Orhei, as a regional municipality of the Republic of Moldova participating in the Regional Cities Network, will receive a grant of €30,000 in the framework of the EU-funded EU4Culture project. Similar grants were awarded to four more municipalities, namely Charentsavan and Sevan in Armenia, and Kutaisi and Poti in Georgia.

The network aims to increase the sustainability of the cultural development strategies created in 2022 with the support of EU4Culture, says a press release. The strategic plans of the five municipalities stimulate the regional economy by promoting the development of local creative and cultural industries.

In 2024, the selected municipalities will use the newly awarded funds to implement various cultural activities, such as art events and training. One municipality will also produce a publicly accessible database on local culture. As members of the EU4Culture Regional Cities Network, the municipalities will also share their experiences in implementing their Cultural Development Strategies within and beyond the Network.

“The new package for the five municipalities can serve as additional encouragement to create development opportunities in the regions of Armenia, Georgia, and the Republic of Moldova, hence establishing new models for strengthening the resilience of cultural and creative sectors in the countries,” said EU4Culture Team Leader, Anatoli Beifert.

With a budget of €7.85 million, EU4Culture is a four-year project funded by the European Union to support the cultural and creative sector with a special focus on non-capital cities and towns in the Eastern Partnership Countries. The project is implemented by Goethe-Institut (Lead), Czech Centers, Danish Cultural Institute, and Institut Français de Géorgie.