From the Focal Point

Ten Years of OCPA

Twenty years after the UNESCO World Conference on Cultural Policies, held in Mexico (26 July-8 August 1982), the Observatory of Cultural Policies in Africa was born. In these twenty years (1982-2002) important political, economic, and cultural changes have taken place in the world. In the cultural arena, the changes reflected in the new relationship between culture and development, in the redefined intercultural communication and dialogue, the promotion of cultural diversity, the strengthening of regional development, and in the creation of new approaches to cultural policy.

During the Stockholm Intergovernmental Conference on Cultural Policies for Development (1998), the Agora consecrated to Africa examined the theme of cultural policies for the development of Africa. With the Stockholm Conference and several meetings in 2000 and 2001, these activities culminated in May 2002 in a regional conference held in Maputo, Mozambique approving the establishment of an Observatory of Cultural Policies in Africa.

In the course of the past ten years, OCPA focused on the study of the relationship between culture and development, the safeguarding and promotion of heritage, support for creativity, cultural indicators of development, diversity, and the dialogue of civilizations as basic components of cultural policy. OCPA published a Compendium of Reference Documents for Cultural Policies in Africa (1969-2006) and other studies concerning different sectors of cultural policy (for example, music). The Observatory regularly publishes a newsletter - OCPA News, around 300 issues appeared so far (you may subscribe here), and established its Database of Cultural Specialists and Institutions. It also organizes training seminars for administrators, managers and cultural entrepreneurs in Africa, meetings, round tables and panel discussions across the continent. OCPA concluded a number of framework agreements of cooperation with international organizations and networks in the field of culture around the world.

From the very beginnings Culturelink has supported OCPA's activities. As Mr. Lupwishi Mbuyamba, Executive Director of OCPA, put it at the Third World Culturelink Conference held in Zagreb in 2009, "Culturelink avait, dès avant l'aube de notre création, décidé de nous accompagner dans cette aventure de la constitution et de l'animation de réseaux culturels. Culturelink nous garde son amitié et poursuit avec nous sur la voie de la recherche de nouvelles pistes d'une coopération prometteuse et symbole de l'amitié entre les peuples, que seule la culture peut garantir". (Networks: The Evolving Aspects of Culture in the 21st Century, Culturelink Joint Publications Series, Zagreb, 2011, p. 174)

The Culturelink Team congratulates OCPA for its efforts in promoting contemporary African culture and wishes the OCPA team a successful continuation of its activities and wonderful results!

1.   ICAS 8: The East-West Crossroads

The International Convention of Asia Scholars (ICAS) is the premier international gathering in the field of Asian Studies. Founded in 1997, ICAS is a platform for representatives of academia and civil society to focus on issues critical to Asia and, by implication, to the rest of the world. ICAS 8 will be held in Macao, 24-27 June 2013. The deadline for proposals is 15 July 2012. >>>

2.   The Cultural Component of Citizenship: An Inventory of Challenges

The Access to Culture Platform, Working Group on Audiences Participation and its partners invite academics, practitioners and experts to contribute to the upcoming publication on The Cultural Component of Citizenship: An Inventory of Challenges (working title). The deadline for short abstracts is 16 July 2012. >>>

3.   Networks and Collaborations Across European Museums, Libraries and Public Cultural Institutions

Networks and collaborations across European museums, libraries and public cultural institutions will be discussed at the international conference on Migrating Heritage to be held in Glasgow, 3-4 December 2012. How can museums define new innovative practices, spaces and policies that reflect the challenges of the contemporary processes of globalisation, mobility and migration? This question is being addressed by European Museums in an Age of Migrations - MeLa. Abstract and bio submission: 16 July 2012. >>>

4.   Between Education, Commerce and Adventure. Tourist Experience in Europe Since the Interwar Period

The international conference Between Education, Commerce and Adventure: Tourist Experience in Europe since the Interwar Period, will take place in Berlin, 26-28 September 2013. In order to better illuminate the diversity of tourist experiences, the conference seeks to critically investigate the argument of the prevalence of commercial tourism. Deadline for abstracts: 31 July 2012. >>>

5.   (In)perfect Bodies in Contemporary Performance

The Center for the Performing Arts FMH (Technical University of Lisbon) and Quinzena de Dança de Almada are organising an artistic and scientific meeting for the presentation of studies, projects and reflections on the body in the contemporary scene and the community. The conference will take place in Almada, Portugal, 27-30 September 2012. Submission for proposals: 30 June 2012. >>>

6.   Atelier for Young Festival Managers

The European Festivals Association (EFA) invites its members from 40 countries, partner networks, festivals, cultural organisations, networks, foundations, universities, etc. to delegate a young festival manager to participate in the Atelier for Young Festival Managers LJUBLJANA 2012 which will take place in Ljubljana, 14-21 October 2012. Deadline of application: 30 June 2012. >>>

