Methodology adopted

City Networks

(a) Bureau Medelanders

Two projects in the borough of Noord:

(i) Youth theatre project ‘De schatten van Noord’

(ii) ‘Small Scale Neighbourhood initiatives:

- Art and refugees.

- Moroccan girls en poetry.

- Dowry, hundreds of women of different ethnicity work together.

(b) Foundation Art and Culture Rotterdam

(i) ‘Kids over de brug’

(ii) ‘From Kids parade to living room performance.

(c) Foundation Rotterdam Neighbourhood theatre (Wijktheater)

Training and coaching of local players. The production starts with visitors
of neighbourhood community centres. With the coaching of professionals neighbourhood
inhabitants show there experience on stage and which originate plays about the
daily live in the Rotterdam neighbourhoods.

(d) Municipal of Rotterdam, director ‘social and cultural affairs’.

(e) Different Ethnic minority radio station.

(f) NGO Apna Bhavan

Meetings

A number of meetings on neighborhood and borough level regarding exchange
of best practice.

Focus group

Focus group of more than 15 participants and different meetings.

Socio-economic profile of the city/ project location (summary)

Short introduction of the city of Rotterdam

“It is important to keep in mind in the debate on immigration and integration,
that newcomers to the European city do not settle neither in parliaments nor
in bureaucratic offices. “They are not going to live in documents”,
as is said in the Netherlands, but they are coming to live amongst the autochthonous
urban residents with all the practical difficulties on both sides of adapting
to a permanently changing situation”.

Rotterdam is a modest metropolis on the European scale; it counts ca. 600.000
residents.

The city is and has always been a society of immigrants, due to the presence
of the harbour and its related economic activities.

Immigration started in the second half of the nineteenth century, when many
thousands of landless labourers from the rural provinces in the Netherlands
migrated to Rotterdam to work in the expansion of the harbours.

After the Second World War and after reconstruction a generation of guestworkers
from the countries around the Mediterranean immigrated to satisfy the increasing
need for traditional manual labour. In the seventies many of them decided to
permanently settle; they started to reunify their families and form new families
with partners from the country of origin.

In 1975 a large group of ex-colonial newcomers arrived from Surinam, joined
by several thousands of Antilleans and Arabians from small islands in the Caribbean,
parts of the Kingdom of the Netherlands.

Later on various groups of refugees appeared onto the urban scene from the eighties
on, originating from many different countries.

The result up till the year 2000 of the so-called ‘multi-ethnical’
population of Rotterdam is:

-Total inhabitants 592.597

-Ethnic minorities 157.640 (26.6%)

-Unemployed 53.333

-Native Dutch 5%

-Ethnic minorities 25% average (in 2005: 35%)

A few more relevant data:

-Total Volunteers 3.000.000

-Inhabitants Rotterdam 592.597

-Volunteers in Rotterdam 30%

-Ethnic minority volunteers 10% (average)

Summary cultural policy of the city/ policy ethnic minority culture

The beginning of “migrant policies”

After the beginning of permanent settlement at the end of the sixties and the
beginning of the seventies there were a few small riots in the southern part
of the city, centred around the distribution of renovated family homes, for
which many lower class Dutch and foreign families competed (1973). The riots
led up to the first political document on “Migrant Policies” in
the Rotterdam Council in 1975 (also the first in the Netherlands) . The document
and the consequent council decision stated, that resident foreigners in the
city would have the same social rights as the autochthonous residents and should
be treated the same way, in order to channel legitimate claims of all groups
in a democratic way and prevent social unrest and group conflict from erupting.
Political rights should follow shortly. Migrant policies became from that point
in time a recognised theme in the cities’ political portfolio, and the
formal responsibility of an alderman, frequently located within the sector of
social policy, housing or education. A co-ordination bureau was set up to co-ordinate
all activities of public and private organisations and eventually subsidise
“migrant activities” out of municipal funds.

