PROJECT TITLE:

Culture for Change

OVERALL OBJECTIVE:

The overall objective of the action is to support the strengthening of cultural organisations throughout Kosovo in order for them to be able to support social change and human development.

PROJECT PURPOSE:

Increase capacities and strengthen cultural operators in Kosovo through sub-granting and capacity building in Kosovo; Support development of culture in areas outside Kosovo’s capital, and especially among cultural operators coming from marginalised communities; Support the promotion of cultural work within and outside Kosovo through networking and capacity building activities aimed at exposing Kosovo’s cultural operators to work done by their peers inside and outside Kosovo.

LOCATION:

Kosovo

SECTOR:

Culture

BENEFICIARIES:

Civil society organisations in Kosovo working in the cultural sector

DURATION:

15/January/2018 – 15/January/2021

VALUE:

Total cost: 778,393.00 EUR (EU contribution 698,393.00 EUR)

IMPLEMENTING AGENCY:

Qendra Multimedia

PARTNERS:

Goethe Institut

TARGET AREA:

Support for cultural initiatives

PROJECT STRATEGY:

In reference to the general objective of the project, which aims to support cultural organisations in Kosovo to expand their activities in order to become agents of social change and human development, a combination of support activities are implemented to enable further structural development of cultural organisations that benefit from the action. The key strategies of the project are: Decentralisation of cultural initiatives – the aim of the project will be to support especially rural or remote based cultural initiatives; Support to marginalised groups – this project will support minority and women’s cultural initiatives, as means to promote issues that are pertinent to these two communities in Kosovo; Bottom up approach – through this approach, the project team wishes to ensure that all project activities reflect the real needs of local (and especially remote) cultural organisations, rather than being applied as a result of approaches used by a narrow group of experts; Support to smaller initiatives - advantages will be provided to organisations applying for smaller grant sums in the project’s grant scheme. The approach is such that is ensures larger number of beneficiaries from the action, as well as ensures diversification of support to more remote areas, as well as ensuring that Kosovo citizens experience a wider range of cultural activities; Local & international & expert collaboration – the role of the co-applicant, Goethe Institute, is to be critically engaged in both design and implementation of key activities in this project. Through this form of collaboration, the project wishes to combine local experience and knowledge of local cultural sector, with international experience and expertise in cultural management, which Goethe Institute possesses as one of the leading cultural organisations in the EU; Monitoring & mentoring – successful applicants will not only be monitored, by supported significantly in their strategic development and communications by the project. This approach will be used since the project team wishes to ensure their sustainability, and their work, beyond this action, ensuring development of cultural sector in Kosovo, and creating/supporting networking activities between the main applicant & co-applicant and these organisations in the future.

ACTIVITIES:

Research and publication on Kosovo’s cultural landscape; Grant scheme publication - two open calls for financial support; Capacity building – two workshops on fundraising and communication strategy; Support to public libraries – book donations, public readings and discussions with writers, pupils and teachers; Support to networking – networking events with international editors, writers and directors.

RESULTS:

Up to 90 organisations in Kosovo, with up to 1,500 staff, will benefit directly from sub-granting and capacity building activities; Over 50 organisations and more than 200 cultural operators will benefit directly from networking, capacity building and through other activities of the project; Over 250.000 Kosovo citizens will benefit from being exposed to cultural activities supported by this project, by increasing their awareness on various cultural activities in Kosovo, the multicultural environment, and most importantly, on various social issues; Increased communication between civil society and institutions to promote increased support to cultural sector in Kosovo; Increased involvement of local communities of all ethnic backgrounds in cultural activities; Increased activities by newly developed cultural operators, extending cultural development in smaller cities and villages, as well as among disadvantaged groups in Kosovo.