Our organisations focused on the inclusion of people with disadvantaged backgrounds: people from declining rural areas, migrants and national minorities, elderly, among others. We implemented our activities mainly in person, but we also established an online training programme focused on European intangible cultural heritage. We also carried out one webinar designed by each partner and one extra for the whole project. The project offered new high-quality learning opportunities and skills development for adults through creativity and arts by utilising the social and educational value of the European cultural heritage, facilitating intergenerational learning and encouraging new businesses based on cultural heritage. The general objectives of the project are: 1. To increase the accessibility of training in culture and arts; 2. To raise the opportunities to explore European intangible cultural heritage by using digital means; 3. To promote social inclusion of people with disadvantaged background through culture and arts; 4. To encourage intergenerational learning and transfer of traditional skills; 5. To motivate and empower people to start businesses based on intangible cultural heritage.
Whilst cultural heritage has been defined as something inherited from the past, it is in many ways a contemporary and “living” cultural resource in Europe. Supporting and mobilising local actors facilitating society integration and social inclusion through the accessibility of cultural heritage will lead to an inclusive growth with a well-functioning democratic, inclusive society based on solidarity and equal access to culture and related services. Both the preservation and valorisation of cultural heritage open up considerable opportunities for local and regional development. Culture is a key driver of creativity, which plays a significant role in establishing an innovative economy. People with disadvantaged backgrounds have lower access to training and cultural activities, as it requires financial resources, information about the opportunities and many times also encouragement to participate. A very large majority take pride in cultural heritage, whether it is located in their own region or country, or in another European country. Our organisations have solid experience in providing cultural and educational activities.