The Forum Grantmaking for Culture and International Connection will take place in Timisoara on 30-31 October. The event aims to contribute to increasing the capacity of cultural operators to develop viable and sustainable project ideas, to support professionalisation and innovation in public funding for culture in the European context.

The event will take place at Faber (Splaiul Peneș Curcanul nr. 4-5) and Cinema Victoria (Ciprian Porumbescu Street nr. 2) and is organized by the Center for Projects of the Municipality of Timișoara, together with the Romanian Creative Europe Desk - Project Management Unit - Ministry of Culture.

For two days, participants will get acquainted with the Creative Europe cooperation projects in which Romanian organisations are involved and will learn about the funding available at European level for operators in the cultural and creative sectors, organisations and individuals. The most important public policy approaches at national and local level and how they influence funding practices and the status of cultural practitioners will also be discussed. Approaches to building the capacity of cultural actors and their contribution to international cultural relations and cultural diplomacy will be presented and debated.

You can see the programme of the two days here: event agenda.

If you would like to participate, register by filling in this online form by Friday 27 October (Romanian only).

There will be two panels that will be broadcasted live on the Facebook page of the Center for Projects, in English:

International relations via cultural mobilities and cooperation

Monday, October 30, 16:00h:

How are cities performing cultural diplomacy today? What is the role of artists and cultural organisations and what are the basic principles on which mobilities and cooperation programmes are built? How does this mobility of imagination reflect and nurture the promotion of democratic values such as respect for human dignity and freedom, two values that constitute the foundation of both artistic practices and the European civic and political space? What is the role of the European Capital of Culture programme to advance cooperation and a shared European space, from the multitude of perspectives and interests?  

Speakers: Julia Bucz (Veszprem Balaton European Capital of Culture in 2023), Angeliki Lampiri (Elefsina European Capital of Culture in 2023), Alexandru Vărzaru (Municipality of Timișoara), Dana Berdilă (Romanian Cultural Institute)

Moderator:  Ramona Laczko-David (Center for Projects of the Municipality of Timișoara) 

International programmes for capacity building of the cultural scene

Tuesday, October 31, 16:00h:

Cultural management, including cultural production, is a specialisation that requires the ability to practise this role in a reflective and relational way. A capable cultural management is, beyond the acquisition of specific knowledge and skills, highly dependent on the response it offers to the social and economic context, the cultural niche and the values assumed by the collective of the organisation. Lifelong learning is becoming a necessity for cultural managers, and the international cultural circuit of production and circulation of cultural works also requires an international system of learning in cultural management and production. What are the trends in European capacity building programmes for professionals and organisations and how do they build a shared understanding of audiences and cultural participation trends?

Speakers: Lucie Perineau (European Network of Cultural Centres), Tihana Pupovac (On the move European network), Tamina Bojoancă (Goethe Institut), Alexandra Rigler (Center for Projects of the Municipality of Timișoara)

Moderator:  Raluca Iacob (Center for Projects of the Municipality of Timișoara)

The Forum Grantmaking for Culture and International Connection is part of the Power Station programme, the component of the National Cultural programme „Timișoara – European Capital of Culture in 2023” dedicated to the development of capacities of the cultural sector and implemented by the Center for Projects of the Timișoara Municipality. www.timisoara2023.eu 

The Romanian Creative Europe Desk promotes the Creative Europe Programme at national level, provides free technical assistance to operators who want to access this funding, helps to identify European partners for cooperation and promotes the funded projects. BEC Romania is hosted by the Project Management Unit of the Ministry of Culture and is part of the network of Creative Europe Desks in the participating countries.