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Description
The aim of the project is to restore the National Cultural Monument – Coburg Manor House in Jelšava – and revitalize communities by the creation of a cultural centre which connects local artists, Roma and Hungarian minorities and youth. The project includes opening a café, traditional, arts and crafts programme involving local craftsmen including those specializing in historical and traditional crafts, technical monument programme for urban exploration enthusiasts and a cooperation with Norwegian project partners - Norwegian University College for Agriculture and Rural Development, Fjellugla Competence and NILU – Norwegian Institute for Air Research.
Summary of project results
The project "Coburg Manor House in Jelšava - historical-craft and ecological center of Gemer" was focused on the lack of public investment capacity to restore and exploit the full potential of cultural heritage object of Coburg Manor House in Jelšava as a driver of local and regional development, as well as on the organisational capacity of the public sector to operate and maintain a creative cultural centre in small-town conditions. Related problems are brain drain, flight of young people, lack of opportunities for marginalised communities, especially the Roma community, and lack of suitable spaces for emerging artists and traditional folk craftsmen. Decades of industrial air pollution also complement environmental considerations.
The restoration of the Coburg Manor House and the launch of a comprehensive community program in the network of cultural and youth organizations solved the described problems.
The project benefited from a comprehensive strategy developed in consultation with local players and a set of experts in cultural heritage, urban creation and youth work from Slovakia and Norway.
The strategy consists of a multi-level approach and specific activities:
1. Restoration of a cultural monument (Coburg Manor House), the works restored damaged parts of the building (wooden roof beams, sewage system, underground parts and cellars) - the output of the activity was the opening of the meeting point, courtyard, experimental exposition and the opening of the Manor House to the public.
2. The community programme was implemented in cooperation with civic society organizations of the town Jelšava and its surroundings. The output of the programme is several activities, such as:
- a traditional, arts and crafts programme involving local craftsmen, craftsmen of traditional crafts and local Roma participating parties directly involved in the restoration of this cultural monument;
- program of deradicalisation, hate speech and cognitive security, which took place continuously at public events and educational institutions in the region with the involvement of professional civil society organizations;
- a digital and creative industries program aimed at linking the cultural heritage of the city and region with current and future technologies and media;
- a constantly ongoing program of environmental awareness and education of all residents of the city and its surroundings;
- establishment of a social entrepreneurship café for the public and communities on the site of the restored cultural monument.
3. Connecting the restored monument and cultural center with national and European cultural networks and acquiring new knowledge. Creating an opportunity for building marketing capacity in order to attract visitors and artist residencies in small-town conditions.
4. Activities in the area of environmental measures to adapt and mitigate the environment in the entire range of municipal powers.
5. Bilateral knowledge transfer and capacity building through 2 bilateral partners
The achieved outputs of the project positively influenced a number of civic society organizations of the town Jelšava, individuals cooperating on the project site but especially the general public.
These groups note an increased interest in project results, cumulating additional community capacity building and a wealth of inspiring rural development ideas. The project outcomes are:
a) 2 jobs created - women aged 40-41
b) restored and revitalized cultural monument Coburg Manor House in Jelšava;
c) created and implemented business strategy for social entrepreneurship (BISTRO on the square and BISTRO with extended operation in the Coburg Manor House);
d) 12 bilateral activities targeting minorities:
- "... Don´t let it be forgotten..." - aimed at the Jewish minority (150th anniversary of the founding of the Jewish community in the town of Jelšava)
- Working visit of partners from Norway - participation of representatives of interested civil society organisations of the city and community life
- Commemoration of the Roma minority – general public (public event)
- Peace run - general public and sports enthusiasts (public event)
- Mining in Gemer – professional mining community and foreign guests, general public (public event)
- Artistic performance in the Coburg mansion - general public (public event)
- 3x Professional training of Norwegian partners, training of practical skills of regional development - civil society organizations of the city and community life
- 2x "Mini" concert of the Norwegian band Sunnmøre Baarelag and local amateurs, general public (public event)
- Activity in cooperation with YMCA Revúca and Norwegian partners - general public (public event)
e) 2 joint cultural activities - concert of the Norwegian band Sunnmøre Baarelag for general public (public event) and the final conference on the project and cultural programmes – expert public, representatives of interested civil society organizations of the city and community life;
f) cooperation with the donor project partner;
g) created cultural center and residential center for artists.
Summary of bilateral results
There was a new knowledge achieved within the cooperation with the donor project partner – the knowledge about the community and how important they are for successful projects as a whole. They were given new ways of more freedom, more power to act, and more room to move. Cooperation in acquiring practical regional development skills between civic society organisations of Jelšava and Norwegian partners took place as well as the understanding the innovation process in creating new businesses and operations on tangible or intangible cultural heritage and natural resources. The knowledge directly related to creating own innovative regional future have been improved.