The Marcel Hicter Foundation for Cultural Democracy, established in 1980 in memory of Marcel Hicter—a pioneer of European cultural cooperation—aims to create conditions where cultural cooperation serves as a catalyst for democratic transformation. Supported by the Wallonia-Brussels Federation and recognized as a lifelong learning organization, the Foundation has, for over 40 years, trained, supported, and connected cultural professionals across Europe and beyond. It has developed numerous programs and tools to strengthen individual and collective capacities in an ever-evolving context. The Foundation believes that culture fosters emancipation, social cohesion, and territorial dialogue. To fulfill this potential, it emphasizes the need for skilled professionals, robust cooperation frameworks, and active critical thinking. Its mission is to enhance the capacity of cultural actors to cooperate through rigorous, human-scale training rooted in real-world challenges; tailored support and program evaluation; and critical insight into cultural policy and practice. The Foundation upholds values of purpose—acting with direction and meaning, aiming for empowerment and social impact; empowerment—encouraging learners to act independently as co-creators of their experience; and openness—bridging disciplines, cultures, and ideas. Since 1991, the Foundation has been a reference in training cultural sector professionals to design and successfully implement international cooperation projects. Its training programs transform the careers of individuals seeking to develop their skills, broaden their horizons, and elevate their projects to the European or international level. Notable programs include the European Diploma in Cultural Project Management, which offers recognized certification and an extensive alumni network; RES URBIS, a Brussels-based program focused on designing innovative urban cultural projects; and PIICC, an incubation program for cultural and creative initiatives in Kinshasa, Essaouira, and Cotonou. Beyond its core training programs, the Foundation supports institutions, networks, and cultural professionals through tailor-made missions such as studies, custom training, program design, and project evaluation. Each intervention is conceived as a collaboration—rigorous, responsive, and grounded in practice. The Foundation connects cultural operators, researchers, and policymakers, values cultural practices, fosters cooperation grounded in mutual respect, and contributes to the debate through action research and publications. Marcel Hicter (1918–1979) remains a leading figure in European cultural thought and action. A doctor in classical philology, educator, and politician, he devoted his life to making culture a tool of democracy and emancipation. As Director-General of Youth and Leisure (1963–1979), he placed young people's participation and autonomy at the center of his policies, anticipating the aspirations of May 1968. A visionary, he founded two concepts that have since become central: cultural democracy, which makes culture a collective construction, and lifelong education, conceived as continuous learning in the service of civic emancipation. At the Council of Europe, during the Athens colloquium in 1976, he summed up his thinking in a phrase that became famous: "Culture is an attitude... the priority given to being more rather than having more... a demand for openness and dialogue." A pioneer of international cultural action, he committed Belgium to European cultural policies and contributed, within the Non-Aligned Movement, to promoting cultural cooperation as a tool for peace and emancipation. A prolific writer, poet, and playwright in the Walloon language, Hicter left behind a body of work where classical heritage engages in dialogue with his popular roots. More than forty years after his passing, his legacy continues to inspire all those who believe that culture is the driving force of a fairer, freer, and more humane society. The Foundation's team comprises dedicated professionals active in training, research, and cultural policy. They collaborate with a wide network of experts, partners, and alumni across Europe and beyond.
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