Background of the program
European Union-Eastern Partnership Culture Programme 2015-2018 aims at further strengthening cultural policies, particularly the Cultural and Creative Sectors, and to strengthen the capacities of the culture sector and the culture operators in the EaP countries. It also aims to increase the links between public institutions and private actors and to include civil society in the decision making process, thus enhancing the role of culture as a driving-force for reform, promotion of inter-cultural dialogue and social cohesion. The Programme consists of four main components:
- Strengthening national capacities in evidence-based policy,
- Capacity-building in support of modernisation and reform in the cultural sector,
- Development of international collaboration opportunities and partnerships including through participation in the EU's new major grants programme Creative Europe,
- Communications and visibility strategy.
The Programme is administered by a consortium led by the British Council with its partners: The Soros Foundation-Moldova, The National Centre for Culture of Poland, and the Goethe-Institut. A Technical Advisory Team based in Kyiv runs the day-to-day management of the Programme with a team of six Country Coordinators.
Assignment objectives
One of the key tools to support the development of cultural and creative sectors in the Eastern Partnership (EaP) countries is to build capacity for evidence-based policymaking and activate cultural and creative operators and professionals in all six EaP countries. Developing cultural and creative industries (CCIs) have been on the cross-roads of cultural, educational, economic and regional development policies across the world, particularly in the European Union. Both the European Commission and all the Member States have paid attention in recent years to investigate the role of culture and creativity to foster entrepreneurship, innovative solutions and spill-over effects to other parts of the economy and society at large, including strengthening social cohesion, new skills and competences, sustainable development, and local and regional competitiveness.
Cultural and creative industries have often been described as an urban phenomenon as much of the cultural resources and activities are concentrated in urban areas. The Creative Towns and Regions Initiative highlights the importance of culture and creativity in small and medium sized towns and regions (including rural areas). The process will take account of similar activities implemented in other countries as well as those in Eastern Partnership countries, e.g. Council of Europe and European Union joint programme COMUS (“Community-Led Urban Strategies in Historic Towns”) which aims to stimulate social and economic development by enhancing cultural heritage in nine historic towns in Armenia, Belarus, Georgia, Moldova and Ukraine, as well as the EU funded project CHOICE (“Cultural Heritage: Opportunity for Improving Civic Engagement) which aims to enhance civil society’s role and to build capacities to develop a heritage-friendly living environment in Belarus, Armenia, Moldova and Ukraine.
The current initiative seeks to analyse and propose integrated approach for small and medium sized towns and regions to use the local cultural and creative potential in social and economic development. It aims to raise awareness of all local stakeholders of the potential of cultural and creative sectors, to map and collect data on local cultural and creative resources and to propose a concrete action plan for developing the cultural and creative industries potential, including development of local cultural landscape, building clusters with local businesses, increasing the quality of offer of the tourism sector and build stronger networks with similar towns and regions in other countries. While projects like COMUS and CHOICE focus mainly on cultural heritage resources, the Creative Towns and Regions Initiative takes a more holistic approach of the role that culture and creativity can play on local and regional level.
Assignment scope
The Creative Towns and Regions Initiative is composed of four key components:
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Preparing a methodology for assessing cultural and creative impact for the local and regional development. As there are different methodologies existing elsewhere, including models and indexes assessing cultural resources and creative potential, the Senior expert in cooperation with all Junior experts will analyse existing models and propose a model that suits best for specific context of Eastern Partnership countries and in particular for the small and medium sized towns and regions, including rural areas. The methodology will be then used in the phase 3 by Junior experts to assess the impact of culture and creativity for the local and regional development in six selected locations.
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Launching a call in all six EaP countries to identify small and medium sized towns and regions with substantial cultural and creative potential. In parallel to the phase 1, the phase 2 will be implemented, namely launching a public call (competition) to activate local communities to think about their cultural and creative potential, engage local cultural operators and creative professionals and propose an initial vision and roadmap to develop cultural and creative resources and through that support social and economic development of the entire town or region. In all countries one town or regional will be selected (awarded the title of “Creative Town or Region”). The Senior expert will be responsible in defining the scope of the competition, prepare promotional and information materials for the call, create assessment criteria and select together with Junior experts and other involved experts the winners of the call.
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Carrying out impact assessment and mapping exercise of cultural and creative resources in all six selected towns and regions. After selecting the six winning applications, the Junior experts with the quality assurance of Senior expert will conduct the local assessment and mapping exercise using the proposed methodology developed during phase 1. Each locally based expert will work closely with key stakeholders in the town or region to map the key cultural and creative resources and propose a development plan for maximizing the potential of culture and creativity for the social and economic development.
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Developing the network of creative towns and regions in the EaP countries with number of activities for further development. The aim of the initiative is to create a sustainable networking model of towns and regions that participated in the call, including the six winners as well as not selected towns and regions, and also possible involving other cities actively participating in other culture-focused projects as COMUS and CHOICE, and to propose additional activities to encourage the development of creative industries in these locations. These activities might include among others sharing best practices and case-studies, local and regional meetings of representatives, capacity-building initiatives, study-visits between the partners as well as to European Union Member States, joint promotion of the cities, etc. Senior expert in cooperation with Junior experts will propose a long-term plan to keep the initiative going after the end of the Programme.
Reporting requirements
The experts will be responsible for providing regular monthly updates to Programme office during the entire duration of the assignment and provide all necessary contacts acquired in relation to the assignment to the Programme office in Kyiv by the end of October 2017.
Experts profile
European Union-Eastern Partnership Culture Programme 2015-2018 does not discriminate on the basis of age, race, colour, sex, religion, sexual orientation, or disability. Applicant must meet the following criteria:
Senior Expert:
- At least ten years’ experience of working in areas relevant to the assignment, out of which at least three years’ experience of working in EaP countries or similar EU countries in areas relevant to the assignment.
- Excellent knowledge of cultural and creative industries developments in the EU, in particular regarding the impact of culture and creativity to local and regional development and experience in working with creative city concept.
- Having an overview of current situation of cultural and creative industries in EaP countries would be an important asset.
- Experience in conducting similar research work or reporting in the field of cultural and creative industries.
- Very good written and oral communication skills, ability to express ideas in clear, convincing and structured manner.
- Ability to communicate in English is required, knowledge of local languages and/or Russian language skills would be an additional asset.
Junior Expert:
- Currently based in one of the EaP countries (Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Georgia, Moldova or Ukraine).
- At least three years’ experience of working in EaP countries or similar EU countries in areas relevant to the assignment.
- Experience in working with local municipalities.
- Experience in conducting similar research work or reporting in the field of cultural and creative industries.
- Very good written and oral communication skills, ability to express ideas in clear, convincing and structured manner.
- Ability to communicate in English and in at least one local language is required, knowledge of Russian language would be an additional asset.
For more information click "Further official information" below.
This opportunity has expired. It was originally published here:
https://www.culturepartnership.eu/en/article/call-creative-towns-and-regions