Photo provided by organizer
The international conference is organised in cooperation with Culture Action Europe - the largest European network of cultural policy institutions and organisations - within the European culture-oriented campaign "WE ARE MORE!"
The initiative also involves representatives of "Citizens of Culture" Movement. The conference will concentrate on two themes: "The Political Dimension of Culture" and "The Participatory Dimension of Culture".
The conference aims to come up with conclusions, solutions and various recommendations with respect to methods of financing culture. Solutions are to be conjured up for particular ministries with reference to social, educational and infrastructural funds. The recommendations will be presented during the European Culture Congress in Wrocław (8th – 11th of September).
The structure of the conference refers to the BarCamp method (user-generated conferences) whose essence lies in the exchange of knowledge and culture, and an openness towards participants. The method is democratic without any superimposed programme, and lacking a division into expert-teams and 'audiences'. Everyone is invited to participate in the conference and participants contribute their presentations, and become involved in discussions, presentations of artworks, and critical analyses and debates. In spite of the openness, the formula is strict: each participant has 14 minutes: 7 for presentation and 7 for discussion. Issues for discussion can be proposed in advance, through the project 's website and during the conference itself (signing up for ‘free spots’).
The project's websites will feature live coverage of the conference in Polish and English.
FRAMEWORK PROGRAMME
Thursday, 28th of July, 2011
3.00 pm – 5.30 pm:
- Official opening of the conference,
- Three expert speeches,
- Presentation of reports
6.00 pm – 8.30 pm:
- "Café Demokracja" / "Democracy Cafe" debate within the "WIĘCEJ KULTURY – WE ARE MORE!" conference.
Friday, 29th of July, 2011
10.00 am – 1.00 pm:
- Two work-groups discuss the incorporation of cultural funds in the 2014-2020 EU Council's budget. Work will be conducted according to the "WE ARE MORE!" method, and supervised by moderators from the Culture Action Europe.
3.00 pm – 5.30 pm:
- Continuation of work within work-groups.
6.00 pm – 8.30 pm:
- "Café Demokracja" / "Democracy Cafe" debate within the "WIĘCEJ KULTURY – WE ARE MORE!" conference.
Saturday, 30th of July, 2011
10.00 am – 1.00 pm:
- Two work-groups present a resume and conclusions from the discussion the incorporation of cultural funds in the 2014-2020 EU Council's budget
6.00 pm – 8.30 pm:
- "Café Demokracja" / "Democracy Cafe" debate held within "WIĘCEJ KULTURY – WE ARE MORE!" conference
- Official closing of the conference.
Date: 28th - 30th of July, 2011
Venue: Conference and Study Centre of Gdańsk University, Gdańsk
Organised by: Kultura Miejska Association, Nadbałtyckie Centrum Kultury (Baltic Cultural Centre)
This event is part of Attention Culture!, the Cultural Program of the 2011 Polish EU Presidency, which comprises a six-month series of exceptional events and artistic projects, including the European Culture Congress