Preamble

This preamble makes available three pieces of information, namely, the names of participating entities to the network, names of current members including the leadership and plans for future membership.

The following organisations and individuals have so far showed interest in participating in the networks key activities – i.e. opening for other interested in participation in conferences and project which these organisations are involved in which are of relevance to the subject of the network:

1. Jamtli Foundation, Östersund – Sweden – Henrik Zipsane (network co-ordinator) and Christina Wistman
   Henrik Zipsane is CEO of Jamtli Foundation and guest professor at Linköping University – [email protected]
   Christina Wistman is head of collections and regional heritage management – [email protected]
2. The Nordic Centre of Heritage Learning & Creativity (NCK), Östersund – Sweden – Anna Hansen
   Anna Hansen is managing director of NCK and head of research at Jamtli Foundation – [email protected]
3. Glasgow Life, Glasgow – UK – Victoria Hollows and Tarra S. Beall
   Victoria Hollows is contemporary arts and museum manager – [email protected]
   Tarra Beall is independent artist and Ph.D. student at Glasgow University - [email protected]
4. Nam-gu Incheon City – Korea – Eunkyoung Kim - [email protected]
5. Cultural Development Network – Melbourne – Australia – Kim Dunphy
   Kim Dunphy is research program manager - [email protected]

The Context

The financial crisis since 2008 is having a major impact on the agenda of arts and culture worldwide. In Europe we see two trends at the moment. Firstly the challenges shaped by social and cultural problems in the cities are greater than they have been for many years but at the same time the many methods, initiatives and ideas which were created before 2008 and which brought arts and culture to the forefront of social and cultural development are suddenly not easy to get political support for any more. Where for example museums developed methods for how to help young early school leavers then the political sphere today do not see such solutions but try instead to find ways forward by using traditional means in society.

For arts and culture it has been more difficult now to get recognition for their potential as key players for social justice and regeneration and it happens at a time when the sector itself feels that such efforts are more needed than ever.

Secondly the rise of nationalism and with it also extreme nationalism – not least in Europe – creates challenges for how to use arts and culture as means for cohesion and solidarity at a time where for example heritage institutions may be tempted to offer their competences and resources to rising and evermore powerful popular movements and politics.

The challenges here mentioned with examples from the heritage sector – especially archives and museums – are also valid for other public arts and culture institutions such as libraries.

Proposed Actions

Informal exchange of knowledge and ideas through invitations for network participants to join seminars and conferences which are parts of planned projects:

• Jamtli Foundation has applied for a EU funded Erasmus Plus project on reminiscence work in Open Air Museums. Partners are universities and museums from UK, Denmark, Norway and Hungary. Anna Hansen is contact person.
• Jamtli Foundation is partner in an EU funded Erasmus Plus project application on developing social self-awareness for employees in public service. Applicant is Provincia di Livorno Sviluppo in Tuscany. Henrik Zipsane is contact person.
• Jamtli Foundation is partner in coming EU funded Creative Europe project application on cultural tourism in sparsely populated regions. Applicant is Provincia di Nuoro in Sardine. Henrik Zipsane is contact person.
• NCK is partner in an EU funded Erasmus Plus project application on developing integration learning activities for immigrants. Applicant is Comune di Modena in Emilia-Romagna. Anna Hansen is contact person.
• NCK is partner in an EU funded Horizon 2020 project application on politics and the potential of arts and culture in development. Applicant is Trinity College, Dublin University. Anna Hansen is contact person.
• NCK is partner in an EU funded Culture Programme on policy analysis of access to culture. The project is half way in a three year plan and is coordinated by EDUCULT in Vienna. Anna Hansen is contact person.
• NCK has applied for a Nordic Council of Ministers project on Volunteering in heritage institutions as resource for socioeconomic growth. Anna Hansen is contact person.

Invitations to participations as partners or associate partners in coming project applications:

Jamtli Foundation is considering a EU funded Creative Europe or Erasmus Plus application on meeting the challenge of access, learning and creativity regarding historical art collections. The central challenge is to realise public awareness the historical collections as a social justice issue. The project should map and develop best practice. Among potential partners in such a project are National Gallery of Ireland and the National Museum of Sweden. We hope to be able to produce the application for 2015.  Christina Wistman is contact person.

NCK is considering an EU funded Horizon 2020 or Erasmus Plus application on the challenge of how to make the postmodern potential of arts and culture for creativity, social welfare and cohesion politically accepted as core aims of for example the heritage sector. Among potential partners are Welsh Government, Glasgow Life, Culture Action Europe, NEMO (Network of European Museum Organisations) and Jamtli Foundation. We hope to be able to produce the application for 2015. Anna Hansen and Henrik Zipsane are contact persons.

Invitations to network partners to participate in planned coming events:

4^th and 5^th February 2015: NCK spring conference 2015 in Östersund, Sweden on the theme “Audience development”.

Desired outcomes and contributions to Learning Cities 2020

• At least two conferences in Europe with possible exchange of ideas and experiences – NCK will host spring conferences 2015 and 2016.
• Possible anthology publication from one or more of the projects if successful applications

11^th May 2014

Henrik Zipsane