Introduction
The Budapest Observatory (founded in 1999) is a regional observatory of the financing of culture in East-Central Europe. We present, interpret, compare and analyse facts and trends relating to the cultural conditions, including cultural policy, in the countries in transition.
Structure
The Budapest Observatory functions under the umbrella of the Foundation for the East-Central European Cultural Observatory, registered at Budapest Central Court in April 1999. The founder was the Kultúraközvetítok Társasága (Society of Mediators of Culture), a Hungarian civil organisation.
Aims
The term east-central Europe is applied generously, to cover eighteen states between the Baltic and the Adriatic Seas which share the same (or very similar) historic legacy of authoritarian Communism. In certain ways we are inclined to extend our sphere of operation to Austria (they had a bit of Soviet occupation for almost ten years) and the east of Germany.
We are not searching for a common east-central European identity (a new version of the Mitteleuropa concept) but we do look for shared experiences and interests.
In spite of the sea of words told and printed about the issues, successes and failures of cultural policies, especially funding, in the region, reliable first-hand evidence is hard to find. The Budapest Observatory aims to fill this information gap. As a resource organisation, the Observatory wants to facilitate research, collect and provide information, establish contacts in areas that include the financing of culture, cultural policy, legislation and statistics.
Activities
Their fields of activities are: Research, study, consultancy; organising events, conferences and seminars; lobbing at European level (European Institutions) and global level (UNESCO); providing information through e-news (EU Cultural Observer - monthly memo sent to correspondents and friends).
Contact
Culture Action Europe contact: Peter Inkei
Budapest Observatory
Október 6 utca 14
H-1051 Budapest
Hungary
T. + 361 327 3829
F. + 361 374 0898
e-mail:
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www.budobs.org |
