Description
Project objectives include increasing the capacity of local authorities and cultural operators to promote cultural diversity to the general public in the North East and North West of Romania by organizing three festivals in the cities Botosani, Iasi and Bistrita, and making a documentary film about the multiethnic culture and traditions; project will organize 12 workshops with experts in culture and arts in the North East and North West and will increase the degree of public awareness about cultural diversity and determine a better understanding of cultural diversity including minority culture by making the 3 studies in culture and arts sector in Botosani, Bistrita - Nasaud and Iaşi and organizing advocacy campaigns for publicizing understanding of cultural diversity in the country and EEA countries. Beneficiaries include ethnic minorities living in Botosani, Bistrita Nasaud and Iaşi (Roma, Hungarians, Germans, Ukrainians, Hebrew, Armenian) who will be able to capitalize their ethnic cultural heritage which they belong; artists who work in art shows and visual arts, at least 150 people participating in festivals conducted so far and experts in culture and arts of the three counties within the project.
Summary of project results
This project was initiated to present the current situation of the ethnic minorities from a different perspective. The County of Botosani has been known through history as very strong in terms of cultural diversity, as the 4 great geniuses of the Romanian culture had their origins here: Mihai Eminescu, George Enescu, Nicolae Iorga and Ştefan Luchian. According to the census held in 2011, there are 4155 Roma people residing in Botosani County, as well as Germans and Hungarians. Partner 1- Bistrita City- brought to the project a wide experience of cooperation among the ethnic minorities that form together the local population. During the project implementation, have been achieved the following: organizing 12 workshops with specialists in the fields of culture and arts on the following topics : tradition and history of ethnic groups residing in the pilot areas, opportunities for cultural expression for the ethnics residing in the pilot areas, interethnic cooperation for the development of local communities leading to a reduction of social disparities and increasing awareness towards the cultural acts, the historical heritage monuments managed by the ethnics residing in the pilot areas and the opportunities to highlight them; 3 studies in the fields of culture and arts, including the culture of minorities, for the counties of Botosani, Bistrita Nasaud and Iasi, built upon the information collected during the workshops, with the aim of creating awareness towards cultural diversity, promoting goods and services belonging to the culture of communities, to highlight the contribution of each ethnic minority in its part and the opportunities (some of which are already materialized) to cooperate, to put together the strengths of each of the community for a common purpose; three Multicultural Diversity Festivals, one in each of the partner counties, were initially planned within the project, with the aim of promoting cultural diversity through music, dance, and visual arts in their modern forms of expression; a documentary movie regarding the multiethnic traditions in the participating counties; a promotion and advocacy campaign. Through this project, promoted a better understanding of cultural diversity and strengthened intercultural dialogue, including through strengthening the culture of minorities in Botosani, Bistrita – Nasaud and Iasi.
Summary of bilateral results