Category: Amateo Members

amateo member: SAVEZ UMETNIČKOG STVARALAŠTVA AMATERA VOJVODINE SUSAV / AMATEUR ART ASSOCIATION OF VOJVODINA

Member country: Serbia
Contact person: Savo Mučibabić, Secretary

Who? SUSAV is an umbrella organization for amateur culture in Vojvodina, a province of Serbia. During the last four years it is working as a non-governmental member organization which reunite over 250.000 adults, children and youths engaged in different cultural activities. The majority of the programs are carried out through a pyramid scheme – from almost every local community in the province of Vojvodina, through municipal and regional competitions to final province and republic festivals. This systematic selection provides qualitative development.

What? SUSAV supervises the implementation of cultural competitions on lower – municipal and regional levels and organize province festivals for various cultural activities ranging from choirs, orchestras (both folk/traditional and classical music), folklore, theater and recitations to visual art. At all these levels, work also includes cultural education: expert jury teams conduct interviews with the ensemble leaders in order to educate and improve the quality of their work. Apart of this, our alliance organise special courses and seminars for advanced professional training for all ensembles leaders who want to raise their level of professional work and to achieve results on scenes around the world.

Why join Amateo? We are convinced that membership in the European network Amateo can help us to improve the national status and care for all amateur creativity in our country. Another, no less important reason is to get new contacts and find an inspiration for new cultural cooperation.

Importance of international connections? International cooperation is important for acquiring new experiences, knowledge and acquaintance with examples of good practice. Also, we want to give our members more opportunities for international knowledge and skills sharing.

Future hopes? Our hope for the Amateo network is that the EU will continue to support its work. It will also be a positive indication to all national governments how to behave towards amateur arts. It is our wish that Amateo becomes the founder of the Amateo Olympiad project, which will bring together the best national representatives from various fields of amateur art.

Interested in joining Amateo’s European network? Find out more!

AMATEO MEMBER:
JAVNI SKLAD REPUBLIKE SLOVENIJE ZA KULTURNE DEJAVNOSTI / REPUBLIC OF SLOVENIA PUBLIC FUND FOR CULTURAL ACTIVITIES (JSKD)

Member country: Slovenia
Contact person: Jan Pirnat, project manager

Who? JSKD is a state umbrella organization for amateur culture in Slovenia. The nationwide network was established in 1998. In Slovenia there are approximately 5000 cultural societies, associations and groups, which reunite over 100.000 adult members engaged in cultural activities. The headquarters with an expert unit and 59 regional branch offices (all over Slovenia) are enabling multi directional interaction between cultural societies, local communities and public institutions. The spatial dispersion and integration into the local environment are key to balanced development and crucial for networking on the regional, national and international level.

What? JSKD supervises the implementation of the national cultural program for various activities ranging from vocal and instrumental music, theater and puppets, folklore, dance and film to visual art and literary activity. 

Work also includes cultural education and introduction of new practices. In addition, JSKD carries out the procedures for co-financing of amateur cultural programs and projects, organizes events (festivals, competitions, concerts, exhibitions, etc.) and publishes professional literature (books, magazines, music collections, …) covering all topics of creativity in amateur art. 

The majority of the programs are carried out through a pyramid scheme (local, regional and state level) – systematic selection that promotes qualitative development. Groups that are selected for the state level are invited to national festivals, competitions, exhibitions. 

JSKD also provides advocacy for active participation in culture and is one of two main organisers of Week of Amateur Culture. WAC seeks to create greater accessibility and mobility of cultural assets. The openness of the creative space can be seen in the interaction of amateurs and professionals, who make significant contributions to the creation of amateur culture. 

Why join Amateo? JSKD was one of the founding members of Amateo network. Behind the network start up was an idea of sharing ideas and promoting active participation in culture on an international scale. 

On the international level JSKD cooperates with other national organizations in various EU programs and projects. It is also a member of numerous international professional organizations and networks dealing with amateur culture.

Importance of international connections? Connecting with partners in international projects and networks grants partners but also participants in countries where the member organisations are working the access to information that helps to develop their full creative potential.

Future hopes? Our hopes for the Amateo network are that the network will grow not only in numbers but it will also develop in an idea hub and platform for information flow and flow of projects and participants, volunteers and groups between EU countries.

Interested in joining Amateo’s European network? Find out more!

Do you (voluntarily) work for a member organisation of Amateo, do you have a passion for amateur arts, time to attend 3 international Board Meetings in a year, an open view and a bright spirit? Then we are looking for you! **

Amateo supports and promotes the activities of the amateur arts sector cause we believe that all European citizens should have access and opportunities to enjoy, participate in and benefit from creative and cultural experiences of their choice.

Arts Takes Part, supported by Creative Europe and Amateo member organisations, helps to strengthen the organisations involved in this work, grow the network and offer training, knowledge exchange and events.

