Description
This project will monitor culture centres in rural communities and local governments in the Małopolska region. The focus of this process is to identify whether and on what terms public, non-governmental and private sector entities can effectively collaborate in the field of culture. A report containing specific tools will be developed to facilitate citizens' public participation in the culture policy-making process.
Summary of project results
The project was a response to the problem of low availability of resources for cultural activities to NGOs and the fact that inhabitants of municipalities have no saying on the methods of spending public resources for this purpose. NGOs active in the field of culture are very seldom invited to joint activities with community cultural centres, and they have to compete for resources with municipal cultural institutions. In Małopolska voivodeship no models for good cooperation can be found, and no reports on the matter are available, as well as no organisations lead surveys and offer support in this field. The aim of the project was to develop models of cooperation between public, social and private entities in the cultural sector. A quantitative survey was led to gather data on the amounts of public funds spent by particular types of entities for cultural activities and on their functioning. Expenditures for culture for 2011-2013 were controlled in 152 out of 179 municipalities in Małopolska, and information on the methods of spending resources in 98 municipal cultural institutions in the voivodeship were gathered. The results of the monitoring and recommendations on e.g. cooperation with NGOs and inhabitants were published in a report and forwarded to all municipalities and cultural institutions in Małopolska. In 5 municipalities, surveys on the needs of inhabitants were led together with local authorities (in all, 233 questionnaires were gathered), and then development strategies were prepared in the field of culture. In one municipality social consultations of the prepared document were also led. The project was promoted in municipalities where development strategies were prepared and in regional media. An important change was that inhabitants of 5 municipalities gained more leverage on local cultural activities. The main achievement is the change in perception of the cultural management, to include inhabitants in the process of defining planned activities. The project benefited mainly inhabitants of the 5 municipalities, cultural institutions that can use developed solutions, and the inhabitants of Małopolska who can monitor spending on culture in their municipalities.
Summary of bilateral results