---

With the eastward enlargement of the European Union and NATO, Belarus, Ukraine, and Moldova have become immediate neighbors in the Euroatlantic community. In close reach (merely on the other bank of the Bug and Prut rivers and just across the Carpathian Mountains), lies a rich and varied historical and cultural heritage, new landscapes and sites of interest, curious opportunities for exchange and cooperation, and new people to get to know. A fascinating space, until now largely unfamiliar to many in the West, has opened up in Europe's East and remains to be discovered. Yet this new proximity to the eastern neighborhood also represents a formidable challenge. After long decades of forced separation, Belarus, Ukraine, and Moldova now struggle to find their place in the Euroatlantic community. Difficult reforms need to be undertaken to establish democracies, market economies and open societies. Integration with the West and the international community is a complicated and uncertain task, as are relations with the other major player in the region: Russia. In short, the eastern neighborhood is as complicated as it is fascinating. Culture can be a powerful tool in helping to address some of the challenges facing the eastern neighborhood, as well as bringing the three countries to the attention of the West. Experience has shown that cultural work, true cooperation, and partnerships can contribute to reconciling conflicts, developing communities, improving quality of life and building links across historical divides, time, and distance in Europe. In an effort to make more effective use of this potential, the German Marshall Fund of the United States and the European Cultural Foundation have launched a joint project to better understand the role of culture and cultural actors in promoting change, that is, the democratization, Europeanization and modernization of Belarus, Moldova, and Ukraine. A reflection group explored the challenges facing cultural actors of change in the three countries and the support they need to maximally contribute to societal and political changes. The results of this reflection process are laid out in this series of papers. Three country reports focus on the capacity of the cultural communities locally to be effective agents of change, in relation to the cultural policy environment and other factors influencing cultural creation. A regional review analyzes the broader conditions impeding or supporting those efforts, and identifies ways in which the international community can contribute to making culture an effective mechanism in support of democratic development, modernization and integration of Europe's Eastern neighborhood. Hard copies may be obtained by contacting Helena Mudrikova (hmudrikova@gmfus.org) or by printing from the links below: Culture and Change in Belarus, Format: PDF, Size: 424 KB Culture and Change in Moldova, Format: PDF, Size: 377 KB Culture and Change in Ukraine, Format: PDF, Size: 370 KB Supporting Cultural Actors of Change in Belarus, Moldova, and Ukraine, Format: PDF, Size: 778 KB