It is this websites mission to strengthen communication among its project members, encouraging international and intercultural communication and collaboration, as well as joint research & development towards promoting the objectives of this European Funded Scheme. Further this network is specially designed in such a way that it can become a wider forum for exploring the diversity and dynamism of ethnic minority cultural expressions through the sub-region and the European Disapora, so as to deepen the impact of the notion of cultural tools as a weapon in teh fight against social exclusion.

At the end of the European Union funded project cycle, it is hoped that the longer term objective is to development a world-wide information system for the study of cultural development and cooperation. To this end, SYBCDP collects, processes and disseminates information on cultural development, cultural life and policies, examining existing cultural tools from various parts of the world e.g. In theatre, cinema, music and documentary material. We are fortunate enough to have inherited an exceptionally diverse source of quality material in the form of a video library donated to us from the Sheffield City Council.

Activities

Aiming to develop appropriate means of communication and speed up the flow of information, the SYBCDP Home Page was established in December 2001. It has been updated and will continue to grow into a complex WWW Resource Centre.

Besides research, activities of the SYBCDP project include development of the Cultural Tools Databank and publication of the review Cultural Tools, the Directory Series and Joint Publications Series. Serving its members on a regular basis, the Network disseminates its
information both on paper and through electronic means.

Research

One of the major aims of the SYBCDP Network is the promotion of joint regional, interregional and international research projects.

Numerous research studies have been undertaken in the fields of cultural policy, intercultural communication and cultural identity, and the impact of transition in the field of culture.

Transnational Conferences

Benefiting from its wide-ranging exchange contacts, in cooperation with different partners, SYBCDP regularly organises scholarly conferences, seminars and courses on cultural and communication issues.

Databases

The Cultural Tools Databank, is under development and will be accessible to all members of the network, consisting of the Cultural Tools Policy Database, the Cultural Tools Development Database and the Cultural Tools Bibliographical Database. These services will be complemented
and updated on a regular basis, which will make them a unique source of information.

Documentation

The SYBCDP Network runs the Documentation Centre for Cultural Development and Cooperation which holds numerous documents, books and periodicals in the fields of international cultural development and cultural policies registered in the Bibliographical Database.

Publications

The SYBCDP Network will publish the Cultural Tools Review, as well as various other publications, studies and proceedings. The joint publications series publishes proceedings from the conferences organised by the SYBCDP Network.

Members

The SYBCDP Network gathers over 100 networks, member organisations and individuals from over 10 countries worldwide. The members are networks, institutions, organisations, foundations and professionals from around the world which are engaged and interested in cultural tools development, cultural policies, cultural management and cooperation.

SPAT-C (Sheffield) is the lead partner. Other partners have included Southwark (London), CITTA de Torino (Italy), the Provincial Government of Modena (Italy), Institute of Comparative Social Studies (Berlin-Germany), Stichting Stimulans / KROSBIE (Rotterdam) and the Bureau Discrimination (Den Haag) (both, Holland).