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Why this topic?
Civil society is a concept of growing interest to policy makers and practitioners in a wide range of fields, including environment, education, human rights, health, culture, etc. Today it is widely accepted that successful societies and communities depend upon active, engaged relationships between individuals and the state. It is also clear that interaction between the state and civil society associations is one of the most efficient tools with which to positively influence both the state policy and public opinion/attitudes in a given field.

And if in spheres like human rights and ecology the so-called “civic sector” has been vocal enough and persuasive enough to influence state policies, the non-state cultural sector has to date been less efficient.

The seminar will look into areas of the arts and culture where problems can be raised and solved through the mechanisms of civil society. Looking in detail into three selected cultural themes, the seminar will explore some key issues of the relationship between state and civil society, and will propose actions to improve the current status quo.

For the purpose of this seminar a broad definition of civil society is being used, namely “a society where individuals and their formal/informal associations contribute to the ongoing process of improving social, cultural and economic conditions.”

For the purpose of this seminar we define the civil society mechanisms as follows: collaborative and community initiatives, funded and implemented in partnerships between state and private actors (as individuals and in association) which undertake actions with a view to solving problems.

Background & Issues of concern in Bulgaria
The areas proposed by the organizers were confirmed during a preliminary visit of CoE representatives, from June 5 to 8. During the visit it was ensured that the local players were interested and involved with these particular themes.

From the meetings in Bulgaria it became clear that a number of problems have been identified in the cultural sector, which impede its development. The main matters that were raised concern state and regional cultural policies, the legal framework in which the cultural organizations operate, lack of interest from the government in new developments - new independent organizations as well as in new forms of interaction of the arts and other sectors. (it is important to note that the same problems have also been identified in other countries, even those with developed independent cultural frameworks).

The interviewees also stated their “loneliness” confronted by the range of current challenges in the cultural sector. None of them felt adequately prepared nor professionally enabled to change the situation. There is no single dedicated organization with whom to discuss the issues and no focal point for collective action.

An extensive cooperation between all involved parties for the development of culture and the arts (MoC, individual artists, artistic groups and NGOs, etc.) is needed to achieve results. There should be an attempt to bring all parties together to discuss and analyze and then agree on the nature of the problems. Consequently the aim is to agree on actions that could and should be taken to address the identified challenges.

It is intended that the seminar will involve all parties that play a role in the development of arts and culture and will try to explore the challenges facing arts and culture in three major directions - the interaction between arts and business, between arts and state & regional government, and the arts in their role for social inclusion. Where possible the seminar will point to existing models and make comparisons, both local and international.

AIMS AND OBJECTIVES OF THE SEMINAR

Aims of the seminar

The Sofia seminar “Culture and Civil Society: Promising Relationship or Missed Opportunity?” aims at involving the participants in an analytical and participative process of sharing their professional aspirations, the obstacles on the way of their realization and their creative suggestions for addressing the problems. The seminar aims to analyze how (through civil society mechanisms), cultural policy can be strengthened and cultural development boosted.

Objectives of the seminar

The specific results expected from this seminar are:

(1) a better understanding of how civil society’s mechanism can improve the conditions for cultural development
(2) an informed debate on the three major topics - Arts & Business, Bottom-Up Cultural Policy and Arts and Social Inclusion
(3) better mutual understanding among the targeted peer group
(4) a set of guidelines (best practices) for improving the conditions for cultural development drafted
(5) contribution to networking and exchange of information
(6) public awareness of the problems in the three areas raised

Target groups
The seminar is addressed to cultural associations and foundations, policy makers, artists, local authorities, journalists, business people involved with arts sponsoring.

Format of the seminar
The seminar will consist of three individual workshops. Each workshop will be devoted to one of the three topics. It will contain a presentation of case studies and a debate, followed by a report on the findings from a group of three rapporteurs.

The whole event will be concluded with a plenary session.

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download the full report from the seminar: as PDF ; as MS Word