About the Project

The world of Carpathian rosettes

Implementation of the project called „THE WORLD OF CARPATHIAN ROSETTES – ACTIVITIES FOR PRESERVING THE CULTURAL UNIQUENESS OF THE CARPATHIANS” was started in September 2018, financed by the Cross-Border Cooperation Programme Poland – Belarus – Ukraine.

The project is implemented in a partnership of 11 organizations: three from Poland and eight from Ukraine. The partnership consists of three non-governmental organizations, an association of local governments, six local government institutions and a university. The leading partner of the project is the “Pro Carpathia” Association from Rzeszów. The project is implemented in four regions of the Polish-Ukrainian borderland: Podkarpackie Voivodeship as well as Lviv Oblast, Zakarpattia Oblast and Ivano-Frankivsk Oblast.

The main objective of the project is to preserve the cultural and historical heritage of the Carpathians (traditions, crafts, customs, music, architecture). The objective will be implemented thanks to specific objectives:
– development of cross-border cooperation in the management of cultural and historical resources of the Carpathians by creating a network of organizations which undertake actions in the field,
– promotion of the knowledge of regional traditions, practices and actions aimed at restoration of craft skills,
enhancing competences of selected local communities in the cultural management of the region.

The Carpathians used to be a magic land of mountain pastures, mountains and shepherds. The area’s cultural heritage was created by Hutsuls, Boykos, Lemkos, Pogorzans, Dolinians. These populations’ exotic culture has attracted scientists, researchers, poets and artists for centuries. Current borders divide the ethnographic and geographical region, inter alia, into the Polish and Ukrainian part. The ongoing process of changes has caused the extinction of local cultures, traditions and crafts, both in Poland and in Ukraine. However, the significance of local cultures and traditions is more visible in Poland, which reflects in current tourism trends: tourists tend to search for authenticity (3xE: education, excitement, entertainment, Tourism 2020-Vision, UN WTO). Nevertheless, foreign cultural models are not rare (e.g. cottages in the Zakopane style, etc.).
In Ukraine, there are more preserved forms referring to the region’s traditions. There are still occupations there which haven’t been exercised in Poland any more. However, their significance for maintaining the cultural identity of the region is not appreciated. Such a situation results from limited knowledge, with traditions being experienced as a synonym of poverty instead of a determinant of values. On both sides of the border, it is possible to witness the lack of a complex vision how to use cultural and historic heritage, that actions damage the natural environment, although common cultural heritage is one of the most significant assets of the region (ENI CBC PROGRAMME). The problems described have an impact on the development of the region: they decrease its attraction, contribute to the blurring and destruction of cultural heritage traces. The process of unification of local European heritage particularly concerns the cultural resources of the Carpathians, causing the disappearance of regional traditions and crafts. Historical events also contributed to this. This situation takes place on both the Polish and Ukrainian sides.

The implementation of the project will allow the creation of the Carpathian Centre of Cultural Heritage Rosette consisting of four equal centres. On the Ukrainian side in Kosiv, Urich, Kolochava, and in Podkarpackie Voivodeship in Bystre near Baligród. Their task will be to promote the cultural heritage of the Carpathians, develop a common policy in the field of management and promotion of historical and cultural heritage at the regional and local level, increase the knowledge of local communities in this field. Their cooperation will help to develop models for involving local communities in the management of cultural resources, as well as the development of an integrated instrument for the cross-border region. All this will help to prepare a common schedule of activities promoting cultural values of the Polish-Ukrainian border region. These products will be available for use by both partners and target groups: regional and local authorities, cultural public institutions, non-governmental organisations, local leaders, pilot communities (Trostyanets, Kosiv, Urich, Kolochava, Bystre) and tourists.

Developed solutions will be consistent with the Faro Convention, the Carpathian Convention, the Aarhus Sustainability model and will be based on the inclusion of local communities in the management of cultural and historical resources. Communities aware that the preservation of the Carpathian heritage is not possible through actions implemented only on one side of the border. The target group of the project are regional and local authorities, non-governmental organisations, local leaders, inhabitants of pilot communities (Trostyanets, Kosiv, Urich, Kolochava, Bystre), indirectly tourists, as well, final beneficiaries are: local leaders, property owners, local and regional authorities and staff of Partners.

Actions:

1. Polish and Ukrainian network of people, organizations, institutions and cultural events
2. Polish and Ukrainian Carpathian Centre of cultural heritage rosette: the Carpathian Institute
3. Polish and Ukrainian Carpathian Centre of cultural heritage rosette: the Centre of Boyko people
4. Polish and Ukrainian Carpathian Centre of cultural heritage rosette: Kolovhava
5. Polish and Ukrainian Carpathian Centre of cultural heritage rosette: the Carpathian Cultural Centre
6. Cultural models of the contemporary Carpathians
7.  Society-based management model of cultural and historic assets in the Carpathian region:
   – developing a plan for the protection and management of the common cultural and historical heritage,
   – developing a plan for the Trostyanets community,
   – implementing the plan in other communities: Kolochawa, Kosów, Urych, Bystre,
   – developing a social model of cultural and historical resource management in the Carpathians based on knowledge under the Aarhus Sustainability Model (AMS) brand.
8. Enhancing competences of selected communities in the management of cultural and historic heritage:
   – training in involving and strengthening local communities’ competences in the field of cultural heritage protection and development, including management of common cultural resources, promotion of cultural and historical heritage, development of tourist products –training in involving and improving competences of operators of protected areas, public authorities, event organisers, volunteers
9. Promoting creativity and crafts (workshops, festivals, participation in tourism fairs, publications, promotional film).
10. Project management

Expected results:

• improvement of two cultural and historical heritage facilities that are a direct result of the Programme support (Urych, Kosiv),
• 23 cross-border cultural events organized with the Programme support,
• 3.3 thousand of participants of cross-border cultural events,
• 1 promotional campaign on local culture and history (cultural and historical heritage),
• 5 new strategies/policies for the promotion and preservation of local culture and/or historical heritage,
• 8 publications describing the cultural and/or historical heritage of the region,
• 2 newly created infrastructure facilities serving the local community to preserve local culture and/or historical heritage (Bystre, Kolochava),
• 14 training sessions for personnel responsible for managing cultural and historical heritage.