The guiding principle of the 2010 European Year for Combating Poverty and Social Exclusion is to give a voice to the concerns and problems of people who live in poverty and are socially excluded, as well as to inspire European citizens to engage with these important issues. This Year also aims to challenge stereotypes and collective perceptions of poverty.  In according to the statistics, 16% of EU citizens today live below the poverty line and as a consequence, they cope daily with much limited lifestyle choices which certainly lead in a long-run to social exclusion.

The main objectives of the Year are:

• To recognise the fundamental right of persons affected by poverty and social exclusion to live in dignity and to take an active part in society;
• To promote public support for social inclusion policies and foster commitment by all public and private actors;
• To promote a more cohesive society, where it is recognised that society as a whole benefits from the eradication of poverty;
• To renew the pledge of the EU and its Member States to combat poverty and social exclusion, and involve all levels of authority in the pursuit of that aim.

In the last 9 months, series of events took place in every EU Member State (as well as in Norway and Iceland): various awareness-raising campaigns; workshops, lectures, educational and information seminars in universities and schools; innovative initiatives and projects; meetings, discussions and conferences; wide media campaigns to help to a better understanding on the affects of poverty and social exclusion on the community life.

Arts projects within the Year

As part of the strategy to raise awareness on these issues, the programme of the European Year 2010 involves also a number of projects which partner with the arts.

In the UK, EY2010 is supporting the ‘Portents’ project in Bristol where, in September, the College Green area in the heart of the city is being turned into an art ‘campsite’. The Portents project, will see artist John Easterby fill the green area with a canvas city of more than 50 tents. Each tent will bear a print designed by different communities from the city. The exhibition runs from 18 to 27 September 2010 and the tents will be illuminated during the hours of darkness.

 “Art Partner” project is one of the key activities in the European Year for Combating Poverty and Social Exclusion. Launched in May 2010, the project aims at creating “duos” made up of art / design students and individuals experiencing poverty.  The central “(IN)VISIBLE” theme sets out to use art to make the individuals behind poverty visible and provide those living below the poverty line with a creative means of expression through photographic art. While art cannot eradicate poverty, it can nevertheless give dignity and confidence back to people. It can also help to recreate social links.

NGO’s working in the poverty sector will play a key role as facilitators, helping to create the “duos” and build a bridge between the two. The duo of the student and the person experiencing poverty will then conceptualise their ideas in tandem, get behind the camera, be creative, and co-produce their photographs. An artistic committee will select some fifty photographs which will be displayed at an exhibition in Brussels at the end of November 2010.

In 2010, on the occasion of the 2010 European Year for Combating Poverty and Social Exclusion, European Festival Association (EFA) launched its project “Open The Door”. Under the motto “Festivals: Open Doors. Open Minds. Build Societies!” EFA highlights the transformative power of arts and culture in our societies today and showcases examples that demonstrate the privileged position of festivals for providing means for all to experience culture.

The European Year 2010 has a total budget of €17 million. The aim is to create momentum so that governments and other stakeholders are encouraged to tackle poverty and social exclusion with renewed vigour and enthusiasm. The goal is that a renewed debate on these issues will help the EU and its Member States to develop new policies to improve the lives of people who suffer poverty and social exclusion and generate a new impetus to fight poverty – create and reinforce new partnership beyond the classical audience.

Inform yourself about the Year:

• Join the European Year’s Facebook page.
• Subscribe to the European Year’s newsletter.
• Watch also Barosso’s speech on the 2010 The European Year for Combating Poverty and Social Exclusion.

What’s next? The European years 2011 and 2012

The EU has designated 2011 as the "European Year of Volunteering". The EU will use the Year to work towards four main objectives:

• To create an enabling and facilitating environment for volunteering in the EU;
• To empower volunteer organisations and improve the quality of volunteering;
• To reward and recognise volunteering activities; and
• To raise awareness of the value and importance of volunteering.

The European Commission will work in close cooperation with the EYV 2011 Alliance, informal network of major NGO European networks with a particular interest in volunteering who have committed to working together on the promotion, lobbying, organisation and implementation of the EYV 2011. Together, they represent over 1500 volunteering organisations across the EU.

The European Year of Volunteering 2011 will enable volunteers all over Europe to meet and learn about best practices in each European country. Public authorities, volunteer organisations and businesses will learn more about volunteering and how to make it easier for people to contribute. People who have never heard about volunteering will learn to appreciate what volunteers do and might become volunteers themselves one day.

The European Commission proposed that the year 2012 be designated as the European Year of Active Ageing (announced last week, on Sptember 6^th). The initiative aims to help create better job opportunities and working conditions for the growing numbers of older people in Europe, help them take an active role in society and encourage healthy ageing. It comes as Europe's policymakers grapple with a steadily ageing population and its impacts on public services and finances. The European Parliament and Council are expected to endorse the initiative by the beginning of next year.

The proposed European Year for Active Ageing is designed to serve as a framework for raising awareness, for identifying and disseminating good practice and, most importantly, for encouraging policymakers and stakeholders at all levels to promote active ageing. The aim is to invite these players to commit to specific action and goals in the run-up year 2011 so that tangible achievements can be presented during the European Year itself in 2012.