A brief by Tamara Guirao, CAAC coordinator
Co-funded by INTERREG Atlantic Area IIIB, the project Cultur*AT (Culture and Heritage of the Cities included in the Atlantic Arc) intended to foster dissemination and production of Culture, Creation and Artistic Heritage of the cities of the Atlantic Arc. This initiative was based in the articulation of a network between the cities.
Partner cities were Faro, Jerez de la Frontera, Santiago de Compostela, Avilés, Gijon, Burdeos, Nantes, Rennes, Glasgow and Cork. The meetings of CAAC Culture Commission in 2002 gave birth to this experience, preparing the both the works and the application for INTERREG funds, which was approved in November 2003 for a start in 2004.
Through seven workshops for analysis and debate around cultural policies, Atlantic Arc Cities strengthened their collaboration and got ready for new strategies. Topics were the following:
– Heritage at the heart of cities
– Art policies
– Contemporary Creation Espaces (x2)
– Artists’ residencies in Europe
– Celtic links and Cultural diversity
– Regeneration of abandoned industrial land for culture and leisure
More than 1500 people attended these seminars leaded by more than 200 experts during 21 days and 200 work hours.
The project was completed by several studies on culture policy in the partner cities, a webtool (today out of use) and productions, like the Street Art happenings in Avilés, Gijon and Glasgow
In the wake of this anniversary, together with Plymouth Culture Board, UKTI, and Plymouth College of Art, CAAC is preparing a seminar on Creative Cities in the Atlantic Arc to take place this autumn. Are you coming?