Consultation: participation in public life at the local level

The Netherlands are characterised by a significant degree of “consensus-politics”
(in fact a remnant of the pacification policies of the previous centuries).
All communities (social groups, labour unions, voluntary organisations, and
later, the ethnic communities) are expected to organise and communicate with
“the political top” about specific group problems. In Rotterdam
this social characteristic translates into a proliferation of communal organisations
of the established ethnic communities and the formation of consultative councils,
apart from the political rights in the municipal council. Presently, 8 members
of the council are of foreign origin, with Dutch or foreign passport. Several
consultative councils are in operation, partly organised along ethnic lines,
partly along religious lines and partly constituted on specific parameters (age,
gender). Many organisations are funded by the council, out of a mix of national
and municipal budgets.

The organisational activity pertains to established minorities as well as to
refugees and asylum seekers. Asylum seekers, supported by Dutch volunteer organisations
(The Association of Refugees Rhine Delta), have been organising themselves in
“welfare and interest organisations” following the classic Dutch
model.

Residents of foreign descent and social and economic status

Rotterdam’s minority policies are primarily characterised by efforts
to redress the disadvantaged social and economic position of immigrant groups.
Many groups of foreign descent find themselves still more unemployed than the
autochthonous Dutch, with less education, in less agreeable housing, in relative
poverty.

Taking into account that Dutch municipalities have a significant degree of competence
in the development and implementation of educational, housing and employment
policies, the council initiated since 1975 a large panorama of interventions,
running from quota arrangements in housing to positive discrimination in labour
market affairs and to special educational facilities for foreign groups, a.a.
education in the own languages and cultures of the countries of origin apart
from the regular curriculum. Funding for these interventions came out of municipal
and national budgets .

Presently the social and economic position of the majority of ethnic minorities
is rapidly improving, partly due, of course, to the economic prosperity in the
country. North-Mediterranean immigrants, their children and grandchildren are
fully integrated. Turkeys, Surnames and Cabo Verdians do well. Lagging behind
are large parts of the Moroccan community, especially male youngsters, and parts
of the Antillean population.

Actual policies are directed at adapting existing general policies and practices
to the increasing diversity of the local population. Remember that almost half
of the urban residents are of foreign descent and that more than half of all
children have been born somewhere else or have parents who have been born in
another country. The municipality favours equal policies for all residents,
but takes into account, that some groups lag behind. To redress this position,
temporary extra efforts are made to “mainstream” them. But adapting
to increasing diversity is more than mainstreaming. On the issue of diversity
the city is continuously experimenting, to find out how it has to change itself
and adapt to changing circumstances.

In summary, the policies of equitable and equal treatment of all urban residents
prevented open conflict between different groups in the city; open communication
with the leadership of ethnic communities in the form of frequent consultation,
and direct voting rights have succeeded in channelling legitimate claims in
democratic ways.

Still there are serious problems. They pertain frequently to specific groups
of Moroccan and Antillean youngsters, who are loosing social ground and their
perspective on improvement in the future; they are increasingly active in petty
and sometimes serious crime, of course, often closely related to traffic in
drugs. Then there are several groups of refugees and asylum seekers, documented
or undocumented, who live on the margin of society, whether they are former
unaccompanied minors from China, Angola or Guinea, prostitutes from eastern
Europe, or simple undocumented persons trying to make a living in the big city.
The council tries to stabilise their shaky position within the limits of her
possibilities by continuously experimenting with new practices.

Cultural Policy

From the point of view of our project, it is important to use those cultural
tools that fit in the policy of the municipal.

As said before, Rotterdam has a very large number of different ethnic minority
groups, and the more than sixty nationalities tries to express and develop their
cultural inheritance primarily for the own group, mostly organized by cultural
grassroot NGO’s. This kind of cultural activity is called culture with
a small c and is not part of the general cultural offer.

The question here is: does the city have a cultural policy and does it refer
to cultural

diversity ?

And the answer is yes, Rotterdam acknowledge itself as a multicultural city
and indeed have a Cultural Policy accordingly.

The policy statement of Rotterdam city is: A city with many cultures; a city
with much culture.

The general aim is ‘to create a cultural climate, in which the many cultures
are identifiable, and a cultural offer, in which they participate in large numbers’.

[culture here means products of intellectual and especially artistic activity]

In spite of different efforts the participation of ethnic minorities in national
(western oriented) culture remains very low. Thus the municipal is now developing
a so-called “ target-group policy”.

Which means that ethnic minorities are identified and approached as separate
cultural group with own cultural needs and cultural products. Special policy
will be develop and financial resources available.

