Promoting and Networking Cultural Learning in Europe
Over the last 18 months Rinova has been working with a network
of organisations from eleven countries to develop the European Cultural
Learning Network (ECLN).
The ECLN project arises directly from the fact that, as a
sector, 'Cultural Learning' is largely un-defined and un-mapped,
and that professional or vocational educational pathways are
equally ill-defined and unrecognised by public and external
authorities.
Richard Parkes of Rinova said that "When we designed the application to
the Lifelong Learning Programme of the European Commission, we
wanted to build on previous work we had done with our partners and
highlight the needs of this hidden but critical network of
practitioners. It is increasingly recognised now that the
Creative Industries are a major European employment sector - as can
be seen through the new Creative Europe programme - but what is perhaps
less well understood is the way that artists, as 'Cultural
Learning Practitioners' are vital to the success of the
wider creative industries - through their inspiring,
supporting and developing others across Europe's talent
pool."
Facilitated by the lead organisation, Collage
Arts and VIA
University College from Denmark, ECLN has undertaken
an extensive research and needs analysis programme across the
countries in the Network, as the first stage in pulling
together a 'knowledge base' that will help to inform and
design a response to the training and vocational issues faced
by this diverse range of practitioners, and the organisations and
contexts in which they work.
As the work of the Network has progressed, the partners are also
actively promoting and disseminating its work. As well as the
website and news
blog, ECLN has a specific Twitter feed, Facebook page and a
portal for enquiries, details for which can be found here and a publicity brochure about
ECLN has also been produced and disseminated in the languages of
the partners. The English language version can be downloaded here.
ECLN was also the feature of a conference in Rijeka, Croatia,
which coincided with the the mid-point of the three-year project.
The conference was featured in and filmed by Croatian media,
which can be seen here (Dr, Denise Stanley of Collage Arts
speaks about ECLN in English from 1m 35 seconds).
Pictured right: Dr Denise Stanley speaks about the findings
from the ECLN research programme to the conference
held at Filodrammatica, Rijeka, Croatia, on the 21st
March hosted by Association Prostor Plus. Over time, the
ECLN aspires to extend the reach of the Network to incorporate all
of those interested in the professional development needs of
everyone involved in cultural learning, aiming to become a new
co-operation in lifelong learning through arts and culture at the
European level.
Pictured left: Richard Parkes of Rinova summarises the
main findings from Rinova's evaluation of ECLN to date. More
pictures from the ECLN Gallery can be viewed here.
This project has been funded with support from the European
Commission. This communication reflects the views only of the
author, and the Commission cannot be held responsible for any use
which may be made of the information contained therein.
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