From the Focal Point

Cultural Networks and Imagined Regionalism

The Nomos Verlagsgesellschaft recently published the book Towards Open Regionalism in South East Europe, edited by Paul Stubbs and Christophe Solioz. The book presents a series of interlinked reflections on the possibilities and problems of emergent forms of regional cooperation in South East Europe (SEE). Taking on diverse themes such as: the economy, borders, culture, and civil society, eleven authors explore some of the facets of "open regionalism", consisting of multi-actor, multi-level and multi-scalar processes which produce a complex geometry of interlocking networks. Contemporary processes of Europeanisation in relation to SEE are also examined as complex, contingent and radically unfinished. The book seeks to move beyond the constraints of objectivist notions of regionalism, as consisting of sets of relations between sovereign nation states, to address complex constructions of meaning and place.

Members of Culturelink will find special interest in the article by Nada Svob-Djokic entitled Cultural Networks and Imagined Regionalism, discussing the role and the impact of networks on regional cultures. Nada Svob-Djokic, member of the Culturelink Team, is author and editor of a number of books on South East European cultural issues, such as Redefining Cultural Identities: Southeastern Europe (2003), Cultural Transitions in Southeastern Europe (2004), The Emerging Creative Industries in Southeastern Europe (2005), The Creative City: Crossing Visions and New Realities in the Region (2006), Cultural Identity Politics in the (Post)Transitional Societies (2011), published in the Culturelink Joint Publications Series.

In her article, Nada Svob-Djokic analyses how networks helped to develop new images of South East European cultures: their influence has often (re)directed cultural communication flows and provoked wider interest in these cultures. Notwithstanding different types of networks and their various, even disparate, programmes and projects, the author stresses that the cultural impact of networks in the region has deeply marked all cultural changes and provided for a substantial restructuring of the South East European cultural space. Cultural networks eased the processes of cultural communication and internationalisation of national cultures by enabling and supporting the flows of cultural information and joint cultural programmes and research projects. Through their flexible structure ('unstable', as the author puts it), networks adapt well to various local situations in which they may promote more structured cultural activities. Concerning the complex cultural networks - cultural policies relationship, the fact that networks affect cultures substantially also indicates that cultural networking brings a different approach to cultural policies, their regionalisation and the role they have in overall cultural development. In her conclusion on the contribution of networks, the author points out that it is uncertain whether networks may be able to create a sense of commonality and belonging to the same geographical space and cultural heritage; but they can certainly help improve knowledge among cultures and societies of a region and sustain general cultural development within the region.

Towards Open Regionalism in South East Europe, edited by Paul Stubbs and Christophe Solioz, Nomos Verlagsgesellschaft, Southeast European Integration Perspectives, vol. 6, Baden-Baden, 2012, 225 pp, ISBN 978-3-8329-6597-6

1.   Journal for Artistic Research

The Journal for Artistic Research (JAR), published by the Society for Artistic Research, invites submissions to its third issue on the topic of artistic practice. It is the aim of the journal to makes use of the multi-media and social capabilities of the web to draw attention to the activities of a growing community of artistic researchers worldwide. Deadline for submissions is 30 September 2012. >>>

2.   Tourism and the Shifting Values of Cultural Heritage

The international conference Tourism and the Shifting Values of Cultural Heritage: Visiting Pasts, Developing Futures will be held in Taipei, Taiwan, on 5-9 April 2013. The conference seeks to examine both the tensions and opportunities in the processes of valuing and protecting cultural heritage and, in mobilising it for development purposes in the wider social sphere. Abstracts of papers and proposals for themed panels are to be submitted no later than 5 October 2012. >>>

3.   The Hodder Fellowship at Princeton University

The Hodder Fellowship will be given to writers and other artists of exceptional promise to pursue independent projects at Princeton University during the 2013-2014 academic year. Application deadline is 1 November 2012. >>>

4.   Sauti za Busara 2013 - Call for African Music Films

Sauti za Busara is the annual music event in East Africa and widely known as the friendliest festival on the planet. The Sauti za Busara music festival is accepting submissions for the 2013 African Music Film Programme, the 10th edition of this popular annual event, set to take place on 14-17 February 2013 in the historic Old Fort, Stone Town, Zanzibar. The deadline for applications is 16 November 2012. >>>

5.   Roberto Cimetta Fund Travel Grants

The Roberto Cimetta Fund is launching the fourth 2012 open call for travel grants from 1 to 30 September 2012. Artists and cultural professionals living and working in the Euro-Arab and Mediterranean regions can apply. >>>

6.   European Union Prize for Cultural Heritage / Europa Nostra Awards 2013

Each year, Europa Nostra and the European Union reward the best of cultural heritage achievements. The awards celebrate exemplary restorations and initiatives of the many facets of Europe's cultural heritage in four categories. Closing date for the submission of entries is 1 October 2012. >>>

7.   Master of Management in International Arts Management (IM)

HEC Montréal, Bocconi SDA and Southern Methodist University are launching a new international master programme in Fall 2013, where students will do one semester in Milan, one in Montréal and one in Dallas. Teaching methods include theoretical courses, case studies, field work, lectures by world leaders in international cultural management, and visits to well-known cultural organizations and facilities. Admission is an on-going process, with application deadlines on 15 November, 15 January and 1 April. >>>

