University of Ulster

The University of Ulster Cultural Regeneration Project: The role of a university in facilitating a professional, creative

dialogue in the cultural field within N. Ireland & our European neighborhood

A presentation delivered by

Nollaig Ó FiongháileUU Northern Ireland Centre for European Cooperation

Department of Cultural Development

A question of vision – a response to need

• Culture & creativity, a dialogue…• A regeneration model, a network of

people, an industry of creative entrepreneurs…

• contributing to nurturing a professional, confident, creative community within our neighbourhood, the EU, and in the context of international affairs?

Aims and Objectives

To create sustainable long-term networks across Europe and within NITo promote cross sectoral and trans-national learning and co-operationTo influence policy making through engagement with the core policy network; andTo identify and share models of good practice for practitioners.

Cultural Regeneration Themes

Cultural projects emerging• 'The Role of Culture in the Regeneration of

Cities; Toledo & Cuenca as a Regeneration Model for the City of Derry in Northern Ireland’

• ‘Observing Culture: How an Observatory Might Contribute to a Professional, Confident, and Outward Looking Cultural Environment in the Region?’

• ‘Creative Industries: Innovative Models for Growing the Economy’

Summary Inputs & Outputs 05

Inputs

2 Study Visits1 Policy Briefing1 Best Practice Colloquia1 Think-tank Group

Meeting1Attendance at EU/NI

Conferences11 Position Papers*1 Policy Paper*2 Practitioner Papers*

* Paper numbers to be split between Cultural and Social Regeneration

+ 4 Commissioned Works across 2005 and 2006

Outputs

2 Study Visits1 Policy Briefing1 Best Practice Colloquia1 Think-tank Meeting3 Conference Attendances8 Position Papers2 Policy Papers1 Practitioner Paper

Summary Inputs & Outputs 06

+ 5 Commissioned Works across 2005 and 2006

Outputs2 Study Visits1 Policy Briefing1 Best Practice Colloquia1 NI Conference – 3-day event1 Think-tank Group Meeting3 Conference Attendances8 Position Papers2 Policy Papers2 Practitioner Papers

Inputs2 Study Visits1 Policy Briefing1 Best Practice Colloquia1 NI Conference1 Think Tank Meeting1 Conference Attendance12 Position Papers*1 Policy Paper*2 Practitioner Papers*

Geographical Representation

• Networked partners from over 14 countries covering broad range of N-S-E European countries

• Easter Europe including Hungary, Croatia, Latvia

• N. Europe including Nordic Countries, Iceland, Germany, Austria,

• S. Europe including Spain, Italy, • W. Europe, including France, Belgium, Ireland, • International access through NICEC seminars

and conference fora

Impacts - Summary

• Participants total over 900 policymakers, practitioners and researchers from a range of 14 countries in Europe through 33 activities.

• NICEC culture project has been featured in the print and web based media, and has published over 31 reports.

• 5 Commissioned works carried out to support sustainability of the project work.

Impacts, The model…

• To harness the energy & resources of the cultural sector… A Catalyst for Co-operation?

• Foster a greater understanding of the different facets of cultural activities… Think Tank?

• Seek solutions for contemporary challenges… Standard Setter?

Impacts - The process…

Themes: The creative city & urban development, public policy, the knowledge economy,

Range: local, national & European, practical, conceptual,

Fora: political, policy, practitioner, debate-driven, solutions-driven, pragmatic,

Outputs: networking / exchange of ideas & practice/ models of best practice / information dissemination / research, developing initiatives, raising awareness, frameworks for co-operation…

Impacts – The feedback

• By year three, cultural programme events over subscribed to triple the required figures

• Evaluations recorded highly complimentary comments such as “This was a unique and well-planned fact-finding delegation with some excellent presentations and worthwhile meetings… rich content, useful exchange of experience, dialogue spanning the broad range of cultural and creative industries”. N. L.

• Representation from wide variety of lead agencies in cultural, arts sector, political representatives, practitioners from influential organisations in the region.

Themed Interventions

N. Ireland senior sectoral representatives meet with CI experts, Turku Science Park, Finland, June 2006

‘Creative Industries: Innovative Models for Growing the Economy’

The Geographical Network:

Austria, IcelandFinland, UK

Animation Studio LazyTown, Marketing Director

from Iceland,

CI Policy Specialist from departure in Austria share

a panel with

NI’ DCAL & NESTA leading representatives

Creative IndustriesSuite of Events

EU conferenceSeminarsPeer to

PeerStrategic Planning

Belfast 2006

Representation from Lead Agencies

Delegate Profiles

• disseminated invitations directly to over 1875 contacts 50 creative industry contacts•arts officers from 49 councils•118 contact data base of academic professionals, 27 social enterprise officers•30 arts managers in N. Ireland •NESTA database of 97 creative industry contacts •Belfast City Council database of over 1000 contacts.

‘Observing Culture: How an Observatory Might Contribute to a Professional, Confident, and Outward Looking Cultural Environment in the Region?’

Themed Interventions II

Themes

Themes

'The Role of Culture in the Regeneration of Cities; Toledo & Cuenca, Regeneration Models for the City of Derry, N. Ireland’

The field of influence

• Interface & proactive profiling

• Influencing policy & pragmatic output

• Demonstrating models of good practise

• Pragmatic, tangible ambitions

• Clearly definable outputs

From priorities to outputs

Theme based priorities

Cultural regeneration & the creative city

Public policy & decision making,

Creative Industries & models for intervention

Process priorities

Promote best practice, transmission of learning, collaborative actions

Adherence to Peace II Horizontal Principles: Key

Examples• Bottom Up Approach/Local

Decision-making• Equity and Balance/Equal

Opportunities• New Targeting Social Need/Impact

on Poverty• Economic and Social Sustainability

Sustainability – Project Developments

• UU/NICEC involvement in the development of an application process for Heritage Status for Derry in 2006.

• University of Ulster Cultural Development Department (UUCD) to facilitate the ongoing development of a cultural observatory in Northern Ireland.

• The UUCD / NICEC 2006 programme as a timely intervention to progress the debate addressing the creative industries in Northern Ireland.

Sustainability - Networks

• Networks : EFAH, Heritur, European Cultural Foundation, AVEC…

• Partnerships: EUCLID, Creative Clusters, Toledo Foundation, Budapest Observatory..

• Multi-agency approaches• Policy Development: DCAL, ACNI, DETI,

INVEST NI, NESTA, Noribic, DCC, Arts & Business NI, CAF,

The core questions…

How does culture/arts/creativity/ heritage sectors engage with development/ business/ corporate / political leadership?

How connected are we to understanding the potential of our place, our people?

How do we communicate?