7.   Master of Research in Art and Design 2012-2013

In the academic year 2012-2013, the St Lucas University College of Art & Design Antwerp (Belgium) will organize a one-year postgraduate research programme, Master of Research in Art and Design, which aspires to function as a platform, both transmitting and stimulating research in the field of the visual arts. Application deadline is 7 September 2012. >>>

8.   PhDArts - PhD Programme in Visual Art and Design

Research in and through art is an inseparable part of the artistic or design practice of the researcher. PhDArts offers an international, high-level doctorate in art and design at Leiden University and the Royal Academy of Art, The Hague, The Netherlands. Application deadlines are 1 October 2012 or 1 April 2013. >>>

9.   Duncan of Jordanstone College of Art and Design MFA Programme

Duncan of Jordanstone College of Art and Design (DJCAD), part of the University of Dundee in Scotland, offers a one year MFA programme. Students will investigate historical and contemporary positions in art and visual culture through exposure to ideas in artistic research, aesthetics, anthropology, critical theory and curatorial practice. Application deadline is 31 August 2012. >>>

10.   4th Arte-Polis International Conference and Workshops

Reminder: The 4th Arte-Polis International Conference Creative Connectivity and the Making of Place - Living Smart by Design will be held in Bandung, Indonesia, 5-7 July 2012. The conference will provide critical discussion by creative champions presenting approximately 100 peer-reviewed papers from 16 countries in all continents. >>>

11.   International Historic Towns Conference: Delivering Smart, Sustainable and Inclusive Growth in Historic Towns

Organized by the City of Dubrovnik and Heritage Europe in partnership with the Croatian Association of Historic Towns, the Turkish Union of Historic Towns and the Council of Europe, the conference Delivering Smart, Sustainable and Inclusive Growth in Historic Towns will be held in Dubrovnik, Croatia, 4-5 October 2012. Can the Historic Town respond to the key global challenges of the 21st century and help deliver sustainable growth? >>>

12.   EuroMed2012: International Conference dedicated to Cultural Heritage and Digital Libraries

The international conference dedicated to Cultural Heritage and Digital Libraries is organised under the patronage of UNESCO, in cooperation with the European Commission, the EU Digital Library Europeana, and under the auspices of the 2012 Cyprus Presidency of the Council of the EU. The conference will take place in Limassol, Cyprus, 20 October - 3 November 2012. >>>

13.   12th ELIA Biennial Conference: Art, Science and Society

The European League of Institutes of the Arts (ELIA) and the University of Applied Arts Vienna are organising the 12th ELIA Biennial Conference, Vienna, Austria, 8-10 November 2012. The ELIA Biennial features three consecutive plenary sessions called Art Questions, Art Knows, Art Matters, which will be followed by intensive table discussions. >>>

14.   INTA36 Congress: NEW YORK 4.0. Shaping global urban development

The INTA36 Congress, to take place in New York, 11 - 15 November 2012, will be a very interactive congress with short plenary sessions and a few days workshops, along a charette-format. The 6 parallel charrettes will take place on 6 different sites, addressing 6 different sets of issues: new human habitat, innovation and urban services, containing metropolitan sprawl, rediscovering mobility, changing workplaces, and the fourth regional plan. >>>

15.   Asia-Europe Encounters: Intellectual and Cultural Exchanges, 1900-1950

An international conference co-organised by the International Institute of Asian Studies (Leiden), the Nalanda-Sriwijaya Centre, ISEAS (Singapore), the Asia-Europe Foundation and the Asian Civilisations Museum (Singapore) will take place in Singapore, 7-8 December 2012. This conference will focus on cultural and intellectual exchanges in Asia-Europe relations over the period of 1900-1950. >>>

16.   Making Diversity Work for Cities

An intercultural cities milestone event, Making Diversity Work for Cities, will be held in Dublin, 6-8 February 2013. It will be an opportunity to take stock of what cities have achieved, what works and what does not, and under which conditions, what challenges remain and how they can be addressed together with partners from other networks and organisations. >>>

17.   Imagine There's No Copyright

The indispensable book Imagine There's No Copyright and No Cultural Conglomerates Too..., written by Joost Smiers and Marieke van Schijndel, has now been published in German and Russian. >>>

18.   Policy Handbook

The Policy Handbook on How to Strategically Use the EU Support Programmes, Including Structural Funds, to Foster the Potential of Culture for Local, Regional and National Development and the Spill-over Effects on the Wider Economy? has been finalized in April 2012 as one of the results of the working group of EU Member States experts (open method of coordination) on cultural and creative industries. >>>

19.   Culture and Globalization: Cities, Cultural Policy and Governance

The latest volume of The Cultures and Globalization Series focuses on urban cultural policies and governance. Helmut K. Anheier and Yudhishthir Raj Isar are the editors of this work, which brings together a large number of renowned international scholars to cover all aspects of a city's cultural dynamics and its impact on policy, including alternative economies, creativity, migration, diversity, sustainability, education and urban planning. >>>

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