Civil Society Platform
From now until May 16, 2008 ECF and EFAH, co-funders of civil society initiative The Rainbow Platform asks for your input to the so-called Rainbow Paper II. This paper tackles Europe's approach to cultural diversity. The final version that will be published after the consultation is directed to European policy makers. Your opinion counts! Make your voice heard! READ the paper, GO to the Consultation site, participate, get more info etc...
THE CIVIL SOCIETY PLATFORM FOR INTERCULTURAL DIALOGUE /
THE RAINBOW PLATFORM 
GENERAL
In partnership with the European Forum for the Arts and Heritage (EFAH), we want to create a strong 'civil society' voice which will actively feed into the European Year of Intercultural Dialogue 2008. So far, over 200 organisations across various sectors have responded to our invitation to join this initiative.
The platform is supported by the Network of European Foundations (NEF).
THE PLATFORM & DIVERSITY
Activities focus on increasing the appreciation of diversity among EU citizens, and on enabling them to cope with and benefit from this diversity. The platform approaches the topic of diversity on two fronts. It explores Europe's diversity as it has been fashioned by history and demography as well as the ‘new diversity' resulting from recent migration. Special attention is given to urban contexts where diversity is most directly experienced.
WHO
While the platform is an initiative of the cultural sector, organisations from the fields of education, youth, social affairs, human rights, migration, anti-discrimination, etc., are invited as equal partners to shape the platform. Cross-sector collaboration is key to the platform's aim of advancing the practice of intercultural dialogue.
KEY OBJECTIVES
- heighten the impact and effectiveness of the European Year of Intercultural Dialogue and ensure it has a legacy
- share the concepts and practice of intercultural dialogue
- work towards integrated strategies for intercultural dialogue
- mobilise all sectors concerned so that they have a voice
- contribute to policy analysis and development
- influence cultural policymaking
CONTACTS
EFAH: Sabine Frank Rainbow Platform co-ordinator
ECF: Isabelle Schwarz
PAST EVENTS - DOWNLOADS
- READ the wrap-up paper of the "Negotiating differences - a responsibility of artists and cultural institutions"debate, designed by ECF and EFAH in the framework of the EC organised so-called Brussel Debates
- READ concept paper on the "Negotiating differences - a responsibility of artists and cultural institutions"debate, designed by ECF and EFAH in the framework of the EC organised so-called Brussel Debates
- READ Jette Sandahl´s (Director of the City Museum of Copenhagen) speech, one of the key-speakers of "Negotiating differences - a responsibility of artists and cultural institutions"
- Speech of Sabine Frank (EFAH) at the European Commission's session held in Brussels on 19 February, The European Agenda for Culture: involving civil society. Read Find related info on EFAH site here
- The Rainbow paper, the fruit of a year-long exchange of views involving over a hundred civil society organisations across Europe. It was presented at the launch of the European Year of Intercultural Dialogue (EYID) in Ljubljana, Slovenia, January 2008 READ
- The Background paper
- Read the latest communiqué on the Civil Society Platform NOW
- Outcomes meeting during the Cultural Forum for Europe in Lisbon, September 2007, read NOW
- Latest meeting 5 March 2007: Agenda and Report
- Consultative meeting 17th January 2007: Report
- First Platform meeting 24 November 2006: Report
Read more about ECF's advocacy activities, click here