Central Asia Arts and Culture Programme 2.0. (CAACP 2.0.)


The objective of the Central Asia Arts and Culture Programme (CAACP) is to foster the further development of a vibrant and open art and culture scene that contributes to preserving freedom of expression and enhancing social cohesion in the region. The CAACP offers cultural institutions and artists opportunities to create a platform that enables people, including left-behind groups, to address issues affecting their lives and contribute to positive social change.

RegionCountry Topic Period Budget
Central Asia
Culture / development awareness
Governance
Human rights
Conflict & fragility
Culture & recreation
Public sector policy
Human rights (incl. Women's rights)
Conflict prevention
01.07.2023 - 30.06.2027
CHF  2’560’000
Background The Central Asia region is confronted with significant political, economic, and social challenges that impact on various aspects of society. Central Asian countries rank low on the Press Freedom Index, indicating that press freedom and freedom of expression remain restricted. Under such conditions, the space for civil society, and particularly for independent artists and art professionals is shrinking. Therefore, the support to initiatives promoting freedom of expression, human rights, social cohesion within country and in the region is more relevant than ever.
Target People of Central Asia are enabled to freely create and engage with art and access cultural spaces where they debate and address diverse issues affecting their present and future life.
Target group

Independent arts and culture organizations and individual artists

Audience of arts and culture organizations and general public

Outcomes

Regional Outcome 1: Regional art and culture networks, exchanges and/or initiatives provide open spaces where artists are free to create, can meet their audience, and can express their views on issues affecting the life of people, esp. marginalized and vulnerable groups, all of which promotes dialogue and social cohesion.

National Outcome 2: Artists, cultural institutions and their audiences exercise their freedom of expression in organizing and/or participating in art events that represent a diversity of voices, opinions and cultural expressions.

Results

Expected Results:  

  • Inclusive regional art events are organised by regional art platforms;
  • Regional exchanges and co-productions broaden the perspectives of a wide audiance on issues important to them and their societies adding a regional perspective to their national ones;
  • Artists, especially in periphery, have accessible spaces and capacities to realize their diverse and innovative creativity;
  • People from different social and geographical backgrounds, especially women, youth and minorities, benefit from a wide variety of cultural activities and creative expressions, which address their problems and concerns;
  • People have access to artistic productions that reflect socioeconomic realities in each of the three countries;
  • Art and Culture institutions supported to provide open spaces, where artists can create artworks that reflect societal issues as well as diversity of cultural expression, opinions and voices;
  • Art and Culture institutions provide open spaces for the wider public where artistic creativity, social cohesion and a diversity of expression is encouraged;
  • Representatives of the independent art and culture sector and of related state institutions establish a dialog and interact frequently.


Results from previous phase:  

The Programme builds on a precursor culture program that lasted 15 years. It provides baseline data for the first phase of CAACP, with regard to a number of cultural organizations, events or networks supported and size of audiences reached at both national and regional levels.

It provides important lessons learnt that helped shaping the new Programme, for example with regard to:

  • Need to focus more on the kind of audience to be reached (targeting, client-orientation)
  • Opportunities to strengthen the regional component and to open up its scope (e.g. make open calls)
  • The rather limited visibility of cultural expression outside of Central Asia calls for an inreased international exposure of CA culture.


Agency SDC
Credit Development cooperation
Project Partners Contract Partner
International or foreign NGO
Private sector
  • Foreign private sector South/East
  • The Programme is self-implemented by the Swiss representations in Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan.


Projects Coordination Coordination with Ministries of Culture of Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan, with international organizations supporting cultural development in Central Asia.
Budget Current Phase Swiss Budget CHF    2’560’000 Swiss Disbursement Till Know CHF    427’210
Project Phases Phase 1 01.07.2023 - 30.06.2027   (Current Phase)