Georgia puts “culture on the map” with EU and Eastern Partnership

Georgia and five other Eastern Partnership (EaP) countries are teaming up with EU member states to deepen cooperation between the cultural and creative sectors and mainstream cultural heritage as a key component in the drive to achieve integrated, sustainable and participative urban development.

Representatives from the Ministries of Culture of the EaP countries, European Commission and Council of Europe officials launched the Eastern Partnership Culture Program 2015-2018 last month in Georgia’s capital Tbilisi.

The Program covered six EaP countries (Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Georgia, Moldova and Ukraine) and included two components: EU-Eastern Partnership Culture and Creativity Program and Community-led Urban Strategies in Historic Towns (COMUS).

The Program aimed to enhance the cultural and creative sectors contribution to sustainable social and economic development.

Society’s participation coupled with a strong link with government has made it possible for culture to claim a more prominent place on the agenda. Engaging citizens and administrations at all levels is vital for the success of cultural sector development,” said deputy head of the EU Delegation to Georgia Carlo Natale.

Within the program six to 12 pilot towns will be selected in Georgia’s regions to capitalise on cultural heritage as a key feature of sustainable urban development.

There is a genuine desire to increase the practical importance of culture in the region. The Program’s priorities include the creation of mutually beneficial alliances and integration of local cultural organisations into the European cultural space including through increasing participation in European cultural networks and professional associations,” said the EU-EaP Culture and Creativity Program leader Terry Sandell.

Meanwhile, manager of the Creative Europe Program of the European Commission Rob Van Iersel presented ‘Creative Europe’ which aimed to provide European culture and the media sectors with access to new international opportunities, markets and audiences.

Before embarking on your own project learn from others and gain experience. Use your European partners and get their advice to learn the positives and negatives,” said Iersel.

Georgia and Moldova were already part of ‘Creative Europe’, while Ukraine would join in the near future.