Amateo Award

Description of the programme / policy

Amateo is the European Network for Active Participation in Cultural Activities. Founded in 2008 it now includes 58 national and regional umbrellas and associations from EU member states and programme countries. The Amateo Award celebrates excellence in the voluntary and amateur arts, meaning those activities led by the community for their own benefit. Participants from the Western Balkans are active and involved.

Main objective of the programme/policy

The participatory arts (amateur arts and voluntary culture) are a vital aspect of civic life for people across the European Union. A large number of voluntary and paid staff and artists are employed in a myriad of associations to provide arts based activities for about 38% of the population in the member states, with strong added value through personal empowerment, cultural cohesion, social inclusion and active citizenship.

While the benefits of participation are clear for those involved at a local level, the Amateo Award aims to secure wider international recognition at a national level of the importance of this work to our social, civic, political and cultural lives. Organisers want to encourage and support the many small organisations that are involved in this work to recognise and promote their work at a national and cross-European level.

Specific objective of the programme/policy

Objectives:

• Influencing how Europe and European nations think and act about active participation in the arts and culture.
• Facilitating opportunities for cross national collaborative working
• Supporting our members to increase their knowledge, skills and capacities
• Facilitating opportunities for sharing both best practice and innovative approaches to active participation in arts and culture
• Providing a platform for research
• Establish Amateo as a strong, visible and resilient network