Programme policy

REASONS FOR THE OPEN HIGHWAY E-761 INITIATIVE

Deficiencies and potentials of Serbia cultural sector:

As in most transition countries, the cultural infrastructure had been extremely extensive in Serbia. Still, the quality of its real resources - technological, human and financial, is obsolete or even of very low value.
This infrastructure was not up to the need to face and deal with necessary update of cultural policies.

During the 90s this large network of institutions collapsed: cinema halls, libraries, bookstores and even cultural centres in the province were closed down. The current law defines one library and one cultural centre per municipality, regardless of the number of villages, even big ones that the municipality comprises. Unfortunately, chance that this “rationalization” of network could be used to reinforce remaining resources was missed by the public administration; potentials and needs though still exist. Therefore, main needs and deficiencies of the existing cultural system can be recognized as:

Lack of cultural programs in the interior of country Lack of ideas, plans and policy instruments regarding decentralization of cultural activities; Obsolete infrastructure in public sector (technical, professional etc) esp. in the interior of the country;
Lack of habit of building linkages between institutions in public sector
Lack of knowledge in new trends in art production and management, lack of contemporary arts ‘institutions’ as well as of policy instruments regarding re-training of professionals;
Unequal territorial distribution of resources in civil and private sector due to metropolization and centralization process
No coherent inter-sectorial policies (linking culture & education, tourism, business, employment, etc.);
No tax stimulation for private investment in cultural industries /entrepreneurship and even sponsoring;
Neglecting of cultural development due to political & ideological divisions

On the other side, main strengths and potentials of cultural sector are:

Diversified artistic and intellectual communities (number of educated artists and intellectuals);
Innovative, interdisciplinary and risk-taking art projects *;
Trainers/teachers of cultural professionals possess know-how of art management;
New generation of sustainable entrepreneurs in cultural industries/private sector *;
New types of alternative socio-cultural spaces linking NGOs and sectors through projects *;
Regional collaboration and European network activities, esp. of the NGO sector;
Development of debates on socio-cultural issues within the society through NGO activities *.
NB: * Projects and activities relying on foreign grants and subventions.

Programme lines:

In spite of some efforts of cultural policy makers to conceive system conditions for cultural development, real decentralization has never been achieved, neither have the horizontal links between the cities in Serbia been established: all lines were and still are going toward Belgrade and back.

Due to this, main goal of this programme is to enforce decentralization in culture, by strengthening local cultural initiatives.

Programme Open Highway E-761, therefore, has three main programme lines:

Capacity Building (supporting managerial skills in team building, partnership, networking, project management, fundraising and public advocacy of the Network or Umbrella; advancement of sensitivity and competence for contemporary art-production of the local artist and authors, including the members of the Network; these activities are performed through trainings and workshops on managing of projects, fund raising, public relations skills; networking and partnership, lectures on different art disciplines and skills, best practices presentation).

Raising Public Awareness – Cultural Policy

This programme line provokes public debates, consultations, conferences, seminars, media campaigns with aim to open a dialogue for stakeholders in local and state cultural policy in order to create good social context for problem solving.

Schools are also important part of raising public awareness action line. Wide mapping of schools efforts in the art domain would also be necessary, and that would give us a clue whom to invite (teachers, professors…) to join the project & initiative.

Art Production

In regard to arts and culture, the effect/result of insufficiently structured acting is a failure to produce significant impact even with well realized activities: due to lack of continuity and the strategy (based on realistic assessing of cultural needs and researching local potentials - on one hand - artistic/cultural standards on the other, and finally the specific managerial skills) no new cultural habits of the community are created which would eventually foster conditions for sustainable actions in arts and culture.

Art production is a tool for Programme goals: it is at the same time capacity building activity, promoting of new and innovative practice, raising awareness for stakeholders, audience developing, creating new image of city culture scene...