Sustainable project management: case of culture projects in Zemgale planning region

Abstract

Adherence to the principles of sustainability in the acquisition of different funds and financial instruments is one of the basic conditions for obtaining funding. In the field of cultural project management, sustainability is more difficult to assess because the concept of culture is multifaceted and not always quantifiable. Identifying and promoting the sustainability of the results of cultural projects outside large cities and in rural areas is particularly important, as each project implemented should serve the growth and cultural development of the area. Unfortunately, the lack of research on this issue proves the need to invest a great deal in identifying and analysing the situation. There is a lack of studies analysing the contribution of cultural projects to the development of regional territories and their long-term benefits. To do this, the research set a goal: to study the practice of ensuring sustainability of results of cultural projects in Zemgale planning region, Latvia. The research used quantitative and qualitative research methods - content analysis of Zemgale Planning Region municipal websites, document research and analysis of Zemgale Planning Region (state institution), as well as semi-structured interviews. The study reveals certain practices that municipal authorities are pursuing to ensure the sustainability of cultural projects, such as linking different activities, using the 'project basket' principle etc., but overall it has to be concluded that sustainable cultural project management still needs to be expanded and improved. There is often a lack of links and feedback between project applicants and final beneficiaries. There are no clear indicators to measure sustainability. New approaches need to be found not only to learn how to integrate sustainability principles into project management, but also to introduce a set of convenient and practical steps to make the desirable sustainability scenario described in theory a common practice in cultural project management.