8.   ENCATC Academy: Cultural Relations and Diplomacy

The ENCATC Academy, an intensive 3-day learning programme in the field of cultural relations and diplomacy will take place in Brussels, Belgium, on 5-7 December 2012. This peer learning programme will offer practitioners and key decision makers an opportunity to expand their personal and professional networks and establish future project partnerships. Online registration to attend the ENCATC Winter Academy will open in October 2012. >>>

9.   UBC Certificate in Cultural Planning

The University of British Columbia's new international Centre for Cultural Planning and Development launches the UBC Certificate in Cultural Planning, a 100% online learning programme authored and taught by senior practitioners from around the globe. Three online courses are offered in the fall of 2012: Foundations of Cultural Planning, by Colin Mercer, London, UK; Creating Culture Plans, by Sue Harvey, Vancouver, Canada; and Creative Placemaking, by Pru Robey, Artscape, Toronto, Canada. >>>

10.   ICD Internship Opportunities

The Institute for Cultural Diplomacy in Berlin (ICD) focuses on spreading cultural understanding and aims to create a unique and exciting voluntary internship opportunity for students and cultural diplomacy enthusiasts worldwide. The voluntary Internship programs are intentionally designed to create a unique multicultural centre for young people from around the world. >>>

11.   The Best in Heritage

Reminder: Conceived as a worldwide, annual survey of award-winning museum, heritage and conservation projects, The Best in Heritage conference will take place in Dubrovnik, Croatia, on 27 - 29 September 2012. >>>

12.   3rd Conference of the Asian Borderlands Research Network

During the 3rd Asian Borderlands Research Conference, to be held in Singapore on 11-13 October 2012, presentations will address continuities and ruptures along routes and borders in Asia, broadly related to the theme of Connections, Corridors, and Communities. >>>

13.   Strategic Arts Management Master Class / The HUB Rovereto

The new three-days Hub at Rovereto, Italy, to take place on 12-14 October 2012, offers experiences and evaluations through the analysis of emerging arts and cultural markets, professional strategic alternatives, the value of creativity, financial and human resources management, communication tools, and the governance of cultural territories, engaging participants in a final discussion on their own ideas and projects. The registration deadline is 5 October 2012. >>>

14.   African Creative Economy Conference 2012

Hosted by the Arterial Network, the African Creative Economy Conference, to take place in Dakar, Senegal, on 14-16 November 2012, will offer researchers, artists, civil society, donors and cultural workers from 40 African countries the opportunity to network, and participate in practical analysis and reflection on the African creative economy from an African perspective and reality. >>>

15.   19th Meeting of the Banlieues d'Europe Network

For its 19th meeting, the Banlieues d'Europe network will tackle the major challenge of examining the place and the role of culture as a form of citizen's action and participation, faced with the issues of social cohesion that question geographic frontiers as well as the frontiers of imagination. The meeting entitled The Role of Culture Faced with the Rise of Nationalism in Europe - Citizens' Resistance! will take place in Turin, Italy, on 21-23 November 2012. >>>

16.   Handbook on Tolerance and Cultural Diversity in Europe

A new publication on cultural diversity offers vital orientation for teachers and students coping with an increasingly pluralistic Europe. Resulting from the EU-funded Accept Pluralism project, the Handbook on Tolerance and Cultural Diversity in Europe is designed to serve the needs of high school and university students as well as teacher trainers. The publication is being translated into multiple languages and has been adopted worldwide by the teacher-training programme of The International Baccalaureate Programme. >>>

17.   From Here to Diversity: Globalization and Intercultural Dialogues

Cambridge Scholars Publishing has selected From Here to Diversity: Globalization and Intercultural Dialogues, by the Centre for Intercultural Studies, for the August Book of the Month (Social Sciences), after considering it a bookstore hit. The book examines the motivations, characteristics and implications of cultural interactions in their perpetual movement, devoid of spatial or temporal borders, in a dangerous but stimulating indefinition of limits. >>>

18.   The 1st Heritage Forum of Central Europe

The book sums up The 1st Heritage Forum of Central Europe, which was held in Krakow, Poland in July 2012. This important initiative was called into being by the International Cultural Centre (ICC). The Forum's first edition created a unique opportunity to sum up the past twenty years of transitions and transformations in the field of culture and heritage in the region of Central Europe. >>>

19.   60 Years On: Bridging Past, Present and Future

On the occasion of the 60th anniversary celebrations of the European Festivals Association (EFA), the festival network released its jubilee publication and first film entitled 60 Years On: Festivals and the World. >>>

20.   L'Observatoire, la revue des politiques culturelles

The latest issue of L'Observatoire, la revue des politiques culturelles de Grenoble, no.40/Summer 2012, includes a dossier on the participation of inhabitants in the artistic and cultural life. >>>

21.   Herito, Krakow International Cultural Centre's Quarterly

The Krakow International Cultural Centre (ICC) published the 7th issue of its quarterly Herito, under the title Stories form Countries Which Are No More, taking a look at whether the time elapsed since the disintegration of the East block helped a sober judgement or whether it coloured memories with nostalgia. >>>

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