How do we train future cultural managers to deal efficiently with transnational cultural cooperation projects? Do cultural education programmes in Europe lead, or responding to important changes in our societies such as: internationalisation of cultural policies, globalisation of trade in cultural goods and services, the enlargement of the European Union?
The result of Vania project – a joined research project of Fondation Marcel Hicter,. CUPORE, International Intelligence on Culture, EVREMATHIA A.E. and ENCATC, responds to these and many more questions related to the validation and certification of training in the field of European cultural cooperation project management.
We all know that cultural cooperation is a very complex field, difficult to put into a frame, to define and to study. But the research shows that there are some elements that are considered essential to include in a curriculum when teaching international/transnational cultural co-operation, like: “knowledge and understanding of other cultures, knowledge of cultural systems and policies; language skills and a sense of linguistic differences”. Personal competencies such as curiosity, open-mindness and awareness are also considered key competences to international cultural co-operation.
Here are the skills and competences considered by the report as very important:
• Multitasking
• Negotiation and teamwork
• Budgeting
• Application writing
• Project planning and organising
• Analytical skills
• Languages
• Tolerance and ability to understand different viewpoints
• Knowledge of EU funding programmes
• Networking
To these, I would add: leadership, abilities to prevent and solve conflicts, ability to be able to look from a “helicopter view” (beyond national or institutional framework) and at the same time to pay attention to details; ability to socialise and understand how people from different cultures and background spend their free time. The charisma and personality of the manager/leader/animator/operator in culture is of utmost importance. A healthy dose of humor is a must for easily dealing with diverse artists and audiences across borders. It seems to me that our textbooks, classes and training modules are too serious and we somehow miss the fun and the joy which inevitably exist in realities, especially when multicultural aspects come on the scene.
A “must” is also the skill to be very diplomatic and extremely patient when dealing with administrative burdens, cross-border bureaucracy such as visas, custom regulations, unexpected circumstances, etc. “Cultural cooperation” and “managing international cultural projects” in practice is sometimes nothing else but dealing with peoples’ complains, with troubles related to logistics: borders, visas, passports, bad infrastructure and roads in some countries, with miscommunications...
The research report identifies few important challenges in the European cultural management training, such as:
- restraints set by national education and training priorities and policies;
- the growing diversity of students in respect to their educational and ethnic background and professional aspirations;
- persistent feminisation of the field;
- demands to implement ideas of lifelong learning;
- need to redesign programmes according to the requirements of the Bologna Process.
I would add to the list: the demand to use the new technologies in our cultural management practice; the increasing need to cooperate online, not only offline. It is a question of a further research to find out have technologies changed our managerial approaches in the arts, and how online tools help our artistic practices and our work as managers. LabforCulure initiative aims at putting on the discussion table these questions online (Research in focus: Tools for Culture), and in series of workshops accross Europe.
We learn in a structured and systematic way from the report about: the curricula development; teaching skills and instruments; the new vocabulary we need to develop; the position of the trainer; examples of innovative training formats, and much more. The research outcome is impressive, congratulations to the whole team. Read here and let’s discuss further.
LabforCulture jest inicjatywą partnerską Europejskiej Fundacji Kultury. LabforCulture jest wdzięczna swoim fundatorom za wsparcie
Would it be possible to have a summary published on-line, something like a 'crispy' teaser that would invite people to read further and comment? Lidia's blog already points into this direction.
I know this is a. work, and b. always tricky to reduce research to 'recommendations'; Dragan Klaic' recent book seems o be a good example that it can work.
Gottfried Wagner
Anonymous User | 05 maj 2008