Co-creative cooperation in the field of culture and heritage

"BACKGROUNDThe concept of ""co-creation"" has the last years been on the political agenda of the municipalities, both in Denmark and other Western European and Nordic countries. But still, we see a need for the culture associations to be more proactive and agenda setting in the co-creative cooperation in the sector of arts, culture and heritage, especially by focussing on empowerment and the 'transformative potential' for socially marginalised citizens. AIMThe aim has been to compile good practise and innovative approaches for a co-creative cooperation between volunteers and professionals in culture associations, public culture institutions and culture departments of the municipalities that promote the 'transformative potential' and the goal of creative empowerment. ACTIVITIES The 17 months project had three main phases: 1. Found 1.1 Desk research and feed from reference groups on state of the Arts 1.2 Publish Summery Survey Report, English PDF-ed. 2. Develop 2.1 Provide Curricula Guidelines and exemplary course packages 2.2 Design and test three national pilot curses 2.3 Design and test one transnational pilot course 2.4 Develop and publish Curricula Compendia, English PDF-ed. 3. Disseminate 3.1 Launch the project Portal at the start of the project and keep it updated. 3.2 Complete national 1-day multiplier events in each partner country. 3.3 Provide a sustainable dissemination including final exploitation of the results THE PARTNERSHIP CIRCLE:consisted of four partners from Denmark, Austria and Finland, and it included a Danish umbrella association for nine national culture associations, a Finnish heritage educational and development centre, an Austrian Research centre in the field of European arts and culture; and a Danish Lifelong learning institute working with cultural learning and civil society empowerment. TARGET GROUPSThe direct target groups were the managers, board members and other arts and culture providers (paid and voluntary staff) from culture associations in the civil society sector as well as the local culture institutions and culture departments of the municipalities from the public sector, which alone or in varied cooperation provide arts and culture services and activities for the citizens in the local communities. The Indirect target groups include decision-makers and policy-makers, researchers, and funders, on a local, national, and European level, that may support the activities with political, legal, ideological and financial means. The end-users or long term potential beneficiaries were citizens in the local communities in the EU member states that wish to gain better arts, culture and heritage services and activities to be involved in as audiences, participants or volunteers. OUTCOME:The impact asssesssment indicated that the project compiled good practise and innovative approaches and developed a new and useful curruicula for further education and training of culture actors in the public institutions and civil society associations to develop new forms of co-creative cooperation based on more equal terms, where citizens and other civil society actors can be engaged not only as co-implementers, but also as co-initiators and co-designers of new welfare services, especially in the field of culture and leisure activities.MORE INFORMATIONSee the project website: http://www.co-create.one/"