ABOUT FESTIVAL AIMS AND OBJECTIVES
Extract from project application “FESTIVAL 3+1” /Promoting partnership among three sectors of civil society/ - EUROPE FOR CITIZENS, Actions 2; Measure 3; 15 March 2009
Objectives of the Programme targeted by FESTIVAL 3+1:
Providing citizens with the opportunity to interact and participate in constructing a tighter-knit Europe, which is democratic and world-oriented, united and enriched by its cultural diversity, thus developing citizenship of the European Union.
Enhancing tolerance and mutual understanding between European citizens, respecting and promoting cultural and linguistic diversity, while contributing to intercultural dialogue.
Fostering action, debate and reflection on European citizenship and democracy, shared values, common history and culture through cooperation within civil society organisations at European level.
Encouraging interaction between citizens and civil society organisations from all participating countries, contributing to intercultural dialogue and enhancing Europe’s diversity and unity, with particular attention to activities aimed at developing closer ties between citizens from Member States of the European Union as constituted on 30 April 2004 and those from Member States that have joined since then.
Programme priorities targeted by FESTIVAL 3+1:
The future of the European Union and its basic values.
Intercultural dialogue.
Aims of FESTIVAL 3+1:
Promoting European Values (tolerance, mutual understanding, solidarity, etc.)
Contributing to informal learning for active European citizenship
Promoting volunteering
Fostering a transnational approach with a local dimension (able to reach European citizens in their everyday lives)
Promoting cultural and linguistic diversity
Fostering cross-fertilisation (synergies and wider multiplier effect) involving different types of organisations
Project FESTIVAL 3+1 is corresponding to the objectives of the Europe for Citizens Programme. This project gives citizens the opportunity to interact and participate in constructing an ever closer Europe, which is democratic and world-oriented, united and enriched by its cultural diversity. Festival is thus developing the idea of citizenship of the European Union. “All May B1” (be one) - International Summer Camp - as a main part of 10th year of “FESTIVAL 3+1” corresponds to the programme aim to provide citizens with the opportunity to construct a tighter-knit Europe. “All May B1” includes various programmes for youth coming from 5 European countries (CZ, DE, HU, PL, SK) actively including also citizens of Letovice, such as European Summer School for Youth, which is focused on lectures with interactive seminar on a theme “Together for Europe”, where youngsters will discuss how can young people help to connecting Europe and thus build united world and how can the cultural diversity among countries, from them they are coming to this international summer camp, enrich united Europe. This European Summer School for Youth has a form of theoretical lectures and following discussion as a way of non-formal education. The aim of European Summer School for Youth is a discussion about advantages and disadvantages of membership of their country in EU from youngster’s point of view. Youngster will hear lectures about the European integration from professionals and that will be followed by discussion. This seminar contributes youngsters and citizens to intercultural dialog and develops closer ties between Member States of EU which will celebrate fifth anniversary of EU entry (CZ, HU, PL, SK) on one hand and Germany on the other hand. Youngster will discuss what common values and culture are in their point of view. European Summer School for Youth thus fosters debates and reflections on European citizenship.
This theoretical base at the beginning of festival week will help them in other practical parts of the programme where youth will elaborate their own proposals of activities and small projects which they will realize in 2010 in their own cities in cooperation with European youth and local NGO’s. These follow-up activities of this project “FESTIVAL 3+1” are developing closer ties among EU Member States through the youth networking and through the interaction between citizens and civil society organisations from all participating countries in a sense of enhancing Europe’s diversity and unity.
“FESTIVAL 3+1” brings together people from local communities across Europe to share and exchange experiences, opinions and values, which answers to specific objectives of the Europe for Citizens Programme. After the discussions and sharing opinions during the European Summer School, youth get the opportunity to exchange their experiences in the praxis of intercultural dialog. Following parts of “All May B1” are based on developing the practical skills and common work of European youth. Youngsters will prepare a big musical performance “Streetlight – One Europe, One Stage” led by artists from Gen Rosso, International Performing Arts Group. 111 youngsters coming from Czech Republic, Deutschland, Hungary, Poland and Slovakia (in the age 14-25, with participation of disabled children and together with European volunteers) will be prepared for the musical performance under the direction of Gen Rosso artists originally coming from 10 countries all over the world (Europe: IT, SP, PL, CH, Africa: DC, KE, TZ, Asia: PH, South America: BR, AR). The preparation is based on very successfully elaborated method of interactive workshops. Their musical “Streetlight” together with youngsters was put on the stage all over the world from Cuba to China. Moreover, it was a crucial part of the European Daphne pilot project of prevention of violence among youth “Strong without Violence”. Youngster thus will be separated into 11 International Workshops with Gen Rosso called ”I‘ll B There” and work on the musical which will be performed open air on big stage in front of the visitors of the festival. They will have also an opportunity to chose from three international “Arts Management Workshops” which will teach them how to do PR for an cultural of charity activity, how to communicate with press and last but not least how to write a project and build a budget. These workshops will thus encourage the interaction between citizens and civil society organisations from all participating countries. Youth will try to elaborate their own projects and then, after their return home they will work on their own proposal situated in the context of their own city, and with a supervision of their school in cooperation with TRIALOG they will try to realise their projects in their own cultural background. “FESTIVAL 3+1” will serve for them as an example how to manage on cultural and social beneficial project in their own city and how to organise it in the international level in cooperation with youth from other European countries which they got know on the festival. “FESTIVAL 3+1” is also providing citizens the opportunity to participate on Summer School for NGO’s: “20 years of Civil Society”. It is an offer of number of lectures for citizens, local NGO’s and representatives of administration, mayors and politics of micro-region Letovicko and business and last but not least, with supposed participation of Václav Havel (in the pipeline) and other outstanding representatives in the field of the development of non-profit sector. This conference is organised on the occasion of 20 years of development of the civil society in the Eastern Europe participating countries. Youngsters will have an opportunity to be part of the production team of this conference and be active in the field of development of civil society.
