PRESS RELEASE
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European Programmes for Culture
The event “European Programs for the Culture” was held with great success
on Friday the 26th of June in the Chamber of Messinia. The event was
organized by the Candidacy Office KALAMATA: 21 and the non- profit
organization in cultural entrepreneurship MATAORA, with the support of the
Chamber of Commerce in Messinia.
A greeting speech was delivered by the president of the Chamber of
Commerce in Messinia, Mr. Maniatis, who mentioned that “over the time the
history of a place, the monuments, the local products, the traditions, the
manners and the customs were the preserve elements of our culture. The
actors must, especially during this difficult period, seize every opportunity,
including through the European programs, in order to promote our local
heritage as a vehicle of development of the local and by extension of the
national economy, as a tourist attraction pole and as a support in order to
strengthen the extroversion of the Greek exporting companies”.
The coordinator of the event was the executive director of the Candidacy
Office KALAMATA: 21, Mr. Hector Tsatsoulis, who referred to the strategic
cooperation of the Office with the Chamber of Commerce in Messinia and to
the goal of the event to use the European programs for the promotion of the
culture and the development of the creative industry, a sector that combines
the culture and the entrepreneurship. Mr. Ilias Kalfakakos, a representative
of the non- profit workshops for the entrepreneurial culture MATAORA, also
delivered a greeting speech, in which he referred to the importance of
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similar actions, which “ shall be held often in order to shaken the waters of
Kalamata”.
Mr. Dimitris Iakovides, representative of the National Authority for the
coordination of the National Strategic Reference Framework (NSRF),
presented the programs of the NSRF that finance operations in the field of
culture. He mentioned that the culture will be strengthened through the
sectors
of
tourism,
environment,
telecommunications
and
creative
industries. In the new NSRF 350 million Euros have been budgeted for
culture projects, projects like the interventions in archeological sites,
festivals and other cultural actions. From the 350 million Euros the
infrastructure projects are excluded, since they are included in other
programs of the NSRF.
The Word took afterwards Ms. Adamopoulou Maria, representative of the
State Scholarship Foundation at the Department of School Education for
Erasmus+ program, who presented the program Erasmus+, which is the
new program of the EU for the education, the training, the youth and the
sports during the period 2014- 2020. Regarding the sector of the culture,
through the program Erasmus+ can be carried recommendations for the
history, the study of the architecture, the active citizenship and the
European identity. Kalamata has shown interest in the program Erasmus+
and already several proposals have been submitted in 2014-2015. The first
results of the approved proposals will be posted after their expiration on the
platform for the spread of the results. Moreover, the State Scholarship
Foundation will publish a guideline of best practices in order to help the
organization that want to submit applications.
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Mr Konstantinos Spanos, representative of the office “ Creative Europe” of
Greece from the Directorate of International Relations and European Union
of the Ministry of Culture, Education and Religious Affairs, presented the
program “Creative Europe”, which is the predominantly European cultural
program, that includes both small- scale projects (three participating
organizations and up to 200.000 Euros action plan) and large scale (at least
six participating organizations and up to 2 million Euros program). Moreover,
he mentioned that the program “Creative Europe” concerns extroverted
cultural organizations who can co- finance the action by 40%, since the
program “Creative Europe” finances actions by 60%.
It is worth mentioning the fact that the institution of the European Capital of
Culture is part of the program “Creative Europe” and is supervised by the
relevant Directorate of the European Commission.
Other sectors which are part of the program “Creative Europe” is the
development, distribution and promotion of films (program MEDIA), the
development of videogames, the translation of literary texts (e.g. Ancient
Greek texts), the development of audiences and festivals etc.. Also, specific
instructions were given for the completion of applications as well as special
emphasis on the financial ability of the organization and the experience and
training of its staff.
Ms Maragkopoulou, artistic director of the International Dance Festival of
Kalamata for 21 consecutive years, mentioned the participation of the Dance
Festival on the platform Airwaves, a platform that has been created through
the program “Creative Europe”. The Airwaves collaboration platform has
brought partnerships that have led to great economic benefits for the
festival.
Municipal Cultural Center
T: (+30) 2721181030
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M: info@kalamata21.eu
Kalamata, Greece
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Ms Anastopoulou Louisa, a former member of the European Commission and
independent expert for European programs presented in detail the European
Horizon 2020 program, a program designed mainly for the research and can
also be used in the sector of the cultural heritage in coastal and marine
areas of Europe and for the social challenges in a changing Europe. It is the
largest research and innovation program and has a budget of 80 billion for
the seven years from 2014 to 2020. She also mentioned that this program
provides adequate financial support to the applicants, which can reach the
amount of 7 million Euros. In contrast with the rest of the European
programs, it finances even the 100% of the research programs.
Afterwards, Dr Laopodis Vasileios, a former member of the European
Commission, Founder and President of the CulturePolis, presented practical
lessons from his participation in European Programs and how synergies
between institutions can be built. He referred to the stages and steps that
are needed to be followed by the birth of the idea until the record of the
proposal. He also referred to the competition that exists during the
submission of the proposals in the program “Creative Europe”. In 2014
eleven proposals in total had been submitted from Greece, from which only
three have been approved.
More practically, he spoke about the efforts he had made until the approval
of his proposal “Citizenastistincubator” which is addressed to Greek and
European artists in order to learn, to create and to contact with audiences,
which they would not be able to reach under other circumstances. In order
an idea to be developed and implemented there is a need for a strategy, a
plan of action and a vision. Seeing that Kalamata starts to build its vision, it
Municipal Cultural Center
T: (+30) 2721181030
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Kalamata, Greece
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recognizes the opportunities that can be created in the city in the field of
culture.
Finally, the deputy artistic director of the National Theatre, Mr. Abatzis
Theodoros, who attended the event on behalf of the National Theatre in
order to be informed about the available programs, he referred to the new
plans of the Theatre that will promote the National Theatre as a truly
National and not an Athenian one. For that reason the National Theater
intends to support actions in the province.
For further information tel: 27211 81030, e-mail: info@kalamata21.eu
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The Candidacy Office is the independent body which is
responsible for bidding for the title of European Capital
of Culture in 2021 on behalf of the city of Kalamata. The
Candidacy Office is an administrative structure of
"FARIS" the Municipal Corporation of Public Benefit. The
Candidacy Office is set up by the agreement between
the Municipality of Kalamata, Municipal Cultural Center
of Kalamata and “FARIS”, with executive and operational autonomy of the
Municipality of Kalamata and "FARIS '. The mission of KALAMATA:21 is Kalamata to
become European Capital of Culture in 2021.
Municipal Cultural Center
T: (+30) 2721181030
Aristomenous 33, 24100
M: info@kalamata21.eu
Kalamata, Greece
W: www.kalamata21.eu