The objectives of the funding are:

(A) the preservation and development of the cultural heritage as an essential element of the identity of a city or a region,

(B) increasing the attractiveness of cities and regions for residents and cultural tourists by enhancing cultural heritage and cultural institutions,

(C) positive effects on the local development of the city or region and the increase in the number of visitors to cultural sites

The purpose of the grant is to invest in the rehabilitation and adaptation of cultural institutions and monuments, which serve to improve the presentation and sustainable use of the cultural heritage.Only public infrastructures and public buildings with cultural use, which have a usage concept that takes local characteristics into account, may be promoted. Infrastructures and buildings must be in the hands of public authorities or non-profit organizations pursuing the general public interest.Investment projects address rather small scale infrastructure (up to 5 Mio Euro; for UNESCO World heritage sites up to 10 Mio.) The instrument is purely based on grants. Investment is limited into public infrastructure, public buildings and monuments belonging to public entities or non-profit organizations.The project should help to investigate the chances of funding PPP or non-profit organizations with financial instruments support and how to include more private actors.

Regional Operational Programme for Lodzkie Region for the years 2014-2020 responds to key development challenges of the region, while contributing to the objectives of the Partnership Agreement and being involved in the implementation of the objectives of the Strategy for smart, sustainable and inclusive growth - EUROPE 2020.

One of twelve Priority Axes (PA), PA VI “Revitalization and endogenous potential of the region” is implemented, among others, under the Thematic Objective 6, Investment Priority 6c “Conserving, protecting, promoting and developing natural and cultural heritage”.

Projects implemented under PA VI will directly contribute to the increase of efficiency in the use of cultural resources, support the development of areas with specific needs, reduce the level of poverty, which affect smart, sustainable and inclusive growth. The abovementioned issues are also key points of the Europe 2020 Strategy.

However, there are few opportunities, for the purpose of implementing the IP 6c, to use financial instruments which would ensure stronger impact on ROP objectives and enhance the Growth & Job Programme. The obvious advantages of recycling funds over the long term, including mobilisation of additional public or private co-investments in the field of culture are the main reasons for which this policy instrument should be improved.

The Specific Objective is to boost local development by preserving, protecting and capitalizing the cultural heritage and cultural identity; specific activities will be supported in order to achieve investments for the following:

• Restoration, consolidation, protection and preservation of historical monuments;

• Facilities for the exhibition and protection of mobile and immovable cultural heritage.

Many of the traditional policy instruments for delivering support to conservation, protection, promotion and development of cultural heritage through knowledge transfer processes are often time consuming and insufficiently adapted for the purpose, in a rapidly changing status of cultural landscape. The cultural heritage does need a more innovative and operational approach as regards the valorization, exploitation, publicity, promotion, financing and logistics to support the valuable cultural objectives that are included in the public circuit. The management and conservation of cultural heritage requires investment and the funding issue needs to be addressed. The cultural heritage protection, conservation and valorization seems to have been an area that is benefitting utterly insufficiently from various financing programmes or schemes or other financing sources, in general. The cultural heritage management requires a very high level of expertise, dedication and constant funding. Based on the above considerations, the policy instrument should be improved.

The regional law on cultural, historical and artistic heritage of La Rioja is looking for the protection, preservation, rehabilitation, improvement, development, research, knowledge and promotion of the cultural, historical and artistic heritage in La Rioja.The regional government is setting up actions which enable the enjoyable using by the citizens of the elements that are part of the heritage. In addition, the potentiation of the educative and social functions and the keeping for the future generations are other main goals of it. The law is declaring that the regional government shall boost and support the direct collaboration with the citizens concerning the defense of the regional heritage. Another purpose of the law is the stimulation the local organizations that are involved in the defense of the heritage, improving its competences and even its attributions.Nevertheless there are always potential improvement gaps in order to get a more successful implementation strategy and because of that the participation in the FINCH project is seen as an interesting opportunity for doing it. Concerning the FINCH project is especially important how the collaboration with the private sector is structured. In this sense, the law is letting any person or company to act in relation to the defense of the cultural, historical and artistic heritage in La Rioja. Private sector could promote the starting of a procedure in order to declare any property or element as a heritage.

South Ostrobothnian Cultural Strategy 4.2.3 includes several actions that are connected to the project objectives. The goal stated by the policy instrument is: In the future culture will create welfare for everyone. We promote the accessibility of culture. We take culture to where people are, and we include it more than before in education. We utilise the environment and nature as a source of wellfare. We enable the spread of culture through new digital channels. We believe in customer orientation and we move from demand orientation to supply orientation. We participate in the development of customer services. We act as a motor for the development of new multidisciplinary innovation. We enable the dissemination of culture.

1) We create new culture orientated social affairs and health innovations

2) We take culture to where people are

3) We chart and utilise new possibilities

4) We utilise and cherish the cultural heritage and cultural environment of the region.

By joining this project more practical and strategic approach could be taken. On especially utilizing and cherishing cultural heritage and cultural environment of the region. This action would greatly benefit from transnational co-operation and exchange of good practices.

Axis 3, Thematic Target 06 Preserving and protecting the environment and promoting resource efficiency, Investment Priority 6c Preservation, protection, promotion and development of natural and cultural heritage, Specific Target 3.6.1. Improving the attractiveness of cultural and natural resources of the RegionDescription: It includes interventions for upgrading and restoring natural and cultural heritage sites, enhancing their functionality (Parking areas, creation / extension of visiting areas), cultural / physical inventory sites, networking and activities directed with tourism, resource promotion actions including the exploitation of ICT, actions to promote modern and creative rclture, accessibility of people with disabilities in public cultural sites, observatories, green infrastructure, networking activities for cultural institutions in the framework of a unified display of wealth, tourist visibility, etc.