Fostering International Cultural Cooperation
The main goal of the measure is internationalisation of Georgian culture through enhancing bilateral and multilateral cooperation with other countries and integration to various international cultural cooperation programmes. The measure aims at strengthening intergovernmental and inter-ministerial cooperation and dialogue between the countries, contributing mutual understanding, spreading knowledge about each other, as well as fostering cooperation in the culture and education sectors.
The objectives of the measure are as follows:
- encourage international cooperation in the field of culture by exchanging commitments for cultural cooperation and cultural exchange with partner Governments and Ministries;
- create conditions conducive to the promotion and implementation of the UNESCO “Convention on the Protection and Promotion of the Diversity of Cultural Expressions”;
- build and develop cultural and creative networks and synergies between creative and business sectors;
- encourage international cooperation inter alia in arts higher education between Georgian and European Universities through mobility of students, academic and administrative staff of universities.
International cooperation in cultural sector is encouraged by international agreements with various countries (about 60 countries) stressing the role of cultural dialogue in consolidating international relations. In 2014 was signed Georgia-EU Association Agreement, that is considered as main cooperation framework for Georgia. Among other commitments, promotion of the UNESCO “Convention on the Protection and Promotion of the Diversity of Cultural Expressions” remains as priority defined by the Association Agenda.
Georgia became member of the following international programmes, networks and funds:
- In 2015 Georgia joined the Creative Europe Programme. This new instrument allows Georgian cultural and creative organizations to team up with partners from all over Europe, to get funding for cultural cooperation projects, to get profit from the added value that working at a European level offers, to build cultural networks and meet and learn from cultural players from all over Europe;
- Since 2015 Georgia is member of ENCATC. This instrument allows Georgian public officials to share ideas and experience on cultural management and to receive regular information relevant to the professional sector with opportunities to meet exchange views and experience.
- With the aim to encourage the co-productions in the fields of cinema, Georgia joined the European Cinema Support Fund – Eurimages in 2011. Being the part of the fund, the country has an opportunity to promote its audiovisual industry, receive financial support to feature films, animations and documentaries and enhance cooperation between professionals from different European countries.
- Georgian Agency for Cultural Heritage received technical assistance under EU EAP Twinning programe;
- Georgian higher education institutions have been cooperating within European universities within various EU High Education Programmes (Tempus, Erasmus Mundus, Erasmus+), however, only through Erasmus+ became available supporting credit mobility and exchanges between Georgian and EU arts education institutions.
The above treaties facilitate dialogue between public officials and promote exchanges between professionals working in the cultural governance and management, culture and creative industries, students, academic and administrative staff of universities.
In 2015, 53 activities were carried out by the Ministry of Culture and Monument protection (MoCMP) within the bilateral cultural cooperation frameworks with 24 countries. 9 international agreements were endorsed; Various cultural projects and activities were implemented in partnership with EU, Council of Europe, UNESCO, British Council, Institute of France, Peace Corps, Intellectual Property Rights organisation.
517 000 Euro was granted by Creative Europe programe to 5 partnership projects between EU and Georgian cultural institutions.
Within Erasmus+ programme in total 50 mobility of students, academic and administrative staff from cultural universities were carried out and 3 Georgian Arts Education Institutions have being cooperating with 14 European universities.
550 000 Gel (Georgian Laris equal to 225 000 euro) were allocated in 2015 under the budget of the MoCMP for international cooperation programe. In 2013 and 2014 the annual budget for the programme was 350 000 GEL.