Program representatives: EU Program “Creative Europe” is a financing mechanism for cultural and creative industry projects

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Program “Creative Europe” is a mechanism of financing and expanding international cooperation for all those who are involved in cultural sphere and have ideas of interesting projects, informed Yuliia Fediv, Director of the National Office of EU Program “Creative Europe” for Ukraine, during a press briefing at Ukraine Crisis Media Center. The program started in 2014 and will last until 2020. Today it involves 39 countries, including EU member states, countries of the Eastern Partnership and European Free Trade Association. Ukraine joined it on January 1, 2016. The program focuses on three main sectors – cultural, creative and audiovisual. The total budget is EUR 1.46 billion, of which 56% allocated for the support of subprogram “Media”, 31% – for “Culture”, 13% – for inter-sectoral cooperation projects (to full members).

“Creative Europe” activity areas and tools

Within sub-program “Culture” the following four financing channels have been provided: “European Platforms”, “European Networks”, “Cooperation Projects” and “Literary Translation.”

European Platforms and European Networks are intended for those implementing projects within the structural groups of organizations in the cultural and creative sectors. Entities that have 15 member organizations in 10 “Creative Europe” participating countries are eligible to apply for participation in European Platforms. The financing amount comprises 80% of the budget, up to EUR 250,000 per year. Participation in European Networks envisages that organizations submitting a project should form a legal coordination mechanism and a platform of 10 member organizations in 10 different participating countries. The financing amount comprises 80% of the budget, up to EUR 500,000 per year. “For example, this year the European Theater Convention, which includes such two Ukrainian theaters as DAKH and Molodyi teatr, has won the competition in European Networks and received EUR 250,000 for the project. Accordingly, our theaters that are members of the network can also take part in the events funded by the Program,” informed Yuliia Fediv.

Cooperation Projects are divided into separate categories: for small projects (3 participants from three countries, the budget amounts to EUR 200,000; financing – up to 60%) and large projects (6 partners from 6 countries; the budget – EUR 2 million; financing – 50%). Subgroup “Literary Translation” offers the support of literary works translation projects (3-10 works) into other European languages. The program finances up to 60% of the budget, up to EUR 100,000.

Among 14 areas within the sub-program “Media” only 4 are available in Ukraine. Among them – training in “management”, “new technologies” and “scriptwriting”; they are aimed at creating audience, organizing festivals, in particular, film festivals. At least 100 full-length or 400 short films (50% – foreign) from at least 15 participating countries should be presented at the festival program. “This year the Odesa Film Festival and Kyiv Film Festival ‘Molodist’ have applied, but, unfortunately, they have failed,” noted Yuliia Fediv. Besides there is also such area as “Market Access” – funding of projects on organizing European sites at leading fairs and professional audiovisual markets.

Among “Creative Europe” partners is also the EU and Eastern Partnership Program “Culture and Creativity.” It is implemented in 6 Eastern Partnership countries and provides for research, expanding the potential of the cultural and creative sectors, and information support of international cooperation. Iryna Prokofieva, EU-Eastern Partnership Culture&Creativity Programme” for Ukraine, noted that 15 trainings and a cultural study tour for managers to Ljubljana have already been held in Ukraine under the program with the aim of sharing experiences on how to shape the project strategy and choose the projects properly to win funding.

How to participate?

An operating organization of any ownership with a status of legal entity for no less than two years and with partners in at least three participating countries is eligible to apply. One should be registered on the Portal of members and continue to act in accordance with the specified algorithm. “For the project to pass the review by an expert board, it should meet at least three priorities of “Creative Europe”. First, it should promote the mobility of cultural and creative communities. Second, it should help expand the audience and involve the population, who generally do not have access to the cultural and creative industries, in particular, disadvantaged populations and people with disabilities. Besides, the project should offer new business models and new solutions, facilitate the transition to new technologies, ensure educational activities and training for cultural workers,” noted Yuliia Fediv.

She added that as part of Book Arsenal a public discussion “’Creative Europe’ as a tool: Experience of Latvia and the UK” will be held in spring. During this discussion you can find details on terms of participation, features of application and reporting. In June, a workshop for stakeholders will be held, in August and September – forums about the program tools. In October-November – workshops in Lutsk, Rivne and Chernivtsi. A fair of successful projects will be held in winter.

The program provides for community development and inter-ministerial cooperation

The Program National Bureau will operate at the Ukrainian Center for Cultural Studies. It is not funded by the EU, because Ukraine pays only a symbolic 1 euro of membership fee. Oleksandr Butsenko, acting Director of Ukrainian Center for Cultural Studies, expressed the hope that after the change of the Bureau’s leadership its activities will be more successful. “Now when the Bureau is cooperating with us, it will become active, which will give an impetus to promote this idea in society. The program provides for not only intersectoral or interdisciplinary, but also inter-agency and inter-ministerial cooperation. This program will also influence the national development and development of local communities through involving different ministries and their resources,” he noted.