The CORTINO of FRATTA:  A CROSS-BORDER MODEL OF CULTURAL COOPERATION

The project is envisaged under Priority 3 “Human resources, cooperation and system harmonization”

Measure 3.2 “Cooperation in culture, communication and research and among institutions for system harmonization

Actions: Cooperation among institutions and creation of networks – Development of information instruments and cross-border cultural, sports and recreational events – Enhancement of assets belonging to the shared historical and cultural heritage

Actions: Cooperation among institutions and creation of networks – Development of information instruments and cross-border cultural, sports and recreational events – Enhancement of assets belonging to the shared historical and cultural heritage

SUMMARY

The project is aimed at sharing a cross-border model of cultural cooperation among isolated neighbouring border areas in Italy and Slovenia that have similar historical and cultural backgrounds. The project is based at the Cortino of Fratta in Fossalta di Portogruaro (Venice province), a rural building dated from the 1400s that has undergone a process of functional restoration and has become the venue for educational exhibitions and congresses annexed to the archaeological site of the Castle of Fratta. The project aims at enhancing and promoting the territories involved that boast several elements of attraction though not immediately recognizable. In the early planning stage, contacts in the cross-border area laid down the basis for the definition of cooperation instruments and modalities in the cultural field through the creation of networks and comparison of the most significant experiences by the different partners. In particular, both cultural (focus group, web site, cultural events) and educational (workshops, exhibitions) initiatives will be taken to create an integrated system of enhancement and management of cultural and exhibition centres.

 BACKGROUND

The cross-border area involved in the project lies across territories at advanced tourist development and shows a number of restrictions and difficulties that are typical of rural isolated areas such as lack of services and accommodation facilities, lack of tourist development, low tourist load capacity, elements of attraction that are not renown nor immediately recognizable, the need for being taken and introduced to the places. The structural interventions carried out up to date in such areas have laid down the basis for a system of cultural itineraries.

The situation of the statistic regions of the Coastal-Karst and Gorizia territories is quite similar. The Karst hinterland and Vipacco valley are naturally and culturally rich, attractive areas that boast several elements of attraction though not recognizable enough at tourist level. Yet, the adequate approach and enhancement of the territory, together with a clear cultural and environmental marketing strategy aimed at pointing out the reference targets, would offer such areas tangible development opportunities.

Meetings among partners involved in the laying out of the project and the previous projects implemented in the tourist-cultural field by the partnership between Slovenia (See project titles) and Italy (See “Once upon a time there was the sea – spring waters and recollected sceneries”) have even more clearly highlighted the problems, needs, cultural affinities and the interest in creating synergies and networks among small suburban municipalities that are nonetheless rich in environmental, cultural and tourist assets in order to create a comprehensive cultural offer and foster cross-border tourism. In particular, the Unione dei Comuni (Union of Municipalities), at the same time the proposer and beneficiary of the project, in February 2004 gave the Cortino of the Castello of Fratta a fundamental role in planning, organizing and managing cultural and educational initiatives by assigning a task to an external qualified party through the signing of an agreement with the Dimensione Cultura cultural association. The direct addressees of the project are first of all those who work in the field of cultural heritage and tourism in close synergy with local  institutional, economic and social bodies to which an essential component of the project must be added, namely all the possible indirect addressees such as tourists, students and resident citizens.

ITALIAN PARTNERS

• Province of Venice, - Tourist Department, Via A. Muratori, 5 - 30127 Mestre-Venezia
• Province of Pordenone, Piazza Costantini, 3 – 33170 Pordenone  
• Archaeological Superintendence of Veneto, Via Aquileia, 7 - 35139 Padova       
• Municipality of Gruaro, Piazza E. Dal Ben, 9 - 30020 Gruaro (VE)   
• Municipality of Cordovado, Piazza Cecchini, 24 - 33073 Cordovado (PN)           
• Municipality of  Sesto al Reghena, Piazza Castello,1 - 33079 Sesto al Reghena (PN)
• Portogruaro Campus srl, Via Seminario, 34/a - 30026 Portogruaro (VE)

