This is a unique pan-European training programme arising from the will to foster cultural diversity as well as transregional and transnational cultural exchanges. The Fondation Marcel Hicter is the organizer and manager of the course.

The objectives of the programme are:
• To strengthen the knowledge of cultural managers about European, national and regional
• cultural policies;
• To improve cultural managers skills to run cultural co-operation projects.
• To develop a network of European cultural managers.

Each year, around 25 professionals from 20 countries are taking part in the European Diploma. Since 1989, 470 cultural managers from 41 countries (from Europe, Middle East, Canada, etc) followed this course. The programme is supported by the Council of Europe.

Who is the training for?
Cultural managers from public and private organizations who are actively involved in the management of cultural and artistic projects in their region, with at least 3 years experience.

Content and Organization
The European Diploma is organized so that the participants carry on with their professional activities. The programme lasts one year and is organized in 3 phases: 2 residential sessions, a comparative study and an evaluation + seminar phase.

Two sessions of a fortnight take place in two different countries each year. The next training session, will be organised in Ireland, from the 10th till the 21rst of May 2009, and in Castilla-La Mancha (Spain) in October 2009. The themes, which will be discussed, are: Europe and culture; project anagement, cultural cooperation, operational management of cultural projects, fund raising etc.

Between the residential sessions and the evaluation phase, the trainees return to their jobs in their countries, and in parallel work on their own project. They also have to do a comparative study visit in another region of Europe.

The evaluation/seminar phase (one week) includes the presentation of the participants projects and the organization of a thematic seminar. It will take place mid 2010.

The application form 2009/2010 is available on the Marcel Hicter Foundation website.