To summarize:

The Municipal Cultural policy will make the assumption of a broad cultural
view, which includes the different cultural traditions present in the city.
Basic aim is to make the diversity in culture tangible, visible and accessible.

Culture has than different approaches, s.a. carrier of norms and values; tourism;
history and architecture.

Cultural Tools: conceptual aspects/ historical antecedents
(value and expectations of

cultural performance

Cultural tools (music, cuisine, architecture) itself can’t solve any
social problem, neither change the attitude of a larger society, because the
basic of it is art performance.

However music, cuisine, architecture could be powerful tools to enforce social
cohesion, to create solidarity. But than there should be met to some conditions.

A Cultural tool arouse a feeling, is a starting point for movement, but this
can only have effect if the community support it. Government, professionals,
organizations, entrepreneurs, schools should use this as catalyst for change,
for renewing.

The use of Cultural Tools (music, architecture, etc.) to affect people’s
attitude needs a strong system of delivery services. Which means taking social
measures, offer opportunities, create infrastructure to meet and communicate
with each other.

Social Exclusion: conceptual aspects > definition > expressions
> limitations

Social Exclusion in the Netherlands according to the specific view of our foundation
is :

• a process that prevents ethnic minority groups from participation on
important levels in society, such as: education, employment, access to provisions
(such as services and facilities), volunteering, political policy influence.

• an individual experiencing marginalisation and exclusion.

Main causes of Social Exclusion

People with certain characteristics are likely to been excluded, such as, people
with:

- a physical-, mental-, linguistic- and/ or cultural disability

- no income from labour

- no availability of a higher status

Possible causes:

- dominant norms and values of the majority group

- no appreciation of human resources of the minority groups in society

- prejudice and discrimination

- no appreciation of human qualities which do not meet the demand of the labour-market

- public institutions are inaccessible/unapproachable for a great number of
members of the ethnic minority groups

- insufficient knowledge of services and (extra) facilities

- rapid ethnographical change of some neighbourhoods of the big city

- a growing number of teenage mothers among the migrant population.

Main features/ types of social exclusion you think can any do respond
to c/t in your city

- Inferiority of the minority cultural expressions (s.a. music, dance, architecture)

- Low income and poverty

- Social isolation and lack of social networks

Also, research has shown that:

- the (long term) unemployment rates of ethnic minorities are much higher as
compared to the majority group

- ethnic minorities participate less in voluntary activities than the majority

- single mothers from ethnic minorities in particular suffer a complex of problems:
e.g. they live in an isolated position, entrenched poverty, no job experience,
no prospects for further education, etc.

Description cultural tools selected by your city

- Mass event “Dunya Festival”

- Religious Festival “Holi”

- Multicultural Housbuilding “Le Medi”

(See also: Grid of Rotterdam

How c/t selected > affect/reduced of SE

Local Event Indicators

1 Name of event

Multicultural event or single CT Dunya festival Rotterdam

A multicultural summer mass event. As small project started twenty-five years
ago, to present poetry in the open air and proved to appeal to all cultures
in Rotterdam. The project is currently one of the largest multicultural festival
in Western Europe with more than 400 artists and thousands of visitors every
year. Not only poetry, but also music, dance, acrobats and new forms of storytelling
are presented.

For many citizens of Rotterdam, the festival is a recurring source of recognition
and pride. The festival has achieved such a success because of the participation
of the city’s different cultural organizations, and by continually updating
the festival, by offering high-quality programmes and controversy and experiments.

2 Which excluded groups involved? Mostly artists from ethnic minority background

3 Which area (territory of event)?

Small social profile (methodology) Great Rotterdam, and extended with international
artists

Open podia in the open air

4 Number of participant? More than 200 (including groups)

5 Locality of event?

The largest park of Rotterdam

6 Impact?

a. local

b. wider Local:

. Great personal recognition of a large number of unknown artists and groups.

. Highly PR performance of a individual and small group of artists

. A good number of artists get in contact with managers of different art halls
and theatre for future collaboration. Possible indirectly getting people in
a job

Wider:

. Very mixed audience of thousands.

. High profile of municipal visitors.

. International very well known (tourist) festival

. Change of attitudes positively

Level of involvement?

Of target group in design, organisation and participation. Most of
the people involved in the organisation on different are from ethnic minority
background.