 SLOVENIAN PARTNERS

•  Municipality of Piran, Tartijev trg 2 6330 Piran  
•  Sea Museum, Cankarjevo nabrežje 3 6330 Piran  
•  Regional Museum of Koper, Kidričeva ulica 19 6000 Koper              
•  Association for youth education, culture and tourism, Sončna ulica 17 6103 Koper
• Italian Union, Župančič 39 6000 Koper           
• Municipality of Vipacco, Glavni trg 15 5271 Vipava

General objective: the general aim of the project is to share a cross-border model of cultural cooperation where the Cortino of the Castello of Fratta is an example of enhancement and management as a cultural and exhibition centre to be recreated in similar facilities in Slovenia.

Specific objectives::

1. creating a cross-border model of cultural cooperation that may be implemented in small though interesting isolated areas neighbouring a tourist territory (seaside resorts) capable of attracting highly significant streams of tourists at any time of the year;
2. pointing out enhancement and management strategies for a cultural and exhibition centre in a cross-border area with features similar to the Cortino of Fratta;
3. fostering and promoting cultural exchange and integration among minor centres of the cross-border area;
4. creating a network of operators and qualified exhibition centres in the field of teaching history and art in the cross-border area;
5. enhancing the joint environmental, archaeological, historical and artistic heritage of Italy and Slovenia;
6. creating employment opportunities.

 Phase 1

Title of the activity: Cultural section: Initiatives of cultural cooperation

Period of implementation  [i]: January - November 2005

 Location: Cortino of Fratta – Municipality of Fossalta di Portogruaro (VE)

Activities:

1.implementation of a NETWORK OF ITALIAN AND SLOVENIAN PARTNERS for the enhancement of cultural resources in the cross-border area:

Through the focus group, a specially selected team will implement the following development steps: planning daily activities, selecting participants in the activities, managing the focus group and brainstorming , discussion and conclusions.

2.  MULTILANGUAGE INFORMATION TOOLS

a) Creating a promotional web site concerning the culture and places in the Italian and Slovenian areas involved; creation of cross-border promotional links; presentation of the Pedagogists’ Association’s activity;

b) issuing a publication on the Medieval and Renaissance ceramics found on the Castle site with the scientific contribution of partner museums;

c) on-line catalogue of the book heritage in the Literary Museum of Ippolito Nievo.

3. CULTURAL EVENTS

Organizing a cross-border event on Ippolito Nievo’s life and works and an exhibition (both in Italy and Slovenia) of paintings dedicated to the characters in Nievo’s masterpiece “Le Confessioni di un Italiano”. The same exhibition will be held in the venue of the Italian Community in Koper “Sartorio Sartorio” and will be completed by a gala performance dedicated to Ippolito Nievo’s life and works.

4. STUDY, RESEARCH AND ANALYSIS

Linking the project to the 1^st level University Master Course on planning and managing activities of cooperation and training for Central-Eastern Europe and the Balkan area in order to acquire and transfer planning and operational competences in the field of cross-border cultural cooperation.

5. DIFFUSION AND CIRCULATION OF RESULTS

Organizing the public presentation of results in the cultural section; diffusion of results on the web site.

 Phase 2

Title of the activity: Educational section: Comparing experiences in the field of teaching art and history

Period of implementation: January-November 2005

Location: Cortino of Fratta – Municipality of Fossalta di Portogruaro (VE)

Activities:

1. IMPLEMENTATION OF A WORKSHOP aimed at exchanging experiences and creating networks in the field of teaching art and history addressed to operators in the cultural departments of the cross-border territory.
2. ORGANIZATION OF AN EDUCATIONAL EXHIBITION “Travelling with Gauguin” by the “Musée en Herbe” of Paris which offers exhibitions and games connected to the world of art and is, at European level, one of the highest educational experiences connected to artistic expression. 
3. SHARING THE ACQUIRED  KNOW-HOW as for contents, didactic and exhibition modalities and animation techniques linked to the “Travelling with Gauguin” exhibition with the operators in the same subject areas in the cross-border territory.
4. OUTISIDE COMMUNICATION AND DIFFUSION OF RESULTS of the educational section: creation of promotional material.