In the year in which Timișoara is the European Capital of Culture, when numerous events in this sphere will take place, here is the launch of a new project intended for seniors, but also for the general public. This was the idea from which the "Timișoara Cultural Learning City - a Path to Social Inclusion" project started, which includes an extensive cultural program that relies on the involvement of seniors, but also the young, in a series of cultural activities, workshops and events that have an intergenerational character.
The project - a partnership between IREA (Romanian Institute of Adult Education), West University of Timișoara and LoPe - forening for mikrointegrasjon - aims to develop a community action strategy for culture and social inclusion through lifelong learning in relation to the development of Timișoara as a "Learning City" city with a strong cultural component (Timișoara Cultural Learning City) and the running of a pilot program of education through culture.
"Timișoara Cultural Learning City - a Path to Social Inclusion" is the result of a collaboration between experts from Romania and Norway with a view to developing the concept of "Timișoara Cultural Learning City" and developing a community action strategy for culture and social inclusion through lifelong learning life.
The foundations of the "Learning City" concept are taken from the UNESCO initiative to develop a global network of cities dedicated to lifelong learning (Global Network of Learning City - https://uil.unesco.org/lifelong-learning/learning-cities).
Within the project, the following will be carried out:
- Creating a space for dialogue and intercultural exchange between partners, collaborators, stakeholders and guests/experts and strengthening bilateral relations between Romania and Norway
- Supporting the foundation of the status of European Cultural Capital 2023 of the Municipality of Timișoara
- a community action strategy for culture and social inclusion through lifelong learning for the "Timișoara Cultural Learning City" concept
- a pilot program of education through culture
- 12 film screenings;
- 3 exhibitions;
- 4 musical auditions;
- a concert;
- 4 guided cultural tours;
- 4 workshops;
- 3 cultural debates;
- a conference;
- 3 introductory art courses;
- a talk and performance artist;
- 6 bilateral visits (in Romania and Norway).
The rector of UVT, Marilen Gabriel Pirtea, said: The universities of the future do not only aim for the academic tops, but manage to be in the middle of the community. "Timișoara Cultural Learning City - a Path to Social Inclusion" is a project that is designed for the community. In the context of TM 2023, this project is intended to be addressed mainly to seniors, but in an intergenerational context, so alongside the young. Moreover, as a result of this project, a strategy is launched that can give Timișoara an extremely important title, with major implications: "Timișoara Learning City".
The project will take place over eleven months (December 2022 – October 2023), with the support of the Romania – Norway partnership.
The Timisoara Cultural Learning City - a Path to Social Inclusion project is fully financed by EEA and Norwegian grants, through the contribution of the Donor States Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway, and benefits from a financing of 459,674 LEI, respectively 93.015 EUR.
The EEA and Norwegian grants represent the contribution of Iceland, the Principality of Liechtenstein and Norway to a green, competitive and inclusive Europe. There are two general objectives: reducing economic and social disparities in Europe and strengthening bilateral relations between the donor states and 15 EU states in central and southern Europe and the Baltic states. The three donor states cooperate closely with the EU under the Agreement on the European Economic Area (EEA). Between 1994 and 2014, donor states contributed €3,3 billion through consecutive grant schemes. For the period 2014-2021, the EEA and Norwegian Grants amount to €2,8 billion. More details are available at: www.eeagrants.org and www.eeagrants.ro
