NICEC – Social and Cultural Regeneration (SCR)

The NI-CEC Cultural & Social Regeneration Programme 2004-06 will provide the practical mechanism through its activity lines for public representatives, policy makers, academics and practitioners to engage in a period of learning and exchange of knowledge and skills within EU and the neighbouring states.

While the culture and social themes address specific and separate areas for study and intervention, the Cultural and Social Regeneration (CSR) theme maintains and seeks to create active synergies between cultural development objectives and social regeneration targets.

Under the Culture & Social Regeneration Theme the following core areas will be addressed with a view to shared learning and to establish clear directions and strategies for future development.

Core Themes: Cultural Regeneration

• Cultural resource management;
• Policy-making in relation to cultural activism;
• The role of multiculturalism and cultural development in stabilising post-conflict and transitional societies;
• Cultural development as an engine for urban and civic regeneration/renewal;      
• The relationship between cultural experts and the tourist and cultural industries; and
• Realising community potential in the cultural sphere.

Core Themes: Social Regeneration

• Addressing thematic partnerships for setting standards for a social Europe.
• Identification of training needs analysis and mechanisms for capacity building.
• Addressing potential crossovers for public / private and NGO organisations to provide a multi-dimensional approach to combating social exclusion.
• Addressing changes required to anti-discrimination issues in legislation that impact on social and cultural regeneration.
• Increase community involvement and ownership through partnership approaches across a range of sectors.

CSR Activity

Ms Ó Fiongháile has contributed to conferences in Ireland and across Europe that have addressed cultural issues and the traditional arts.

In April, a recent visit to Brussels was undertaken to address current policy developments, gain current intelligence and present objectives of NICEC CSR programme to key EU based networks.

In May, a study visit to Toledo, Spain by a delegation from Londonderry of public representatives, policy makers, academics and practitioners was undertaken. As part of the CSR Programme, the delegates attended a series of meetings and visited a number of UNESCO and world acclaimed heritage sites in the region of Castilla La Mancha. The core themes of ‘Regionalism and Cultural & Social Regeneration’ were addressed to determine priorities in cultural and social development and the exploration of the role of policy in contributing to civic societies and encouraging active citizenship.

As part of the NICEC-CSR agenda, plans are underway to develop a schedule of visits to key conference fora including the Barcelona Forum of Cultures as part of a wide ranging agenda examining CSR issues and current intelligence in Europe within the international community.

The SCR Project Officer is Ms Nollaig O’Fionghaile.