Youth also have an opportunity for audiovisual education within open-air Summer Film Festival which will be focused on a theme “Unity in Diversity” and will introduce to youth cultural diversity of national cinemas, screening will be enriched by professional introduction and follow-up movie discussion. Summer Film Festival will be opened for all citizens and thus it will be an opportunity for them to meet the European youth from international summer camp, it is an occasion to build new relationship and connections throughout Europe. All the festival week they can also meet on public international exhibitions and varnishing days (Public Photography exhibition: “Wandering in Easter Europe villages” and Exhibition of international artists: “Every European City – Place for Human Being which includes artists from CZ, SK, IT, DE). We believe these activities will also help in constructing an ever closer Europe. All of the programmes will be prepared also for participation of handicapped youngsters. “FESTIVAL 3+1” thus enhances tolerance and mutual understanding between European citizens, respecting and promoting cultural and linguistic diversity. “FESTIVAL 3+1” is creating a space for intercultural dialogue.
Project “FESTIVAL 3+1” also addresses the programme priorities themes. Since this project is targeted in to follow up activities with the aim to build networks among European youth and citizens and developing closer ties among them, we are convinced that this project also helps to create the future of the European Union and its basic values. Festival is strengthening dialog, debates and actions in the field of tolerance, non-violence and solidarity and fight against racism and xenophobia. Including 14 workshops for youngsters from 5 European countries (CZ, DE, HU, PL, SK) and big open-air musical performance with artists from 10 countries from all over the world on one stage, festival shows to participating youngsters and to visitors and citizens that the dialog among cultures a races and the idea of united Europe is possible. Youth will get also an opportunity to share personal experiences from the Daphne pilot project of prevention of violence among youth “Strong without Violence” which they have in common, even if they experienced it separately in their countries. They can share their experiences and then they will present them to public during the festival programme (screenings, exhibitions, etc.). Youngsters will not only spend a week together, but also they will work together, they will perform themselves, they will have an opportunity to show their abilities and appreciate the others. The aim of the “FESTIVAL 3+1” is to show to pupils that in the international dialog it is possible to work and that we have what to offer to each other and that we share the same values together. Youngsters will also experience their active participation on the work for local civil society and during preparation of Summer School for NGO’s: “20 years of Civil Society” and Public NGO’s Presentation: ”Show Your Activity” will see, that their cooperation with NGO’s, magistrates and businessmen is beneficial. This experience of the common work and experience of being conducive to each other will encourage them in future cooperation on their own projects.
“FESTIVAL 3+1” also fulfill the conditions of second programme priority – the Intercultural dialogue – on many levels. Intercultural dialogue will be promoted on various levels: An int’l exchange “All May B1” will be attached to the festival involving youngsters in the age of 14 till 25 from 5 EU countries. Also, as part of the festival week professional artists and experts – experienced in cultural projects with young people - are arranging various workshops and prepare in mixed teams composed of local pupils and participants from the summer camp joint performances. They are presenting themselves on Friday 28/08/2009 on the main stage during the musical “Streetlight – One Europe, One Stage” prepared with the multi-ethnic performing arts group Gen Rosso. The festival gives them an opportunity to work together with professional artists from a wide range of ethnic and cultural backgrounds on the final show for general public and also to experience in a “live situation” all backstage preparations, thus being a real part of the production teams. The different approaches of work, behaviours and different levels of skills can be seen as a mutual enrichment (not as a barrier) and at the same time as a way of unification in diversity.
Intercultural dialogue is also one key element of exchange among artists from inside and outside the EU.
