EUNIC Cluster Strategy
Period covered: 2025
Vision
Through culture, EUNIC Romania strives to build trust and understanding between the people of the European Union, the neighbouring countries, and broader region. We work to make culture count in international relations.
Mission of the cluster
EUNIC – European Union National Institutes for Culture – is the European network of organisations engaging in cultural relations. Together with our partners, we bring to life European cultural collaboration in Romania, drawing on the broad experience of our members from all EU member states and associate countries.
EUNIC Romania’s goal is to enhance and promote cultural diversity and understanding among European societies, strengthen international dialogue and cultural cooperation with neighboring countries, and facilitate peer-to-peer dialogue on cultural matters.
Values
EUNIC’s work is based on the principles of cultural relations. We aim to build fair partnerships by practising mutual listening and learning and engaging in dialogue, co-creation, and joint capacity building.
EUNIC’s understanding of culture includes the arts, creative industries, development cooperation, digitalisation, education, gender, heritage, human rights, language and multilingualism, social inclusion, sports, sustainability, tourism, youth, and others.
Local context
EUNIC Romania comprises 19 members and associate members, with some also active in the Republic of Moldova.
The Romanian Cluster represents diverse partners in terms of budgets, human resources, and mandates. It organizes collaborative, innovative, intercultural common projects on the entire Romanian territory.
Since joining the EU in 2007, Romania has maintained a largely positive attitude toward the European Union. It is a multi-ethnic country with a legal framework supporting minority representation, including political representation, minority-focused schools, and national theaters.
Generally, there is a very vibrant cultural scene with various important state institutions and a growing independent scene.
The EUNIC label gained visibility in the local cultural field and aims to be a reference of intercultural approach.
The Cluster communicates on European common values to a broad public, and works closely with national and local bodies, in particular with municipalities like the past – and to be – European Capitals of Culture in Romania.
Strategic objectives
Objective 1: EUNIC Romania strengthens cultural relations by fostering cooperation between its members and local stakeholders worldwide, including artists, cultural practitioners, representatives of the cultural sectors and creative industries.
Main actions under objective 1:
- Consolidate the cluster as an efficient and operative network of collaboration, knowledge transfer, training, capacity building, and education.
- Support and facilitate innovative practices and cultural diversity both by direct support and by partnership with a variety of cultural actors who integrate multicultural and multilingual elements in their programs and projects.
- Establish the EUNIC label as a recognized reference within the local cultural landscape.
- Enhance cultural access in remote areas and for excluded segments, such as provincial cities and rural areas.
Objective 2: EUNIC Romania advocates a prominent role for culture in all its dimensions in international relations and is a strategic partner of EU in cultural relations.
Main actions under objective 2:
- Foster cooperation and cohesion amongst Cluster members and Cluster partners, including but not limited to cultural institutions, artists, cultural practitioners, public administration, and cross-border cooperation with other EUNIC Clusters in the neighborhood countries, creating a bridge between local and regional levels
- Promote the idea of HEI – House of European Institutes as a possible form of collaboration among Cluster members, within the framework of European Capitals of Culture.
- Advance climate action and sustainability and foster environmental awareness.
- Promote inclusivity, diversity, and accessibility within the cultural sector.
- Support quality journalism.
Objective 3: EUNIC Romania enhances its capacity as a network to continue to be a reliable cooperation partner in cultural relations.
Main actions under objective 3:
- Participate in professional mobility schemes proposed by the network, workshops and other capacity building activities.
- Improve communication to deliver clear and innovative content to members and partners.
- Facilitate pooling of resources, identifying and putting into practice common activities.
- Create experimental spaces for exploring new cooperation formats.