EU wastes millions on questionable culture programme

[ibis]

I suppose specific cultural traits to each nationality (if there are any?) are best left to the individual member states.

But I don't see it as "wasting" money if the EU spends it on music, dance and performing arts, which are not specific to just one or a few nationalities but span the entire block. Let's face it, millions of people enjoy these activities/events worldwide.

Do you have a link to the actual figures though? Is it not a grant system whereby groups apply for said monies? Is that £ figure for the UK only or for the entire union?

Hm. Actually it looks like they've headlined the figure for the whole budget:

Culture Programme 2007-2013

The aim of the multi-annual Programme is to encourage and support cultural cooperation within Europe in order to bring the European common cultural heritage to the fore. The Programme proposes funding opportunities to all cultural sections and all categories of cultural operators contributing to the development of cultural cooperation at European level, with a view to encouraging the emergence of European citizenship.

The programme mainly promotes:

* trans national mobility of cultural players;
* trans national circulation of artistic and cultural works and products;
* intercultural dialogue and exchanges.

With a total budget of 400 million EUR for 2007 – 2013 the Programme allows to co-finance around 300 different cultural actions per year.

€400m would be about £366m sterling, but that's the figure for all six years. Yearly budget would be €67m.

It's open application - you can apply here, and see what kind of funding is available here. Oh, and here's some selected projects. Here's the Wind Art Festival website, and yes, their funding is from the Culture Programme, so Open Europe have committed their usual arithmetical sins, and pretended the entire 6-year budget is for this year. Handy, really - they can say the same next year, and so can the Mail, the Telegraph, and Cookie.

[He3]

Patronage.

Hallmark of Kings and wannabees.

[Sailor]

You go and do it. I am of the opinion that FF have been in power a generation and that it is
time for them to go, they are culturally naive (or worse manipulators of the highest order)-
it's time for different ministers and more responsible individuals to hold portfolios (jayzhus
I am considering voting FG for the first time EVER)

The arts council also recommended Bertie Ahern for a tax exemption.

For the purpose of allocation of funds to IWC et al, what's your alternative to the Arts Council?