Description
In Romania there is still insufficient access to culture and a large undertapping of culture’s potential to impact the life of young people. There is a need to support cultural organizations, especially NGOs, to develop projects in collaboration with educational organizations, schools in particular. We aim to contribute to a more favorable environment for culture in schools, to increase the understanding of needs and collaboration dynamics between cultural and educational organizations. The main results are the creation and development of the network “Support culture in education”, the publishing of analysis and policy-briefs, and the development of competences for cooperation in cultural-educational projects. The beneficiaries are cultural and educational organizations and institutions interested in the potential of culture to positively affect the lives of children and young people. We will benefit from the Norwegian experience of the Cultural Rucksack programme, exploring the possibilities and challenges of policy transfer in Romania.
Summary of project results
The "Support culture in education" project came to exist in the context of a considerable number of experiences in which culture and education went hand in hand in order to produce real benefits for extremely diverse groups, but which lacked connection between one another. Through discussions with practitioners it quickly became clear that the lack of collaboration, critical reflection, evaluation and evidence based practices, significantly diminished the impact of these initiatives. The underlying assumption of the project was that participating in cultural activities from a young age is beneficial in the critical acquisition of cultural capital which is significant both to the individual and to the community. That is why the promoter aimed to support the implementation of cultural programmes with an educational dimension in Romania, by developing a network of professionals and organisations, as well as relevant resources for practices and public policy. The activities of the project were focused on several areas: 1) offering abilities to cultural and educational professionals that would facilitate their common endeavours; 2) creating and disseminating resources for cultural programmes with an educational dimension; 3) advocating for the inclusion and promotion of cultural programmes with an educational dimension at national and local levels. Throughout the project, the promoter aimed to create a climate of trust and appreciation between cultural and educational professionals. There were roughly 250 beneficiaries of the training sessions, which went on to become the core of the network developed. Over 1000 individuals and organisations took notice of the results and products of the project and over 5,000 educational institutions were kept informed about how the project was developing. In 2016, CubicMetre won the award in the “Communication and cultural mediation” section of National Cultural Fund (AFCN)'s Gala for the implementation of the project, as well as Radio Romania Cultural’s award for "Education and teaching” section.
Summary of bilateral results