BALATORIUM Project
About this good practice
The BALATORIUM Project specifically tackles ecological challenges in Hungary’s Balaton region by merging cultural activities with ecological consciousness. The initiative is designed to raise awareness about environmental issues through the lens of cultural and artistic expression, thereby fostering a greater connection between the community and their natural surroundings.
Addressing ecological challenges in the Balaton region through cultural and artistic programs. The project is implemented through a series of artistic and ecological events, involving collaborations between artists, cultural institutions, and environmental experts. It includes exhibitions, performances, and workshops.
The project unfolds through a multifaceted approach:
● Artistic Residencies and Performances: Artists create works inspired by local ecological themes, engaging the public through meaningful artistic expressions.
● Ecological Weekend Programs: These programs include activities such as the ‘Strandlegelők Slowwalk’, which encourage direct engagement with the landscape, promoting ecological awareness among participants.
● Workshops and Discussions: Structured to facilitate dialogue between artists, cultural institutions, and environmental experts, aiming to spur community action towards sustainable practices.
Main stakeholders: Artists, local communities, environmentalists, tourists, and cultural institutions.
Resources needed
Cooperation between artists, experts and staff.
Financial resources: Obtaining support from municipal authorities for cultural programs, performances, professional contributions, and the use of natural heritage sites. Financial resources depend on the usability of the cultural heritage in question.
Evidence of success
The effectiveness of the project is demonstrated by the following:
● Community involvement: Local students (MOME), Veszprém House of Arts, PAD Foundation. Production of a music album with popular musicians about Lake Balaton
● Cultural and ecological impact: Contribution to the Veszprém-Balaton 2023 (European Capital of Culture) program. As a priority project of ECoC, it examined ecological issues in the region and communicated them through art and education.
● Hundreds of participants
Potential for learning or transfer
a. Relevance: The series of programmes will raise awareness of the cultural and natural world of Lake Balaton and promote the appreciation and protection of Lake Balaton.
b. Impact: The ecological and cultural concept will help both the Veszprém-Lake Balaton 2023 ECOC and future applicants and participants to identify and prioritise the topics considered relevant for the Balaton Ecological Programme.
c. Replicability: As the project pays great attention to the valorisation of cultural and natural heritage, another country could receive similar attention and development.
d. Sustainability: The local practice pay attention to sustainability, environment and culture are an important factor each year.
e. Innovation: The programme considers the dissemination of knowledge as an important factor. This is a key element of the programme's educational approach.
f. Link to project theme: Local Practice is a series of quality programmes offering awareness-raising, quality cultural programmes.