Brussels, 02/09/2002 (Agence Europe) - In 2002, the Culture 2000 programme supported 224 projects in all artistic fields, cultural heritage, books, reading and translation. Of the 224 projects selected to share a pot of more than EUR 33 million, 119 concern the visual arts (this year's priority). Some 28 European countries are involved in Culture 2000 (2000-2004). In addition to the 15 EU Member States and the EEA countries, there are nine Central and Eastern European countries, which are participating in the programme for the second time (Bulgaria, the Czech Republic, Hungary, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Romania and Slovakia) and Slovenia is taking part for the first time. Cyprus and Malta will participate in Culture 2000 in 2003.
Culture 2000 supports not only annual but also multiannual cooperation projects, thus promoting the formation of European cultural networks. 200 annual projects have been selected totalling around EUR 17.7 million, as well as 24 multiannual cooperation projects totalling around EUR 15.7 million. Culture 2000 will be earmarking some EUR 150,000 for a European prize for the conservation and development of cultural heritage.