relates to the artforms supported. From 2002 to 2004, the majority of funds will be allocated to a single main sector of cultural activity, with relatively few projects in other artforms being supported.

The focus for 2002 is the contemporary visual arts, including painting, sculpture, video art, cyber art, photography, industrial and commercial design, textile design, architecture, graphic art, the call for decorative arts, and crafts. 100 programmes, involving co-organisers from at least three participating countries and projects which will last for a maximum of 12 months, will be supported. A further 15 longer-term programmes will also be funded, lasting for 24 months minimum and 36 months maximum and involving co-organisers from at least five participating countries. The 2002 call states that priority will be given to high quality projects, particularly those which involve a large number of organisations from the different participating countries and are widely disseminated using the most appropriate means of communication. In 2003, the focus of funding will move to highlight performing arts, including theatre, dance, music, opera, the lyric arts, street theatre and circus; and 2004 will centre on heritage.

More details of the 2002 call for applications to Culture 2000 can be obtained from Euclid, the UK Cultural Contact Point, which is running a series of seminars across the UK to support arts organisations thinking of applying. t: 07000 382 543; e: c2k@euclid.co.uk; w: http://www.euclid.co.uk