On 16 December 2022, the new project titled "Culture and Creativity for the Western Balkans" was presented at the UN Building in Sarajevo to the Minister of Civil Affairs of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Ankica Gudeljević, the representatives of the Federal Ministry of Culture and Sports and the Ministry of Education and Culture of Republika Srpska. CC4WBs is a 4-year initiative funded by the European Union (8 million euros), jointly implemented by UNESCO, the British Council and the Italian Agency for Development Cooperation.
Minister Ankica Gudeljević expressed her satisfaction with the start of the implementation phase of such large, significant project, to be carried out in accordance with the needs of the culture and creativity sectors in Bosnia and Herzegovina and the Western Balkans.
The project’s objective is to support cultural and creative industries in the Western Balkans and strengthen the use of cultural heritage at local and regional levels. Besides, the project focuses on mobility of cultural and creative industries (CCIs) and cultural operators in the region and mobility towards the member states of the European Union.
Funding to support the cultural and creative sector through this project will be available via open public calls for project proposals and expression of interest, as well as through targeted support to strengthening the capacities of the cultural and creative sectors. Significant grants will be allocated and the publication of the first ‘Public Call’ for project proposals is expected to be released early 2023. Another important aspect of this project is working with media professionals, students and journalists to strengthen media information literacy (MIL) skills and improve capacity to cover the cultural and creative sectors.
The project which started on 1 April 2022 will run until 31 March 2026. Certainly, with good management, a lot can be achieved during its duration. Its implementation will help achieve the sustainable development goals, protect the world's cultural and natural heritage, enable progress in cultural policies, and contribute to networking and assistance in funding opportunities for the cultural sector and the implementation of obligations from Chapter 26 of the EU acquis.
Thanks to the potential of the culture and creativity sectors, the project will contribute to development, economy and sustainability; it will strengthen cooperation, promoting dialogue and further development of good neighbourly relations in the Western Balkans. “For the success and achievement of goals in Bosnia and Herzegovina, the involvement of all competent ministries for the culture of the entities, cantons and the competent department of Brčko District is crucial.”, Minister Gudeljevic added.
Activities include the support for inclusive and effective culture policy, strengthening of regional cultural cooperation, the promotion of the mobility of artists and cultural operators, the mobility of creative goods and services, activities related to the protection, management and promotion of cultural heritage, as well as the strengthening of public-private partnerships in the cultural and creative sectors. According to Minister Gudeljević "The segment of financial and technical support for cultural and creative industries through the mechanism of grant funds through a public call for the implementation and sustainability of planned activities is particularly important, for which 50% of the total budget, or 4 million euros, is planned."
Special attention was called for by the Ministry of Civil Affairs of Bosnia and Herzegovina to the project's preparation, promotion and presentation to all potential applicants in Bosnia and Herzegovina, including the organisation of open doors across Bosnia and Herzegovina at as many locations as possible, in small and large urban centres.
UNESCO, together with its partners the British Council and Italian Agency for Development Cooperation, value this project as an opportunity to provide support to the recovery of the culture and creativity sectors over which the COVID-19 pandemic has had a very negative impact.
The project will help promote the important role of culture as a link in strengthening the dialogue and reconciliation process. What is even more important, it will promote the role of culture and creativity as a generator of socio-economic development.