Re: question by Ed Driedger on the Eur. Comm. for Business Art & Culture Dear Ed Driedger, Through many European arts projects I'm involved in I am somewhat familiar with this organisation. I'm not at all closely involved (I've never worked with them on something), so please see this below as some comments of an outsider - with the apparent limitations. For full details you should of course talk to the organisation itself, i.e. Anne Vanhaverbeeke. My own observations (for whatever they're worth...) The Committee was not so much established by the European Committee, but did receive funding EC funding. [The official name is BTW the French abbreviation CEREC (which means the same)] It was founded by the national organisations for the promotion of sponsorship of the various EC countries. Most of these national organisations have some or are only business representations. Main activities of these national organisations is to publish a magazine and perhaps have a yearly award for the best sponsorproject. This seems to be also the line taken by this European office they've established in the offices of the English national organisation, ABSA. The European organisation has a magazine and has assisted Northern Telecom (aren't they Canadian?) in setting up a European arts competition. They've also published a booklet on the tax situation on sponsorship in the various EC countries in a joint project with large accountancy firm. As far as the question about effectiveness and impact ... that's a tricky one. It's main aim seems to be formulated as a function or political statement for a very long term. Concrete results will be difficult to name, apart from the three activities mentioned above. There are hardly any companies that have a pan-European sponsorstrategy; everything is done nationally. This follows company structures, which in Europe are generally strong national (sales) offices with budgets and a supporting European HQ, or just one national HQ with export departments. The clearing house function is done by reporting the requests for money in their magazine, but I'd doubt what the effects are. In my own experience companies never pick sponsorprojects from a magazine. Summarizing, it's mainly a nice, fashionable, but very vague initiative that could perhaps have some long term contributions (although given the practice of real business life that's doubtful). They received a starting grant for three years from the EC, after which they were supposed to be self supporting (as far as I know). This grant would therefore end one of these months, and it will be very interesting to see if and how they would survive as I doubt the national organisations to be strong enough to pay up the whole thing on their own. From the various comments I've heard so far in the Brussels offices, I'd be doubtfull about an extension to the original grant. If you need any other information, do not hesitate to contact me. With best wishes, [log in to unmask] In Message Fri, 27 May 94 06:48:55, "Museum discussion list" <[log in to unmask]> writes: >I have just come across reference to the European Committe for >Business, Art and Culture, an organization of the European Union that >seeks to encourage business sponsorship of the arts while acting as a >clearing house of information for both the arts and business >community. Does anyone know more about this organization? It was >established in 1991 and I am curious as to its effectiveness and impact? > >Ed Driedger >Museum Studies >University of Toronto