[Oberlist] EUROPE# act: Change is needed. Your support is needed - European Cultural Foundation

[oberlist mailing list]

-- 
Moldova Young Artists Association "Oberliht"
http://www.oberliht.org.md
.   .   .   .   .   .   .   .   .   .   .
http://idash.org/mailman/listinfo/oberlist
portal informational pentru arta si cultura din Moldova
information gateway for arts and culture from Moldova


---------------------------- Original Message ----------------------------
Subject: ECF mail: Change is needed. Your support is needed
From:    "European Cultural Foundation" <eurocult la mailinglijst.nl>
Date:    Wed, April 1, 2009 17:31
To:      "usv," <ober la emdash.org>
--------------------------------------------------------------------------

Change is needed. Your support is needed
------------------------------------------------------------------

ECF Mailing


    	    Change is needed.  Your support is needed
 	      	    	    You can boost vital intercultural dialogue
At the European Cultural Foundation (ECF) we have been working for
European integration through arts and culture for more than five decades.
Our goal is a truly inclusive Europe - a living and working space that
fully embraces cultural diversity, making the most of the opportunities
which this diversity offers.
The Platform for Intercultural Europe and its Rainbow Paper.
To get there, we joined forces in  2006 with our partners Cultural  Action
Europe (CAE) and the  Network of European  Foundations (NEF) and created 
the Platform for Intercultural  Europe. A growing number of  organisations
- almost 400 so far,  from many disciplines and sectors  - and thousands
of committed  individuals make the Platform a  credible and powerful
representative  of civil society. Crucially,  its power comes 'from  the
people'.
The Rainbow Paper is its chief lobbying tool. A product of two years'
broad consultation,  the paper is a call to action in two  parts: firstly,
it appeals to civic  organisations to change and  live up to the new and
vibrant  diversity around us; secondly,  it appeals to policymakers to 
create the right conditions for  Europe to take the fullest  advantage of
its diverse  cultural richness. Both the  Platform and its Rainbow Paper 
argue for 'diversity standards'  in public life and put forward  specific
policy goals.

Your Support
We know that we have your support in creating a fairer Europe together.
We are asking for small efforts that will have great impact on the legacy
of the European Year of
Intercultural Dialogue and the future of interculturalism:
Sign up to the Rainbow Paper at
http://rainbowpaper.labforculture.org
Become an active member
Please contact Sabine Frank, Platform coordinator at:
sabine.frank la cultureactioneurope.org



        Main Recommendations	      	The Rainbow Paper makes key
recommendations in five specific areas (see the full version for
details):
. positive lifelong learning about cultural diversity through formal,
non-formal and informal means (Education)
. ensuring the everyday practice of  'interculturalism' (Building capacity
in organisations)
. sustaining good policies and practices and learning from bad ones
(Monitoring)
. keeping the lifeblood of 'intercultural dialogue' flowing (Mobilising
across boundaries)
. guaranteeing adequate investment (Resourcing intercultural dialogue).
The Right Time is Now
We, as civil society, have a seat at the top table and can speak up. The
stronger our voice, the more they will listen.
Committed to open dialogue with civil society, the European Institutions
officially recognise the Platform as an 'interlocutor'. As a hub of
communication between local actors, Platform members, and the political
institutions, the Platform plays an important role that must be
maintained. And if the 2008 European Year of Intercultural Dialogue is to
have a lasting impact, continued action and advocacy are needed to broaden
and deepen the power and recognition of culture and cultural diversity.
Our Goal
Our goal is clear. We want the non-profit sector to drive this campaign
for change. We want as many civil society partners as possible to join the
Platform and sign the Rainbow Paper; to initiate and monitor
organisational change; to observe policies in their cities, regions and
countries; to see that European standards are built up and implemented.
Through strong united action we can influence cultural policymaking for
the better.
Next Steps
The Paper argues for four types of change: attitudinal, social, structural
and policy oriented. This takes investment and involves tough choices. The
Platform has already taken the initiative by introducing 'scouting
missions' focused on capacity building and advocacy. These will deepen the
Platform's knowledge of local practices (needs and challenges, etc.) and
its own membership.
The Platform will offer specialised guidance (in the five key areas
covered by the Rainbow Paper) to European institutions, national
governments and local actors so that they can learn from good practice and
take appropriate action.
Your Support
We know that we have your support in creating a fairer Europe together. We
are asking for small efforts that will have great impact on the legacy of
the European Year of Intercultural Dialogue and the future of
interculturalism:
. Sign up to the Rainbow Paper at
http://rainbowpaper.labforculture.org
. Sign up to membership of the Platform at
http://www.intercultural-europe.org


    Facts about the Platform & Contact Details      	      Currently we
have almost 400 participating organisations, with thousands of
individuals from all walks of intercultural life: arts and culture,
education, youth, social work, human rights, migration, inter-faith
organisations, etc.
Our ambition is to translate this participation into actual membership and
ensure as democratic a representation as possible. The Platform's
membership will be its authority and legitimacy. The Platform's role is
not to act in the field of intercultural dialogue but to voice the
experience, needs, and insights of those who do.	      Contact at the ECF:
Isabelle Schwarz, Head of Cultural Policy Development:
ischwarz la eurocult.org
Contact at the Platform secretariat in Brussels:
Sabine Frank, Secretary-General: sabine.frank la cultureactioneurope.org.


    	European Cultural Foundation - ECF	Jan van Goyenkade 5	1075 HN
Amsterdam	tel +31 20 5733868	fax +31 20
6752231	http://www.eurocult.org


The Platform for Intercultural Europe is supported by the Network of
European Foundations (NEF), a consortium involving  the following
partners: Compagnia di San Paolo, European Cultural Foundation, Evens
Foundation, Fondation Bernheim, Freudenberg Stiftung, Riksbankens
Jubileumsfond.
Feel free to pass this e-zine on to those who might be interested.
To subscribe, visit http://www.eurocult.org/follow-ecf-online/.