Reinforcing Moldova’s Development Capacities by Strengthening its Cultural Sector

The objective of the project is to strengthen the capacities of civic, private and public cultural organizations and the responsible local administrations, by means of realizing an intensive training program including the elaboration of long-term development strategies and concrete measures for structural improvements which shall tap the cultural sector as an alternative resource for sustainable development in the country.

Overall objectives:

• To integrate a cultural dimension into the development potential of the country and establish the cultural sector as a pioneer for participatory development and increasing the quality of life;
• To increase the professionalism of persons involved in strategic planning and internal management in the public and private sectors;
• To improve institutional management and strategic development capacities (incl. policy planning) of the local cultural public administrations;
• To develop efficient instruments to support the professionalism of the artistic and cultural sectors of Moldova;
• To ensure an open dialogue and debates between the civil society and decision makers in the cultural field regarding issues pertaining to legislation and strategic development;
• To promote participatory development by initiating the elaboration of multi-stakeholder development plans on local level, in cooperation with civil society.

Target groups:

• Representatives of NGOs and cultural organizations in (15 organizations, 30 managers and their staff);
• Representatives of public institutions in the field of culture, including cultural houses (15 institutions, 15 managers and their staff);
• Representatives of 32 local and regional cultural departments, representative of the Ministry of Culture;

Final beneficiaries:

• Moldova’s cultural sector as a whole including all its civil society-based, public, private and administrative entities, organizations and employees
• Citizens of Moldova relying on cultural values as intrinsic element of local life quality, all ethno-cultural communities (Romanian (Moldovan), Ukrainian, Russian, Gagauze, Bulgarian, Jewish, Roma, Polish etc.) as well as local civil society at large
• Cultural service based industries (Creative Industries) and private entrepreneurs capitalising on local cultural resources (e.g. tourism, cultural heritage marketing, publishing, private galleries, etc.) as well as all private sector organizations and companies cherishing culture as evident employment, location and investment factor
• Decision-makers and public authorities/administrations at local and national level especially those dealing with public policy issues concerning sustainable development, civil society affairs and culture (Ministry of Culture, Ministry of Education, Parliamentary Commissions, County Authorities for Culture & Education)

The activities within the project aim at building the capacity of public and private cultural organizations, NGOs and cultural departments of local public administrations through tailored training programs and practical activities which include the elaboration of long-term strategies and work-plans.

The project presumes the organization of 8 workshops for each group of participants: NGOs, public institutions, cultural enterprises and representatives of cultural departments/sections within local public administrations.

Training topics include:

Group I

• Strategic management – self evaluation – mission setting
• Cultural policy
• Cultural development – organizational development – strategic planning
• Organizational structuring – management and development of human resources
• Project/production development – project management
• Cultural heritage/resources – community development – tourism – cultural industries
• Lobbying and advocacy in the activity of NGOs
• International artistic co-production
• Marketing – audience increase – public relations
• Financial management – budgeting – funding research
• Networks – International/regional Cooperation – Culture and the European Union
• Organizational sustainability – risk management

Group II

• Identification of local development potential – drafting future visions
• Cultural policy systems and procedures
• Local development – economy of culture – cultural development
• Structuring and management in local public administrations
• Policy analysis – strategic planning – cooperation with civil society
• Cultural heritage/resources – community development – tourism – cultural industries
• Drafting of plans (policies) on local public development
• Public relations – civil interaction – public opinion – interrelations with the media
• Financial management – planning public budgets – financing in periods of transition
• Inter-institutional and inter-sector cooperation – cooperation with the European Union
• Evaluation – determining the impact of implemented policies – sustainable development

Trainings include the supervised elaboration of local/organizational development strategies and public debates on the above-stated issues.

In order to achieve the general goal of the project, the Cultural Policy Program placed a public announcement and selected the representatives of non-governmental and public and cultural institutions/cultural houses for participation in the project. Managers of selected institutions delegated representatives in accordance with project activities and internal procedures who participated in program’s activities.

During 2009, 4 trainings were carried out, 2 of which for representatives of NGOs, public and cultural institutions (group I) and 2 for representatives of local public administrations (group II). A training for trainers was also organized within the project.

Trainings were conducted by 6 foreign trainers (Paul Spanjaard, Lidia Varbanova, Bert Janmaat, Corina Raceanu, Ewa Bracha, Andriy Krupyak), assisted by 4 local trainers (Victoria Tcacenco, Claudia Craciun, Veaceslav Reabcinschi, Irina Grabovan).

For 2010, it is scheduled to carry out concluding activities: organization of thematic workshops for the two group of participants, a project concluding seminar, presentation of strategies/development plans drafted by project participants, the organization of a work-exchange in the Netherlands.

Training topics are presented below:

Group I

• Marketing - Audience Development - Public Relations
• Project/Production Development & Project Management
• Consultancy Workshop - Strategy Implementation & Progress Evaluation

Group II

• Inter-institutional & Inter-sectoral Cooperation - EU Cooperation
• Evaluation - Policy Impact Assessment - Sustainable Development
• Consultancy Workshop - Strategy Implementation & Progress Evaluation

The project will be finalized by the publication of Lidia Varbanova’s book "Strategic Planning for Cultural Organizations" (for NGOs, public institutions and managers) and the Arts and Culture Guide to Moldova.

The project is going to be finalized by September 30 2010.

  TO THE TOP
HOME