On Wednesday, 27 December, the cooperation agreement between the ‘Novi Sad 2021’ Foundation and European Affairs Fund was signed. This cooperation will be based on the implementation of training for cultural institutions on the territory of the City of Novi Sad and Zone 021 (Irig, Sremski Karlovci and Beočin), in the field of applying for the EU funds.

The process of implementation of the European Capital of Culture projects includes, among other things, cooperation between institutions dedicated to finding new solutions and models of cooperation. Having in mind the very low percentage of cultural institutions that cooperate with international partners, the team of the ‘Novi Sad 2021’ Foundation initiated implementation of multiple programmes aimed at raising capacities for networking, partnership development and training for project activities.

The cooperation between the Foundation and European Affairs Fund creates conditions for long-term cooperation in order to stimulate successful partnerships, efficient performance, use of the existing resources and implementation of annual work programmes, in order to successfully implement the ‘Novi Sad 2021 – European Capital of Culture’ project and programme activities of the Fund. The cooperation will be established in several ways, firstly by mutual information on issues important for the process of integration of the Republic of Serbia into European Union. The next aspect are joint actions that are focused on education and information on the territory of Novi Sad and Zone 021 (Irig, Sremski Karlovci, Beočin), while the joint implementation of manifestations in order to promote European values and the process of EU integration is also possible.

In the first half of 2018, the Fund will organise training entitled ‘Possibilities for financing through the EU funds’ for representatives of cultural institutions on the territory of Novi Sad whose founders are the Republic, Province or City of Novi Sad, for representatives of non-governmental sector that are part of the Novi Sad 2021 programme, and for representatives of partner organisations that work in implementation of the project in cooperation with the Foundation.