Abstract
This PhD thesis deals deals with the impact of European funded Programs, tools and initiatives on the Cultural and Creative Industry sector. Access and availability of resources related to cultural heritage contribute to social cohesion and inclusion, strengthening resilience and 'sense of belonging' - a key factor of EU cohesion. The question arises, whether both the available financial tools and the expressed policies as developed and implemented by the Μember states paid attention to the special characteristics in the context and needs of the target groups of the cultural and creative sector so that the impact has a positive sign. From the existing literature it has been observed that there is no official record of the real impact of those funds in the CCI sector. The lack of official literature was a brake on the preparation of this Dissertation; both the reports on the factors that determine the distribution and role of funds as well as the recording of their effects, are limited ...
This PhD thesis deals deals with the impact of European funded Programs, tools and initiatives on the Cultural and Creative Industry sector. Access and availability of resources related to cultural heritage contribute to social cohesion and inclusion, strengthening resilience and 'sense of belonging' - a key factor of EU cohesion. The question arises, whether both the available financial tools and the expressed policies as developed and implemented by the Μember states paid attention to the special characteristics in the context and needs of the target groups of the cultural and creative sector so that the impact has a positive sign. From the existing literature it has been observed that there is no official record of the real impact of those funds in the CCI sector. The lack of official literature was a brake on the preparation of this Dissertation; both the reports on the factors that determine the distribution and role of funds as well as the recording of their effects, are limited to research in cohesion policy and general reports. Research works on the implementation of cultural policy in the European area are limited to almost non-existent. For this reason, within the framework of this Dissertation an attempt was made to identify the main points of the European Commission's Strategy regarding the problems and the inability to control the effectiveness of financing through specialized or non-financial programs that are encountered and prevent safe conclusions in the CCI sector. Through specially designed questionnaires- answered by "project managers" among others, the position of professionals regarding the management and implementation of European Projects is examined. Following Inductive Statistics, the results of their answers are presented, facilitating this way the drawing of conclusions. At the same time, it is sought for the first time to set some proposals for improving the control & evaluation mechanism of the implementation effects by European projects on the economy and society. Those could be adopted-following the appropriate adjustments- by the European Commission. The writing of this Dissertation in the midst of the covid-19 Pandemic, prompted a further examination of the new conditions formed during and after it referring to the Culture sector, but also of its European and National Funding; the pandemic highlighted the problem of efficiency and ultimately sustainability of the cultural policy applied until then and its reflexes in times of extreme events, as well as the response of human behavior to them. This PhD Dissertation followed both theoretical and practical analysis of the impact presented by the implementation of such programs during which, the initial research hypothesis was confirmed; this subject is multidimensional. Purpose of Dissertation was from the beginning to contribute to the scientific debate on the funding and management of the funds coming from the European Commission, but placing particular emphasis on the Culture sector, an economic sector that, as it is found, participates in every form of economy, either directly or indirectly. Following, at least partially, some of the formulated proposals, the aim is to create an invitation-or challenge to the research community and beyond, for the creation of a mechanism for measuring, recording and evaluating the real impact that European Programs and European initiatives have, in the field of Culture and CCI sector.
show more
