Elmina: cultural legacy as the engine for economic growth
Five international culture projects have received subsidies from
the HGIS culture budget (Homogeneous Group for International Collaboration).
Over three hundred thousand euros will go to the Elmina Cultural
Heritage and Management Program (ECHMP).
In Elmina, a historical city on the coast of Ghana, three projects
will be conducted to maintain the common Dutch/Ghanese cultural
legacy. These projects are to renovate a 19th century chapel, a
19th century merchant’s house and the Dutch cemetery. The
Foundation Institute for Housing and Urban Development Studies (IHS)
will receive 334,193 euros for this purpose. These funds are earmarked
for the second phase of the Elmina Cultural Heritage and Management
Program.
According to Ester van Steekelenburg of the IHS the purpose of the
project is to maintain the cultural legacy 'as an engine for economic
growth'. The ECHMP believes it is important to strengthen the management
capacity of the local responsible agencies and to ensure their participation
in the planning and execution of the projects. Using this integrated
approach the ECHMP not only ensures the maintenance of the Ghanese/Dutch
legacy, but also ensures sustainable improvement of the living standard
in the city Elmina. Van Steekelenburg: "The amount only covers
the construction costs for the renovation projects. This is contrary
to the integrated approach that the ECHMP supports. The question
is thus whether this method can produce the desired results during
the second phase."
In addition to the subsidy from the ECHMP, four other projects are
receiving subsidies from the HGIS culture budget. These are the
Dutch Film Museum for the Historical presentation of Dutch films
in the US, the 2003 Northern Light Photo Show (Fotomanifestatie
Noorderlicht 2003), Global Detail, the Dutch Jazz Connection Foundation,
and the seventh edition of the Africa in the Picture international
film festival.
In total the HGIS culture budget for 2003 is over 11 million euros.
The HGIS Culture subsidies are intended to provide an extra stimulus
for the international culture policy.
For more information about the ECHMP, please contact Paul Schuttenbelt
ihs@ilgs.org in Accra Ghana or Ester van Steekelenburg esst@ihs.nl
in Rotterdam.
Marieke van der Velden
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