Culture Guides in Sparsely Populated Areas
European conference of the SPAR project, 8-9 June

The closing European conference of the SPAR project hosted by the Hungarian Folk High School Society was held in Budapest on 8-9 June. The conference that aimed to valorise the key outcome of the project was attended by over fifty participants.

After the plenary session that overviewed the aims, objectives as well as the outcome and findings of the project was followed by workshop sessions on the best ways to engage cultural volunteers and draw their competence profile; training programmes for cultural managers and volunteers; and support from key stakeholders.

The structure of the second day followed a similar pattern with the morning plenary sessions on arts and culture to revive remote areas; management skills to coordinate cross-cultural activities; and culture events to create added values was followed by workshops on the recognition of prior learning; profiles of the amateur arts, culture and heritage sector; and ways to strengthen local identity.

The friendly, inspiring atmosphere of the meeting was enhanced by the Hungarian dance house by the Pántlika Folk Dance Group with the active contribution of foreign participants.