Do you want to follow our Arts Take Part project from closeby and at the same time give direction to our long-term evolution as a network? Then join the Board of Amateo!

What do you get? You get the chance to be part of an international and enthusiastic team of Board members, learn and exchange with colleagues from all over Europe and follow our events from the first row.

Are you interested? Then put forward your candidacy by sending your CV and a short motivation letter from your organisation to president@amateo.org.

Do you have questions? Need more info? Contact the secretariat (info@amateo.org) or our president Susan Fazakerly (president@amateo.org).

**We are also looking for a new treasurer, so having some experience with accountancy would be great (but is not at all a must!).

“My short time in the Amateo board has really opened my eyes for the diverse and valuable work in voluntary and amateur arts in Europe. This network has given our organisation new possibilities for European collaboration that otherwise never would have happened. Amateo connects us and truly is an organisation with a big and open heart.”

Jani Lastuniemi, Project leader FSU, Finland

“8 years has past by rather fast. I worked with great people all over the Europe and I am glad that I have learned so much new and great stuff. I started when Amateo was just young and unknown and I am leaving now with great experience of being a part of Arts Take Part project. Thank you all and wish you the best!”

Valentina Dačnik, prof., Hrvatski Sabor Kulture, Croatia

AMATEO MEMBER:
DAS KOMPETENZZENTRUM FUR KULTURELLE BILDUNG IM ALTER UND INKLUSION / CENTRE OF COMPETENCE FOR CREATIVE AGEING AND INCLUSIVE ARTS (KUBIA)

Member country: Germany
Contact person: Janine Hüsch (Communications & Public Relations)

Symposium ALL IN: Ästhetik und Methoden der inklusiven Darstellenden Künste Eine gemeinsame Veranstaltung von: Kompetenzzentrum für Kulturelle Bildung im Alter und Inklusion (kubia) und Un-Label, Performing Arts Company, in Kooperation mit Sommerblut Kulturfestival e.V.

Schrei mich an // INCLU:CITY // Regie Marita Ragonese

Who? KUBIA is a professional forum and service platform on all issues relating to cultural and arts-based activities for older and/or disabled persons. It is based in Remscheid, Germany. Our target groups are artists, arts facilitators, care professionals, staff of cultural institutions and local authorities.

What? KUBIA provides information, training, networking opportunities and advice on all issues relating to cultural and arts-based activities and lifelong learning. Our aim is to raise awareness of the important role of cultural participation at all ages by developing trend-setting concepts and innovative models.

We focus on professionalising arts-related educational practices for older people and persons with disabilities, promoting inter-generational dialogue through the arts, developing arts-based programmes for the frail and people with dementia, promoting participation and volunteer work in arts and culture in later life as well as developing intercultural and inclusive schemes. KUBIA also runs a forum for theatre by older adults in North Rhine-Westphalia (Theatergold).

Why join Amateo? The philosophy of the Amateo network is very much in line with our conviction that artistic and creative activities and cultural participation are important keys to social inclusion, quality of life and wellbeing. We look forward to working with like-minded partners on an international level.

We appreciate very much being part of Amateo as a European cultural network since we benefit and learn from the mutual exchange and the co-operation for a common cause. International co-operation gives us new inspiration, strengthens our reputation on national level and helps us to improve our work.

Future hopes? Together with the Amateo network we would like to ensure that the artistic and cultural participation, especially by the elderly and people with disabilities, plays an important role in the agenda-setting of social and cultural policies in Europe. For this reason, we wish Amateo to be a fast-growing and strong network for the promotion of participatory arts in Europe.

Interested in joining Amateo’s European network? Find out more!

AMATEO MEMBER: DANSK AMATØR TEATER & SCENEKUNST / DANISH AMATEUR THEATRE & PERFORMING ARTS (DATS)

Member country: Denmark 
Contact person: Peter Rafn Dahm

My name is Peter Rafn Dahm and I work as artistic and developmental consultant for DATS.

Who: Danish Amateur Theatre and Stage Arts/Performing Arts – is, as indicated by our
name, an umbrella for all kinds of non-professional drama, theatre and performance activities in Denmark. And we are the only organisation that serve and represent these activities.

Continue reading “DATS – Denmark” →

AMATEO MEMBER: NARODNE OSVETOVE CENTRUM / NATIONAL CENTER OF CULTURE AND FURTHER EDUCATION (NOC)

Member country: Slovak Republik 
Contact person: Alexandra Stefkova

Who: National center of culture and further education (NOC) is a state contributory organisation of the Ministry of Culture of Slovak Republic, which provides functionality and nationwide professional methodology for educational and cultural activities.

What: NOC supports the development of cultural, educational and artistic activities in local, regional and national conditions, in particular: publishing activity, research and monitoring activities in culture, exhibitions and presentation activities.

Continue reading “NOC – Slovakia” →