EROC ACHIEVES CROSS-PARTY SUPPORT IN VITAL EU MEETING
Miranda Bird
The Cornwall-led European Regions of Culture campaign (EROC) has been given a major boost following a recent meeting between the Campaign Director Miranda Bird and a group of key EU decision-makers in Linz, Austria. The Education and Culture Commission of the Committee of the Regions (CoR) – which is the political assembly that provides local and regional authorities with a voice at the heart of the European Union – has agreed, overwhelmingly, to support the campaign, which could see Cornwall recognised as the first EU ‘Region’ of Culture in the same way that cities such have Liverpool have been designated as ‘Capitals’ of Culture.
In front of more than 200 Committee members from across Europe, Ms. Bird delivered the case for regional designation. This argues that rural regions – such as Cornwall – are unique cultural strongholds that should be able to benefit from the recognition and status afforded to urban areas under the current ‘Capitals of Culture’ programme.
The presentation was well-received and a number of CoR members from a range of political parties recommended that steps be taken to help EROC progress to the next stage. This includes trying to identify more funding (EROC is currently part-funded by the European Union’s Culture 2007 Programme) and garnering additional political support. It was notable that those in favour of EROC included one member who also sits on the Capitals of Culture panel.
“This was a vital step forward for EROC and it shows that the key decision-makers not only understand what we are proposing but also feel that it is well worth pursuing,” says Miranda Bird. “With backing from the Education and Culture Commission the next steps are to develop a lobbying strategy to ensure that this initiative is taken forward by the Committee of the Regions and other EU institutions. We need to secure formal recognition from the Committee of the Regions that they accept the Regions of Culture idea as their initiative and then gather the support of at least 50 other regions across the EU.”
The bid for the new ‘Regional’ designation is being spearheaded by Cornwall alongside the Polish region of Kujawsko-Pomorskie and the Finnish region of South Ostrobothnia. This year the campaign has been gathering momentum with a series of conferences in the three partner regions – the next being held in Finland in August with the final event in Cornwall in November. Meanwhile work is underway to engage a further 50 EU regions and ensure the EROC case is taken to the highest level.
“The recent developments are very positive,” says Carolyn Rule, the Cabinet Member for Economy and Regeneration at Cornwall Council which is match-funding the bid. “Cornwall is taking a real leadership role in this campaign which, if successful, will have massive benefits for everyone in the county and set a real precedent for other areas of Europe. It is a wholly justified argument which is clearly being understood and appreciated by politicians far and wide. After all, why should the culture of rural areas go unrecognised while that of cities is continually celebrated? Cornwall is standing up for itself and we’re very optimistic that this campaign will reach the outcome it deserves.”
Black-Hearted Ned has this to say:
I have nothing against the Region of Cultures project and wish it well. My personal problem is that I can’t take those in charge seriously and have considerable doubts about their ability to understand the Cornish scene. The disgraceful “New Cornish Carol” proposals showed a total lack of knowledge not only of Cornwall’s musical heritage but also of the wider European carol tradition itself and the Independent piece was an even bigger disgrace, and dangerous too. Nor do TV appearances inspire much confidence either.
Which is a pity, because there is nothing wrong with the concept and at the outset County Hall asked us to participate in its development. Two of us went to the initial working group meeting, but were then dumped without the courtesy of prior notice or subsequent explanation despite various unanswered requests. I do not take kindly to such behaviour and have made no attempt to hide my feelings. The latest expression of them was at a reception last Saturday, when David Roberts brought news of that afternoon’s enthronement of the new bishop and the Cornishness of the occasion – the choir singing in Cornish, the Grand Bard reading a lesson in the language, and the congregation standing to sing Trelawny. These things – and the celebrations of St Piran which have just taken place – are real and come from the heart; against them what is being put about by the funded arriviste comes across as cheap and ersatz, and as little more than a marketing exercise. Convince me that I’m being unfair and I’ll change my mind, but currently I can see no reason to alter.