The amplitude of different cultures constitutes a positive element stimulus to cross-fertilisation beyond artistic genres and forms of creative expression. The project “FESTIVAL 3+1” offers increasing interactions between European citizens and develops life in a more solidarity based society. Through involvement of citizens of Letovice to an international European project it is promoted the participation of each of them in the intercultural dialog. This programme priority is also successfully achieved through the engagement of the young people coming from 5 EU countries (CZ, DE, HU, PL, SK) into the structured cooperation with local civil society. This is fundamental to creating the European identity and to developing active EU citizenship opened to the others and respecting the cultural differences.
Project “FESTIVAL 3+1” implements also the horizontal features of the Europe for Citizens Programme. The project’s aim is to promote European values and through activities supporting tolerance, sense of solidarity and mutual understanding develop their sense of belonging to the European Union. All the work programmes included into B1 (the international summer camp) are developing youngsters’ sense of mutual respect, non-violence and fight against intolerance and xenophobia.
The objective of contribution to informal learning for active European citizenship is achieved on three levels – among pupils coming from 5 EU countries to “All May B1” - International Summer Camp it is achieved through the work programme of European Summer School for Youth: “Together for Europe”. The second level is represented by local citizens who will participate on Summer School for NGO’s: “20 years of Civil Society” which will invite them to the dialog among three sectors of civil society (NGO’s and citizens, administration, businessmen). Citizens have an important opportunity deepen their skills and competences in the European context. The third level of non-formal learning is involved in the various workshops within the “All May B1” - International Summer Camp – 3 “Arts Management Workshops” and 11 International Workshops with Gen Rosso called “I’ll B There”, which are opened to the local citizens too. These particular workshops are developing in youth and participating citizens a positive attitude to different cultures, races and communities and show that the intercultural communication is possible and even broadly enriching. These acquired social skills and competences enable participants to be active in an effective way in their social lives in the context of their native cities with own specific background. Project “FESTIVAL 3+1” supports participants to communicate with their local magistrate authorities, businessmen and NGO’s to cooperate. Participants can use new contacts and experiences and prepare themselves for the future town-twinning meeting and networking on the European level.
Project “FESTIVAL 3+1” also promotes volunteering as an expression of active European citizenship. Volunteering is based on giving own time and skills for the benefit of others and it is a crucial element of active citizenship. The voluntary work on festival will be included the volunteering on the “All May B1” - International Summer Camp on one hand and on the whole project of “FESTIVAL 3+1” on the other hand. During the activities of the “All May B1” - International Summer Camp, there will be involved ca. 25 young volunteers from Czech, Slovakia and Germany. All of the participant will also be an essential part of the whole event production. Youngsters will participate in programmes addressing local civil society (such as summer schools and public presentation of NGO’s). Youth coming from different international backgrounds will also participate on backstage work and communicate with artists and performers.
“FESTIVAL 3+1” is fostering the transnationality with a local dimension. Transnationality of the project is achieved by the main programme of the project – “All May B1” - International Summer Camp - which involves youth from 5 EU countries and artists coming from 10 countries all over the world. The main theme of their common musical performance is non-violence, tolerance, solidarity and mutual understanding. This is a key theme common for all of them. The transnationality is implemented by giving the place to European youth for expression, sharing experiences and common work. Promotion of transnational mobility of people working in the cultural sector is related to the artists participating in the festival. Mainly the public performances and exhibitions will foster transnational circulation of art works, whereas special emphasis will also be paid to creating a platform for junior artists and students. The transnationality of the project “FESTIVAL 3+1” also derives from the nature of the project promoters, the project will be implemented through the cooperation among 7 partner organisations (TRIALOG, Gen Rosso, STARKMACHER, City of Letovice, ZŠ Gajdošova, Fényi Gyula Miskolci Jezsuita Gimnázium, Catholic Parish Zabkowic Ślaskich), coming from different participating countries (CZ, IT, DE, PL, HU). The transnational approach will be represented through the follow-up activities of this project, which will be focused on dissemination the youth’s experience of intercultural dialog and cooperation. Youth should realise their proposals of small civil society project in their original background, thereby they reach indirectly European audience on different levels. The level of local dimension is achieved by the place of realisation of the project in a small city Letovice in South Moravia. The programme and the presentation of youth’s workshops primary address local audience and are intended for the sustainability of the development of local civil society of micro-region Letovicko. The local dimension in the sense of reaching European citizens in their everyday lives is attained by dissemination of the main idea of the project “FESTIVAL 3+1” – to create a place for dialog among three sectors of civil society (non-profit, business, administrative) on the base of local cultural event. Through the realization of youth’s local projects in different participating countries and by the communication and cooperation among 3 sectors of the local civil society in the different national backgrounds is shown also the strong local dimension of the project.