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By Richard Waller - February 2003
Richard Waller reports on the Autumn project meeting of the CULTIVATE-EU and CULTIVATE-CEE Projects.
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On a crisp and clear Monday morning in the old quarter of Vienna, a persistent stream of visitors made their way into the magnificent interior of the Federal Ministry for Education, Science and Culture [1]. They had come for two days of meetings which would culminate in the final review of the CULTIVATE-EU and CULTIVATE-CEE projects. In the large chandelier-dominated Audienzsaal with beautifully preserved decoration, we were greeted most warmly by Mr Peter Seitz of the Ministry who expressed his government's unreserved support for the aims of the projects and who was most keen to ensure that the participants from all over the CULTIVATE partnership map felt welcome.
This was a very positive start to the work of two days (7-8 October)in which partners were able to discuss current and future issues for the projects and ensure that the review of the next day would run as smoothly as possible. Robin Rickard of the British Council, Warsaw, chaired the first day's project meeting and whilst giving all participants the opportunity to make their contribution, ensured that the business of the day proceeded apace and efficiently.
Jorun Hesjedal of RBT reported on progress of the Archives Libraries and Museums contacts list and the press releases, newsletters and leaflets it had disseminated. She also described the work done a user validation survey as well as a Web tutorial now available covering useful Web sites for libraries, museums and archives interested in the EU and the framework programmes.
Rosalind Johnson reported on behalf of Resource: The Council for Museums, Archives and Libraries and its subcontractor CILIP with regard to the E-list [2]. Resource subcontracts work on the Cultivate-list to CILIP. Membership of the list is slightly over 600. A number of members left in February and March 2002 following two incidents with message loops. This technical problem was rapidly fixed by UKOLN. She reported the following statistics:
In my turn I gave a brief report on the work of Cultivate Interactive [3] which covered its content, output and our support for Cultivate Russia.
Henriette Kurschel spoke of the document database on behalf of CSC Austria. Its main functionalities are management of data and production of printed or electronic publications. She explained that the Document Database is presently designed for expert users, i.e. CULTIVATE members. CULTIVATE members have all user rights for management of XML documents. There are plans for adaptation of database functionalities for public end users.
Dincho Kraschev's report on Bulgaria referred to the effectiveness of its website. Judy Buchnik, Israel, reported that she would be involved in the IDEALIST booth at IST 2002 in Copenhagen. Klaus Reinhardt reported that Germany planned to be active in FP6 and would have 3 staff looking after libraries, museums and archives. Henriette Kurschel described the extensive activities of the Austrian node. Bronislaw Zurawski described the activities of the Polish node and noted that meetings were underway with the 3 relevant ministries in relation to sustainability. Wladyslaw Stepniak described an international conference organised by the State Archives in June 2002. Dan Matei described work in Romania, including work on sustainability, translations, meetings and broadcasts. Jorun Hesjedal described activities in Norway and drew attention to structural change underway in RBT. Sidsel Hindal would be the main Cultivate contact in Norway in future. Peter Dippold explained that there is a new government in Hungary but that activities continue in relation to sustainability, reaching out to museums and collaboration with other project, including Pulman. Sanita Berzina reported on improvements to the Latvian website. Trine Nielson reported that she was taking over for Cultivate in Denmark where a new National Museums Authority has just been established. She mentioned the recent NAPLE conference and the establishment of a NAPLE organisation. Jana Souckova reported on recent developments in the Czech Republic where the node had been active in developing its website and email list, in liasing with archives and in influencing the development of the "Culture on line" programme to which a future Cultivate would need to relate in the Czech Republic. Rosalind Johnson made a report on behalf of the UK Node Resource and its subcontractor CILIP. Resource adds value as needed in the UK which is well served by generalist functions such as UKISHELP.
David Fuegi, CULTIVATE-CEE Project Manager, reported that Cultivate Russia was about half way through its lifespan. The first issue of the Russian version of Cultivate Interactive had just been published. 20 provincial meetings were planned and an end of project international conference would take place in April 2003 [4].
Later in the meeting David reported on the results of the sustainability questionnaire, which he had circulated. 16 countries had replied. There appeared to be strong support at government and professional level for a successor project. Support was very strong in CEE countries and Russia. There was an encouraging amount of common ground between respondents on what might be needed. EU countries seemed to want mainly the international activities of the network, CEE and Russia wanted both international and local activities. David thought that one message from the questionnaires was that the new Cultivate should be more flexible.
Walter Koch of CSC Austria continued the discussion providing his thoughts on a possible approach for the future of the CULTIVATE organisation. Axel Szauer, European Commission Project Officer, reminded the meeting that only the first call would provide opportunities for cultural heritage and that projects would probably not start before the end of 2003.
David Fuegi reminded everyone that Cultivate CEE terminated at the end of March 2003. It was planned to hold the final meeting of the project in Sophia, Bulgaria 1st-4th March 2003; Local organisation would be provided by Dincho Kraschev. Although Cultivate EU would have finished, members of that network would also be welcome to attend. Members of both networks were requested to put the dates in their diary. A cultural programme and networking opportunities would be included. David and Dincho would produce a draft programme as soon as possible and inform the network.
The preparations for the following day in terms of presentation order and timings, ably managed by Klaus Reinhardt, CULTIVATE-EU Project Manager, after the formal meeting, served to ensure a smooth-running annual review [5]. The participants had an opportunity to meet again in the evening, thanks to the hospitality of the Federal Ministry for Education, Science and Culture. It was not only very pleasant for me to meet at last a number of people with whom I had been in email correspondence, but also to listen to people's experiences, challenges and hopes for the Project. As the success of the following day was to testify, much had been achieved. For some of us so gathered together, there was a moment of considerable thoughtfulness: for we, the children of the Cold War, could but remark that such successful co-operation, mutual aspirations and collective endeavour would have been inconceivable even 15 years ago.
My thanks to David Fuegi for providing me with a lot of the material for this article.
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URL: <http://www.ukoln.ac.uk>
Email: cultivate-editor@ukoln.ac.uk
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For citation purposes:
Waller, R. "CULTIVATE Meets, Vienna October 2002", Cultivate Interactive, issue
9, 7 February 2003
URL: <http://www.cultivate-int.org/issue9/viennaproject/>
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