From Audience to Participants Marta B. Erdos (Department of Social Work and Social Policy, Faculty of Humanities, University of Pecs Eva Knyihar, Pecs2010 ECOC Management Centre, Volunteer Programme Co-ordinator
I. What is culture? II. Community development in Hungary III. Social inclusion and ECoC
From here on, cultural means social-cultural (D. Sperber)
Conceptualization I. Culture is identical with high culture, the culture of the ruling elites, and is a luxury for the happy few. Modern societies are a conglomeration of competing cultures and subcultures. A dominant culture, through economic or political power, imposes its values, language, customs etc. on the subordinate cultures. (Marshall, 1998)
Conceptualization 2. Culture and participation Peterson (1979): culture is a SYMBOLIC MAP FOR ACTION. (How do we solve our problems? What boundaries do we define? What makes our life meaningful and liveable?) Symbols are conventional signs (co-construction and reconstruction) Participation in the process of cultural reconstruction (generativity) is an important factor of psychological wellbeing. (Grossbaum & Bates, 2002) Being deprived of the opportunity to take one s share in cultural evolution is a FORM OF SOCIAL EXCLUSION.
ECoC conceptualizations Initial conceptions in Pecs ECoC projects high-culture attractions and large-scale construction investments seemed to dominate over community initiations. Local NGO-s and social professionals helped shape the programmes: a more balanced and inclusive approach.
Community Development in Hungary Social networks and weak links (Granovetter, cit.barabási-albert, 2002;Hankiss, 1983)
The civil boom Community development is a relatively new area in Hungary. Autonomous communities and grassroots initiations were considered a menace to the people s democracy in the years preceding the transition. More than 60.000 civil organizations worked in Hungary in 2002. (Szenkovics, 2002).
Crisis after crisis. At the time of the 2008 Crisis: Rate of employment 55.5%(15-64ys.) Unemployment: 12% Net wages (average): 132.900 Breadline: 217 570 for a family of 2 adults and 2 children; 67 522 for a single old-age pensioner. 28% of the population, appr. 3 million people live below the breadline. 11 % of the employees earn the minimum wages. Many families are captured in a debt trap. Source: Central Statistical Bureau (KSH)
Culture and consumption Breadline 2007: 66,300 HUF around minimum wage Social minimum (professional minimum wage: 160% of the minimum wage) Can not afford cultural costs Limited consumption of cultural products Does not experience limitations Income deciles in 2007 in Hungary (HUF/month) lowest 24,205 2 35,628 3 44,035 4 51,144 5 57,923 6 64,992 7 71,818 8 81.400 9. 97,717 highest 163,955
Welfare societies and the presentday Hungarian society
Free programmes The majority can not afford cultural costs. Free concerts and exhibitions help share culture and combat social exclusion A humanizing experience: the Orquestra Buena Vista Social Club in Pécs
Active citizen participation Mural Painting, Bring a Tree, Neighbours Festival, Retextil Community and Art Festival aimed at community development, social integration, and city rehabilitation. Intergroup and intergenerational solidarity Inhabiting reconstructed city spaces: common experiences make the changes accepted and appreciated.
The new Guiness record (bellydancing) Similar programmes relying on participants activities: jogging festivals, body drumming etc.
Nicolas Frize: Drum your Body
Volunteering in ECOC THE PAST: Social work (meaning voluntary work) in the years of soft dictatorship. Privatization issues: state property private property PRESENTLY: - The civil boom impact - Young people work experience - The elderly fighting isolation - People from the margin may move to the centre (persons with various disabilities, a homeless person etc.) - Poor persons/groups (in this respect, some 60% of the society) may visit art exhibitions/concerts free ( as they are volunteering)
Some contemporary problems Hosting organizations are not always prepared for working with volunteers (respond to basic needs, provide meaningful activities etc.) The city has not developed a clear-cut volunteer policy yet Local citizens active in the labour market are overburdened (second shifts& family assignments)
Programmes of ECoC: Results I. Multiply the number of links within the collaborating networks among the different social/cultural sectors and among the organizations involved A MORE STABILE SOCIAL NETWORK EUROPEAN INTEGRATION: respond to inequalities between Western and Eastern European regions Projects can generate DIALOGUES AMONG SOCIAL GROUPS belonging to different social layers, and/or with various ethnic and national backgrounds.
Programmes of ECoC: Results II. NEW FORM OF VOLUNTEERING: Not an organization but a case NEW NEEDS arise (e.g. the formation of volunteer policy, forms of collaboration to be developed) Collaborating networks ensure sustainable development and build RESOURCEFUL SOCIAL CONTEXTS