The majority of the artists are member of the target group

8 Partnerships Solid cooperation between migrant organisation, professional
institutions en local municipality

Local Event Indicators

1 Name of event

Multicultural event or single CT Le Medi

Multicultural house building

Although Rotterdam considers itself as a multicultural city and there is a lot
of rebuilding schemes going on in the inner city, the multiculturalism is not
visible in building and constructing. But its now going to change.

It started for about two years ago with a Moroccan fountain in a working-class
area in Rotterdam borough, at one hand as respect for the Moroccan art and culture
and at the other hand as symbol of solidarity with Rotterdam.

Firstly the fountain was a meeting place for Moroccans and a symbol of identification
and acceptance, but now it’s a place for everybody to sit around and meeting
point with others.

With this experiment it was proven that “public space can be make tangible
cultural characterized”. And multiculturalism could also be meaningful
for the physical environment.

Building on this experience a new project start,

Le Médi is a large housing scheme project in Mediterranean style.

The aim is ‘to enriched the city and the house building production with
elements of Mediterranean architecture’.

The architecture will sure not be a copy of the homeland, but it is a new creation
with a combination of West-European and Mediterranean architecture.

Nearly half of the population of Rotterdam is from ethnic minority background,
and more and more they have the need to identify themselves in the architecture
and style of living.

Examples of Mediterranean elements: other kind of balcony, a different relation
of inside- and outside space, small gates, and an other function of the garden.

Mixture of expensive and social housing.

2

Which excluded groups involved? All ethnic minority groups in Rotterdam

Specially in the case, the Mediterranean in general and those with a low income

3 Which area (territory of event)?

Small social profile (methodology) Multicultural working class area of the borough
of Delfshaven

A large housing scheme project in Mediterranean style. The different price level
of the houses encourage ethnic

4 Number of participant? Many residents have shown their interest in the houses.

5 Locality of event? Borough of Delfshaven.

6 Impact?

a. local

b. wider a. Local

. Increase dialogue

. Establish dynamic process, not them and us

. Involvement of local neighbourhood by cooperating with local tenant organisations
and neighbourhood organisations.

. Increase better position on the labour market for architects and builders

b. Wider

. By participating in designing and implementation people were empowered

7 Level of involvement?

Of target group in design, organisation and participation. The ethnic minorities
are closely involved in all stages of the programme

8 Partnerships Ethnic minority citizens, ethnic minority organisations, ethnic
minority entrepreneurs, ethnic minority architectures, tenant organisations,
local government, municipal of Rotterdam

Local Event Indicators

1 Name of event

Multicultural event or single CT

Holi Festival Rotterdam

Holi is an Indian festival of celebrating the Indian new year (this is one if
the interpretations). In ten Rotterdam case up till now it was a festival solely
celebrates by the Indians, mostly Hindus.

This recent year the festival was celebrate widely in the Rotterdam community,
inclusive in the municipal house, were the Mayer has given a speech. The waters
of popular Rotterdam fountain in the centre of city was coloured with the holy
festival colours.

There was also a holy parade organised in Rotterdam and other related activities.

2 Which excluded groups involved?

Hindu’s mainly from Suriname. But also pupils from all the so called multi-cultural
schools from Rotterdam

3 Which area (territory of event)?

Small social profile (methodology) The city of Rotterdam and in different neighbourhoods
and schools.

4 Number of participant? Thousands of Hindu’s but also many hundred of
festival participants of other ethnic groups and whites.

5 Locality of event? Different places in the whole city, s.a. city hall, schools,
neighbourhood organisations.

6 Impact?

a. local

b. wider a. Local

The impact in inter ethnic communications, social meetings and acceptance was
very strong en thoroughly. For the school children it was just like a national
festival.

b. Wider

Increase cultural integration between different ethnic groups, but also between
dominant and Hindu groups.

Better understanding of the Hindus and so reduction of racism. Empowerment of
especially the Hindu youth in the schools.

High involvement of the Hindu community.

7 Level of involvement?

Of target group in design, organisation and participation. All the activities
of the festival were designed and organised by the Hindu ngo’s. As known
the entire Hindu generation are participation in this celebration.

8 Partnerships Municipal of Rotterdam, some of the boroughs, different mainstream
organisations, schools.