CulturePolis promotes the creation and to a great extend the autonomous operation of local/regional Cultural Antennas or Antennas (C.A) in different countries and cities of Greece and the broader Adriatic-Ionian, South-Eastern Europe and Mediterranean in particular,   that, on the one hand, reflect the cultural identity of each region in Europe, and on the other, closely cooperate among them and the central services of the organisation for the achievement of Forum’s objectives. The C.As in the different countries and cities constitute a coherent network of common activities, cooperation and cultural exchanges: CulturePolis Network of Cultural Antennas.

The present document constitutes the Terms of Reference for the creation of a CulturePolis Cultural Antenna and has been developed in view of informing potential interested parties in collaborating with CulturePolis for the creation of a C.A in their city/region/area.

What’s a Cultural Antenna ?

A Cultural Antenna (C.A.) or siply Antenna is an informal branch of CulturePolis, that has local/regional scope and action and is part of a cohesive network of collaborating Antennas of the organisation.  Cultural Antennas reflect the local cultural identity of each region that they cover, and  in addition to the general activities of the organisation design and execute also their own local action plan while at the same time they collaborate among them and cooperate with the central services of the organisation, which approve the actions and contribute to the achievement of the more general objectives.

C.As are not autonomous organizations or associations in legal terms, but draw their competences from the Regulations of Operation that the Forum has developed, which nominates also its coordinator.

CAs constitute a network of autonomous units in the framework of CulturePolis and they closely cooperate with management and other Antennas in organising cultural events and exchanges.

How a Cultural Antenna is created ?

A C.A. starts each operation in each region usually at the initiative of members and friends of Forum, cultural institutions, municipalities, groups of citizens or individual personalities, which constitute the core of the local team.

A C.A can be created using different approaches i.e. by the initiative of a group of citizens or associations in one city/region or more frequently following the identification by Chapter’s management through networking and contacts of one individual or better a nucleus of members/friends of the Forum and representatives of local organizations and governments in each area.

In order to establish a C.A it is sufficient that a standard application is filled-in and submitted to the EOCF-AI secretariat by the representative of the group or organisation (see attached: Cultural Antenna Membership Application Form).

After discussions with the group members EOCF-AI management proceeds to the nomination of the adequate person - who receives recognition and approval of the majority of those concerned, as Cultural Antenna Coordinator.

The coordinator constitutes the liaison of the Antenna and is kept informed by the management and is entitled to coordinate the creation and activation of the CulturePolis in this region.

Where exist Cultural Antennas (September 2008)

 In the two first years of its operation the Forum has officially created C.As in the following cities-country (in chronological order of creation):

Greece: City of Corfu, South Corfu, Preveza, Zakynthos, Orini Nafpaktia ... and are in preparation in Patras, Arta (collaboration with Preveza), Igoumenitsa – Ioannina, Nafpaktos, Kalamata, Lefkada, Kefalonia, Kavala,

Other countries: Albania (Saranda), Bulgaria (Plovdiv)… have made the first steps in Croatia (Zagreb), Slovenia (Koper), Italy (Fasano – Bari, Kalimera, Lecce, Ancona, Trieste-Venicea Salento…) and under preparation in Bosnia – Herzegovina, Montenegro, Serbia..while discussions have been initiatied for Syria, Turkey, France.

The final objective is the cover with C.As all countries and main cities of Adriatic and Ionian but also of neighbouring regions in the Balkans and the wider Mediterranean basin… while offices of representation will exist in all the countries of European Union (more information on each of teh Antennas can be found on the specially assigned WebPages).

What’s the role of Cultural Antennas ?

A C.A has basically the task to represent CulturePolis in the local society and coordinate the information-awareness raising initiatives which have been decided by the management but also implement its own action plan in cooperation with local cultural organizations and government and voluntary citizens’ groups.

In this context the main role of a C.A is the one of cultural hub of the region in which it operates to. A C.A therefore may have one or more of the roles below depending on the specificities of the city/region:

• Collect and register cultural data and mapping of the local cultural heritage and their specificities in digital means.
• Organise cultural exchanges and contacts between cultural organisations of different countries
• Raise sensibility of citizens and cultural organizations and local governments on cultural identity and heritage and diversity issues and their European dimension
• Provide training services to citizens and organisations on knowledge society issues and cultural management of local cultural heritage in a European perspective
• Provide information
• Contribute to the development of sustainable cultural tourism environment
• Promote cultural tourism and cultural products of the region and promote cultural products produced offered by by small enterprises/organisations of the region.

The minimum requirements for becoming a CulturePolis Cultural Antenna is to be or to form an “entity” involved in culture in its broad sense that accepts universal ethical and cultural values and human rights. Such an “entity” may be either an organisation e.g. cultural association, NGO, municipality, foundation, university department etc. or a group of citizens willing to act under the umbrella of CulturePolis or a mixture of above.

Taking into account that a C.A may be formed by several organizations and people regrouped under the C.A banner, it is understood that each of the constituting parties will preserve their identity and plan of action but they will contribute to /cooperate with C.A specific activities

How many C.A can co-exist in each city/region/country ?

CulturePolis objective is not to have large national C.A (anyway not effective in big countries) but to create and support one C.A per each city or small region in order to avoid proliferation of small structures (union makes the force) and coordinate activities better.

However, if there is intense cultural activity in a bigger geographical area or people interested in promoting one specific cultural activities and themes e.g. only cultural policy or modern dance, and whishing to act there is always the possibility to launch additional C.As provided there is  a clear distinction of their mutual territories and a plan of cooperation between them.

For this purpose it was proposed and accepted to make an effort to use genuine terms to re-name all C.A in big cities and regions with non controversial geographical/administration related names in order to dissociate their denomination from their respective city/region name.