stubnitz

21 Approach: A durable project of cross border cultural cooperation.

Symbolic of the Mediterranean Sea as cultureal interface, the SIM functions as a cultural catalyst and incubator: due to the policy of shared management and shared programming (211) it will serve as both a mechanism of vertical and horizontal cultural integration in the region (212).

211 Concept: Shared management of the structure by the cultural operators of the region.
The three following elements may enhance an understanding of this project’s management structure:

1 A dual level partnership: “Coordination partners, “local institutions of national or international profile will collaborate and make it available to “programming partners”: emerging movements and collectives within the Mediterranean basin.

2 An autonomous management structure: An association will be formed in the homeport of the ship, assembling the collaborative partners, which will insure the durability of the project and facilitate its
availability to new partners and destinations.

3 The formation of an operating crew: The day to day organization of the events will be handled by 2 pools of young entrepreneurial professionals who will be recruited by the programming partners They will become an integral part of the partnership and will contribute to the definition of its identity.

2111 A dual level partnership:
One has to distinguish between the « coordinating » and the « programming » functions within the project.

Coordinating partners:
The coordinating partners are the core partners of the project. They will collectively take over the management of the structure.

They will be cultural managers functioning at a national or international level capable of handling the local administrative aspects of the project.

The coordinating partners will be given an opportunity to contribute to the programming..

As such, they will have three responsibilities:

1. as member of the SIM association, they will contribute to the design of this project as well as its enrichment through their respective international networks.

2. as operational field representatives, they will be the link between the project and the relevant local authorities (Municipality, Port and Police authorities).

3. as heads of the local SIM networks, they will organize the local networks of programming partners and be the link between these networks and the SIM.

Programming partners:
The programming partners are the local cultural operators that will be offered the facilities as an "open venue".

Most of them will be smaller groups or indeed individuals: artists, collectives, labels, tour organizers that will be linked in an informal way, through national networks.

Members of 2 operational pools from the programming partners will be in charge of the day to day operation of the facilities: programming, media outcomes, on-site issues etc.

2112 An autonomous management structure.

The partnership structure will also have a dual function: The coordinating partners will form a group who will take responsibility for aspects of the ships management and the overall design of each individual project, whereas the programming partners will be assembled, at least in the first phase of the project, in a more informal way, within national networks.

This consortium will consist of the partner organization with the addition of one more member of coordinating partners from both Tunis and Thessaloniki (we are currently in discussion with several potential partners in both destinations). This ‘associate members’ will assist with the coordination of the projects.

The institutions listed here under (24) are the founding members of this association. Members who can contribute to the development of the project will also be co-opted, as required.

This arrangement will contribute to the achievement of the following aims:

Geographical enlargement: This project seeks to ensure that the MS STUBNITZ will make a definitive imprint on the cultural landscape of the Mediterranean and is not limited to the destination ports that have been previously identified. The consortium will progressively seek to include new coordinating partners, from new potential destination ports who are willing to take over the management of new projects.

Sectoral enlargement: This core network of coordinating partners is able to take over the management of this project from an operational point of view, as well as achieving it’s stated outcomes. The association will be open to partners capable of generating the added value of media interest.

2113 Operating crew:
This project creates an opportunity to bring together some of the most dynamic and promising programmers and organizers of the region and a major outcome will be the creation of networks of young professional entrepreneurs, working towards the achievement of common goals.

2 An operating crew will be formed for each project

All of the local participants will bring their unique local perspective and traditions to the SIM project, sharing this information with the Region as a whole. Collectively they will form the identity of the SIM project as integrated and distinctive protagonists

This project will also foster cross border cultural management skills training, it is designed to contribute to the development of a new generation of cultural activists and entrepreneurs.

212 Objective: Symbolic and real; regional cultural integration.

Propelled by partnerships (2121), this durable collaborative project will facilitate horizontal (2122) and vertical cultural integration (2123) at a regional level.

2121 A cross-border, trans-sectoral partnership.

The SIM is supported by the following institutions, who will act as co-ordinating partners:
Catania: Edizioni Lapis
Cagliari: Municipality of Cagliari
Malta: Valletta 2018
Barcelona: The PRIMAVERA festival
Beirut: Beiteddine Festival
Athens: Technopolis
Alexandria: Agora
Tunis: Scoop Organisation

It is balanced geographically, with a center at the heart of the Mediterranean Sea, Cagliari( Palerme or Malta are the stated alternatives) and a North-South-East-West balance.

It assembles a variety cultural providers with complementary backgrounds and perspectives: cultural centers, festivals, museums, public and private providers.

2122 Horizontal communication
This project, through the principle of shared management and shared programming creates a collaborative tool for three "layers" of partners.

A/ First layer: Coordinating partners.
As mentioned, those are the cultural providers will co-manage the structure and be the operational field representatives of the project in each destination port.

This project will assemble cultural protagonists from a variety of very different backgrounds, This affords the opportunity to intertwine and articulate different approaches to the arts and culture within the design remit of this project.

We seek to reach out to to new organisations, partly in order to maximize the projects media impact.

B/ Second layer: Programming partners:
As explained, the role of the coordinating partners is less about ‘hands on’ programming of events and more about the creation of programming networks who will then be given assistance to structure
and promote their own activities.

Our aim is to facilitate the establishment of network providers, providing a variety of cultural events, which is assisted by: the fact fact that the ship is designed around four platforms that allows the coprogramming of events by several operators at the same time,

It is our intention to program events that will have an equal split: 50% with a local and 50% with an international focus

C/ Third layer: Artists:
As a result of the co-management and co-programming policy, the ship will become a meeting point, a crossover for artists of various origins and musical orientations.

The ship is capable of accommodating, besides the crew, up to 30 guests. Artists are able to share a living space for a few days.

It is also possible to use those facilities for the organization of art residencies.

2123 Vertical communication:
This refers to the role that the SIM will play as a "stringboard" for independent artists and young professionals:

A/ A stringboard for emerging artists:
The SIM will play a role of "scanner" of the Mediterranean Sea and focus on small and independent Labels and artists.

The whole of the programming will be documented and released on an internet platform. Thus we Believe the SIM can function as a "stringboard" for the artists and to facilitate the enlargement of their audiences in new destinations.

B/ A formation platform for young professionals:
The operating body of this project will consist of young professionals from the different destinations of the programme.

The idea is to create 2 "equivalent full time" pools for each destination of the project, that will form the two pools that will be in charge of the management of both the Media and the Booking of the SIM project.

The protagonists will benefit directly from the experience of engaging in multi-cultural management projects as well becoming part of a network of colleagues from around the region. We believe that this will contribute to the formation of a new generation of highly skilled professionals and entrepreneurs.

Sessions and master-classes in the techniques of scene management, sound and image techniques will be offered aboard the ship. One advantage is that all of the equipment is already on board, in situ..