Kaleidoscope: Community action programme 1996-1998 to support artistic and cultural activities with a European dimension

The purpose of this proposal for a decision by the European Parliament and the Council is to establish a programme to support artistic and cultural endeavour entitled "KALEIDOSCOPE 2000". This proposal restructures the existing KALEIDOSCOPE programme for the period from 1996 to 2000 around 5 types of action to encourage: - the development and dissemination of culture in Europe through projects with a European dimension and of a symbolic nature; - support for projects carried out in partnership or in the form of networks (jointly organized by operators from at least 3 Member States for distribution to the public or designed to promote meetings or exchanges of experience between cultural operators in at least 3 Member States); - projects linking the further training of creative or interpretive artists or other operators in the cultural sector with a specific, targeted event; - projects to promote access to culture and cooperation between cultural professionals and regional, national and European authorities on subjects relating to Community action in the cultural sector; - cooperation with third countries and international organizations. The Commission proposes a budget of ECU 68 million over 5 years for this programme and intends to fund up to 2000 cultural projects over this period.