Social Inclusion of Vulnerable Groups by Enabling their Participation in Cultural and Artistic Activities
The Ministry of Culture was appointed as a Level 1 Intermediate Body within the Croatian European Structural and Investment Funds Management and Control System for the 2014-2020 programming period for the Operational Programme Efficient Human Resources (OPEHR) 2014-2020 which was approved by the European Commission on 18th December 2014.
Within the ESF OPEHR 2014-2020, the Ministry of Culture is responsible for two specific objectives under two priority axes. Relevant to this Report is Priority axis 2 -Social inclusion with its Investment priority 9.i - Active inclusion, with a view to promoting equal opportunities and active participation, and improving employability, and Specific objective 9.i.1 - Combating poverty and social exclusion by promoting labour market and social integration of vulnerable groups, and combating any form of discrimination. Since culture and media create a high quality platform for social integration of various marginalized groups, such as youth and elderly, as well as for expansion of intercultural programmes that target different minorities, the activities will include support to community media, organisation of workshops, seminars, trainings, plays, various interactive events, production of media content etc. aimed at improving accessibility to arts and culture, promoting participation of vulnerable groups in the media and increasing their visibility, developing creativity, enabling active and healthy aging, encouraging active involvement in the community and strengthening artists, cultural workers and other relevant experts for work with vulnerable groups.
On 12 December 2016, the Ministry of Culture published an open (temporary) call for project proposals for the programme "Arts and Culture for Youth." The Call was closed on 21 April 2017.
The programme is implemented within the framework of the OPEHR 2014-2020 and its main aim is to overcome the limitations of youth access to cultural and artistic content and activities and encouraging young people to actively participate in the cultural life of their communities. The general objective of the Call is to improve social inclusion of young people in the Republic of Croatia, especially disadvantaged young people, through their greater participation in cultural and artistic activities and content.
On 23 May 2017, the Ministry of Culture published an open (temporary) call for project proposals for the programme "Arts and Culture 54 +". The Call was closed on 24tJuly 2017.
The programme is also implemented within the framework of the OPEHR 2014-2020 and it is focusing on social inclusion and improving the quality of life of people over the age of 54 through improving their access to cultural and artistic activities.
Two additional calls for project proposals for the programmes "Media for the community - supporting social inclusion through media" and "Inclusion of marginalized groups in society by their participation in cultural and artistic activities" are being prepared.
Expected results are: better access of vulnerable groups to cultural and artistic activities and content, greater engagement of artists and media professionals, developing creativity, increasing visibility and better social inclusion of vulnerable groups.
Funds for the implementation of these programmes in the total amount of 113,600,000.00 HRK (approximately 15,000,000.00 €) are provided under the European Social Fund (85%) and the national budget (15%) and will be paid out to the beneficiaries in 2018 and in 2019.