Cooperation in developing and rendering accessible the cultural heritage of European museums
The European Commission, DG X, has published a call for proposals for cooperation in developing and rendering accessible the cultural heritage of European museums. The call falls within the framework of the preparation and implementation of the RAPHAEL Community action programme. The aim this pilot action is to contribute to the development of, and to favour the access of the citizen to, the cultural heritage of European museums. For 1996, the Commission will grant funding to projects which emphasize development and access to museums, by means of enhancing the cultural content of museum collections, with a view to rendering them accessible to the general public. Selected projects should fulfil the following criteria: - Present a genuinely European dimension: Projects should involve the active participation of at least three partner museums. The museums will represent a minimum of three countries, two of which must be European Union Member States; - Privilege a pluri-disciplinary approach of the development and accessibility of cultural heritage, through the establishment of active cooperation between professionals from the fields of art, the sciences, conservation, museology and museography, as well as the field of advanced information and communication technologies and services; - Favour the access to heritage, as well as the knowledge and awareness of the public, by the implementation of appropriate measures, including: . The elaboration of multilingual presentations (a minimum of three official languages of the European Union); . The application of advanced information and communications technologies and services; . The preparation of high-quality publications, exhibitions, conferences and other events. The Commission's financial contribution will be divided among the different partners in accordance with their participation in the project. The Community financial backing will, as a general rule, represent a maximum of 25% of the overall anticipated budget for carrying out the project. This pilot action is open to the participation of countries associated with Central and Eastern Europe, Cyprus and Malta, as well as cooperation with other third countries which have concluded association and cooperation agreements with the European Union comprising cultural clauses, in accordance with procedures to be agreed with these countries. Requests for tender documentation, including application forms, should be sent to either: European Commission DG X - Audiovisual, Information, Communication and Culture DG X/D-2 - Cultural Programmes Unit 200 rue de la Loi (L102 3/23) B-1049 Brussels Fax +32-2-2966974 or to the European Commission offices in member countries, and its delegations in countries associated with Central and Eastern Europe, Cyprus and Malta, as well as in other third countries having concluded association and cooperation agreements with the European Union comprising cultural clauses.