Opening conference in Kirchheim
Tuesday, 18.05.2010 - Gerda Strasser
A brief summary of the weekend
Comenius:
Initially Jean-Pierre Bartholeyens (from Brussels), the initiator of the project Comenius - otherwise known as "Water Around Towns" - gave us a brief overview of the EU's support for this project; he was then followed by Roland Schwarz, a teacher from a participating college in Ried im Innkreis (Austria), who presented his own report. Although the project is now finished, Mr. Schwarz has recently informed us that if any of the schools within the Cultural Villages association would like to start their own Comenius project and – would like to work with an Austrian college – then his is already prepared and more than willing to participate. So – if any of your schools would like to do this, then we would be more than happy to forward your details to Mr. Schwarz on your behalf.
Topics and discussions:
• Village 2.0: Thomas Müller, Advisor for Regional and Project Development and the Village 2.0.
• Cultural Village 2011: Funding opportunities for the EU Europe for Citizens Programme (2007-2013) as presented by Meena Lang of the Austrian Ministry of Education, Europe for Citizens Point – Austria.
• Young Ambassadors from Kirchheim: Information regarding Palm Trees and Bushes.
• Saturday’s Extraordinary Meeting: The discussion that took place at the extraordinary meeting on Saturday as compiled by Irene from Wijk aan Zee, Netherlands.
• Bürger.Nah.Versorgen / Administration Meeting.
Report on the Sunday afternoon Discussion:
Once again the future of the cultural villages was discussed and there were various options proposed including the number of exchanges and the number of invited visitors. Spyros (from Paxos, Greece) introduced a new scheme that in every year you would meet two other villages.
During this discussion Susan Bentley (England) advised those present that the village of Aldeburgh would no longer actively participate in the cultural village community and consequently announced their withdrawal from the Association of Cultural Villages. She then took the opportunity - on behalf of Aldeburgh - to thank everyone involved in the association for the sheer enjoyment and friendship they had experienced stressing that they will keep in touch - as friends. Everyone expressed their regrets regarding this decision but thanked Sue and the villagers of Aldeburgh for their excellent collaboration in the past, added that our ‘collective’ doors will always be open for the villagers of Aldeburgh to visit at any time.
Faye (Paxos) spoke about the Kirchheim village exchange (February 2010) and said that it had been very well received by her fellow villagers, especially the Re-cycling workshops. In their opinion, this new type of exchange could generate possible financial support from the EU and allow us to continue. To be honest we could not find a common way for all villages to go the next years. Bert supported Faye’s statement and added that we should champion Thomas Müller’s proposals and first develop a strategy for the next 3 years in regard to possible EU funding (to run consecutively until 2013) and see what happens. Adding that anyone who still wants to set additional activities would be more than welcome to submit them.
Important dates for 2011
• Opening conference in Wijk aan Zee.
• Youth camp in Wijk aan Zee.
• Two small visits planned to Palkonya (Hungary) and Pergine Valdarno (Italy)*.
• "1000 Years of Chess" in Ströbeck, 2 and 3 July 2011. Contacts: Kathrin Baltzer culturalvillage2006@gmx.
*Important! Please note that the dates and themes can be changed! EU Funded participants: 31
people
Dates 2012:
• Opening conference in Mellionnec (France).
• Bystré (Czech) offers to organize a meeting on behalf of the celebration of 1000 years of Bystré.
Dates 2013:
• Pergine Valdarno (Italy) volunteers to organize a meeting for the villages.
Final Planning for the October 2010 Conference:
Kirchheim is already working on the program for the final conference in October and we believe that the final conference will be an important one to fix the future of the cultural villages, nevertheless we shouldn’t forget the festive basis. Currently, we have the following planned:
Friday:
• Presentation of the results of the Task Force Group.
• Discussion on the inclusion of new villages.
Saturday:
As made perfectly clear during the opening conference, nearly all of the cultural villages need further support in regard to applications for EU funding; therefore we have planned on Saturday the opportunity to discuss additional EU funding opportunities. The Bonn Institute IPZ have already sent us a program proposal and we ask you know to look at issues (B) to (F) and ‘tick’ those that are of interest to you and return the completed slip to Kirchheim accordingly.
If possible, we would also like to invite communities from the south-east of Europe to this conference, but before we do, we would appreciate your comments and/or opinions!
Sunday:
Sunday will be devoted entirely to the last 12 years. We would like to hold a ‘ceremony’, but to do this - we need your help. We would like each village to show (describe) their positive developments and experience enjoyed during the last 12 years of the Cultural Village Association. Maybe we could organise an exhibition including pictures and/or films; it is also very important to include what the young people of the cultural villages have learned and experienced. We would be delighted if we could, for example, show the film from the Netherlands during this planned weekend. If you have any suggestions, advice and tips for this ceremony, we would be very happy to receive them. All we ask is that you give us as much notice as possible on how much time we should allow for your presentation.
A suggestion from Kirchheim is that we would revise the Charter and would incorporate the results of the last 12 years. Bert could use the results for the Harvest project and perhaps the new agreement with Brussels regarding a new basis for EU funding. This "New Charter" could then be signed in October.
Perhaps this idea can be discussed by the new ‘Task-Group’?
Should you have any questions regarding this document or anything else, then please do not hesitate to contact us.
Yours sincerely
Community Kirchheim im Innkreis
"Kirchheimer Future"
Association for Sustainable Rural and Region Development