Posted by: polonca-podgorsek

CONFERENCE ANNOUNCEMENT

NEW TIMES NEW MODELS
International conference on governance models of independent cultural centres
MARIBOR, Slovenia 28/29/30 January 2010

NEW TIMES NEW MODELS is a conference that will look at the role independent culture plays in the development of society, both on a global and a local level. The conference will focus on inventive, dynamic and sustainable models of governance of independent cultural centres and the relationship between these and public authorities. Over three days, it will provide a space for expert insights, for comparisons between Europe, East and West, and for the sharing of best practice in the area of cultural development. A core issue of New Times New Models is how relations can be improved between public authorities, the private sector and independent cultural centres. The conference will therefore explore the obstacles to these relations: how coordinating legislation and other policy challenges might be addressed; presenting and sharing knowledge on good as well as bad practices and investigating innovative approaches.
CONFERENCE THEMES

An opening Key Note address by PHIL WOOD (Comedia): »A NEW CREATIVE ECOLOGY«

Day 1: WHY INDEPENDENCE?

What does independence mean, what is it? What does it mean for society (local community)? What are the responsibilities of both, public authorities and non-profit actors? Why and how those two sectors should/could collaborate and how to protect independence from compromise in such relations? Why public support should be given to independent groups/organisations etc.

Day 2: HOW INDEPENDENCE?

The conference will take advantage of the unique experiences other countries and centres have to offer in shaping and solving the structural issues arising from the status of being an independent cultural actor. Review of governance models of independent cultural centres in the West Balkans and in the EU should present succeding as well as missed approaches to sustainable models of public-private cultural partnerships.

Day 3: NEW MODELS OF PRACTICE

Participants will have the opportunity to work together to examine how policies and strategies can be formulated and implemented to establish sustainable participatory models of governance, while maintaining different kinds of independence of cultural centres.

The themes will be approached and presented through case-studies, speaker presentations by experts and experienced practitioners, panel debates and by working in smaller breakout groups in order to reach informed conclusions, which will hopefully set guidelines for future models of practice.
You are kindly invited to view the draft programme and details at www.pekarna.org/ntnm.
PARTICIPATION

Participation is open to all who have a professional interest in the themes of the conference, and may include members of authorities responsible for culture at national, regional or local levels, as well as workers and professionals, experts and experienced practitioners engaged in the cultural field and cultural policy advisors and researchers.
Registration deadline: 15th January 2010
Early bird deadline (-50% conference fee): 31st December 2009

You are encouraged to register early. For details, please visit REGISTRATION.


CASE STUDIES DEADLINE EXTENDED!

You can still contribute a case study of your centre’s governance structure – deadline is extended until 25th December 2009! Selected authors will be invited to participate in the conference and/or selected case studies will be featured in the programme and surrounding documentation. Case study guidelines can be found HERE.
VENUE

The conference will take place in Cultural Centre Pekarna, Maribor, Slovenia:
Address: Cultural Centre Pekarna - Pekarna magdalenske mreže
Ob železnici 16, SI-2000 Maribor, Slovenia
http://www.pekarna.org/ / http://www.culturalprofiles.net/slovenia/units/6525.html

CONTACT DETAILS
Conference office: case2case@gmail.com (Marko Brumen, project manager)
Registration: pikapolonca.si@gmail.com (Ms. Polonca Podgorsek, conference co-ordinator)

Visit of mr. Wood has been made possible by British Council Slovenia.