Background and objectives
Children must be guaranteed access to a rich, varied and diverse cultural spectrum – both in terms of our common cultural heritage and the most recent art. Children must be given the opportunity to thrive and develop – individually and together with other children and adults. Culture for, with and by children produce cultural and artistic experiences of quality that are conducive to “Bildung”, learning and competence development.
Culture should be an integrated part of children’s everyday lives and the work with children, culture and the arts ought to be part of cultural and pedagogical institutions’ activities whenever possible and natural. Increased cooperation between for example day-care centers, primary schools and cultural institutions creates new opportunities to everyone’s mutual benefit.
Network for Children and Culture must therefore inspire to synergy and dynamic development within the area of children, culture and the arts nationally, regionally and locally. The Network must contribute to the launching of innovative and comprehensive initiatives in order to exploit resources in the best possible way.
Structure and status
The Ministry of Education, the Ministry of Social Affairs, the Danish Agency for Libraries and Media, the National Cultural Heritage Agency, the Danish Arts Council (who has delegated the task to the Danish Arts Agency) and the Danish Film Institute are networking partners. The Ministry of Culture’s Department is represented at the meetings of the Network. Relevant partners, like for example the National Association of Local Authorities can be invited ad hoc.
The Network’s steering committee consists of a managerial representative from each of the institutions. The steering committee has the overall responsibility for the Network’s activities, including action plans and budgets. Each institution also appoints a person to participate in current activities.
The Network has status as the Minister for Culture’s advisory body in relation to children, culture and the arts and refers to the Ministry of Culture’s Department.
The secretarial function in the Network is supplied by the Danish Agency for Libraries and Media, and in questions of administrative regulations for its activities, the Network refers to the Danish Agency for Libraries and Media.
General and concrete tasks
The Network must ensure knowledge-sharing between the partners and coordinated development of objectives and methods in all activities.
The Network must also build on experiences, knowledge and suggestions from other institutions associated with children, culture and the arts, e.g. the Media Council for Children and Young People, as well as research networks related to children, culture and the arts. The Network can enter into cooperation agreements with relevant partners.
Finally, it is an important general task for the Network to submit to the Minister for Culture suggestions for improvements and special initiatives in relation to children and culture.
The Network has the following concrete assignments:
To be initiating, activating, perspectivating and qualifying within the entire spectrum of children and culture.
To create dynamism, synergy and innovation within the area of children and culture by ensuring cross-institutional and cross-sectorial coordination of endeavours between the national, regional and local level.
To contribute to the development of new models, methods and strategies within the area.
To keep pace with developments and establish and participate in relevant networks within the area of children and culture, nationally and internationally.
To ensure accumulation and dissemination of knowledge, information and experience.
To maintain contact with municipalities and other relevant local stakeholders with a view to cooperating on the development of new methods and new ways of organising the work with children, young people and culture.
To ensure the continued running of the children’s culture portal (www.boernogkultur.dk).
To offer advice to public authorities, cultural institutions, organisations etc. on children, culture and the arts.
To prepare an annual status report on the government’s cultural activities for children and a two-year action plan including budget on children and culture that takes into account cross-sectorial perspectives within the jurisdiction of the Ministry of Culture.
To launch and carry out particular activities and initiatives for improvements within the area on the basis of the minister’s decisions.
Economy and appropriation
An annual amount from the national lottery funds is set aside for special initiatives. This amount will also cover the running- and administrative costs of the Network, including secretarial function provided by the Danish National Library Authority. In addition to this the Network may receive funding from other sources and carry out services at a fee.
The Network can enter into agreements with local authorities, public and private institutions concerning co-financing of projects.
Further regulations for the activities of the Network, secretarial service and submission of accounts follow the statutory rules.
