Conservation and Revitalisation of Cultural and Natural Heritage & Promotion of Diversity in Culture and Arts within European Cultural Heritage

Key facts

Programme Operator:
Government Office of the Slovak Republic
Programme ID:
SK05
Status:
In implementation
Date of approval:
Total amount:
€11,922,500
EEA Grants fund:
€11,922,500
Norway Grants fund:
€ 0

Currently available funding

Programme Summary

Why is the Programme needed? The Programme is needed in order to provide assistance contributing to halt the further deterioration of cultural heritage in Slovakia and to help revitalise part of this heritage for the use of current and future generations. The Government of the Slovak Republic outlined the main directions and strategy for heritage care in its document ‘Conception of the protection on monuments and historic sites in Slovakia’ in December 2011. Emphasis is put on the need to restore endangered monuments and on the importance revitalised heritage has for capacity building, job development, economic growth and social inclusion. The aim of capacity development ties in with the priority set by the European Commission in its proposal for the future Creative Europe Programme 2014-2020. The Commission recognises the urgent need to stimulate international cooperation and exchange of knowledge to accelerate capacity development in the cultural sector. The Programme stimulates such exchanges and it will play a role in strengthening bilateral ties and accelerated learning. What will the Programme achieve? The Programme supports the safeguarding of significant Slovak cultural heritage by grants for activities aiming to conserve and revitalise cultural and natural heritage and promote the diversity of culture and arts within European cultural heritage. The Programme helps increase greater awareness about good and sustainable heritage care, for example by providing support for the monitoring of monuments and the provision of advice to the owners of monuments. It provides support for major work needed to rescue a building related to one of Slovakia’s most important monuments - Rusovce Manor - by a grant for the reconstruction of ‘Rusovce Servants’ House and the restoring of the surrounding historical park and garden, making both accessible to the general public and providing valuable and much needed space for the provision of information on the history of this area. How will it be achieved? The Programme includes activities that boost both the upkeep of cultural heritage in Slovakia and people’s access to this heritage. Through open calls it provides applicants the possibility to submit applications for grants for projects to safeguard fortified heritage (castles) and to conserve monuments of significant importance. The Programme provides scope for an open call aiming to stimulate the development of projects in order to promote greater awareness of cultural diversity, the strengthening of intercultural dialogue and promotion of bilateral cooperation between Slovak cultural players and those in Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway. There are two pre-defined projects in the area of cultural heritage, one with a focus on the renovation of cultural heritage of significant national and European importance  (Rusovce Servant's House and Gardens) and one aimed at monitoring the upkeep of monuments and providing advice on good heritage care (Pro-Monumenta). The first mentioned project is carried out in partnership with the Norwegian Institute for Cultural Heritage (NIKU) and the latter mentioned with the Norwegian Directorate for Cultural Heritage.  How will bilateral relations be strengthened? The Programme  fosters cooperation between Donor States’ and Slovak cultural players (public and private) both at programme and project level and it  contributes to strengthening bilateral relations between Slovakia and the Donor States, across the fields of cultural heritage, cultural diversity and intercultural dialogue. A pre-defined project has been established in cooperation between the Monuments’ Board of the Slovak Republic and the Norwegian Directorate for Cultural Heritage. This project contributes to the upkeep of monuments in the Slovak Republic and the beneficiary countries through knowledge exchange resulting from bilateral cooperation in this area. The Norwegian Institute for Cultural Heritage Research (NIKU) is involved as partner in the activities to revitalise Rusovce Servant's House and Gardens. There is a Bilateral Fund providing support for potential project promoters and potential Donor Project Partners for partner search, for bilateral exchange activities and for strengthening already existing partnerships.   New developments in art and culture and bilateral relations between cultural players from Slovakia and potential partners from Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway are stimulated through a Small Grants Scheme and a Bilateral Fund. What are the partnership opportunities? The calls under the Bilateral Fund were published in 2013. These provided scope for preparatory visits and networking events, as well as exchange of knowledge and experience. The calls remain open until day-month-year/until funds are exhausted. The call for the Small Grants Scheme will be published in 2014. The minimum grant within this Scheme is €50,000 and the maximum is €200,000. This scheme is of particular interest for those seeking partnership opportunities. Eligible activities are: all activities connected to the preparation and organisation of workshops, exhibitions, bilateral exchange and study trips, festivals and performances.Who can apply for funding under this Programme? For the conservation and preservation of cultural heritage in the Slovak Republic and public access to this heritage there were two calls. For support for the safeguarding of castles and fortified heritage eligible applicants are: those entities mentioned in Article 6.2.1 of the Regulation. For support for the safeguarding of the most important cultural monuments in the  Slovak Republic eligible applicants are those entities mentioned in Article 6.2.1 of the Regulation. For the Small Grant Scheme – which will focus on contemporary art and culture, bilateral exchange, intercultural dialogue and cultural diversity - eligible applicants are: civic associations, non-profit organisations and public and private institutions working and established in the respective cultural field, which will implement the project focused on the presentation of diversity in contemporary and living arts.