From the Focal Point

Intercultural Integration

In January 2015, the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe adopted Recommendation CM (2015)/1 to member States on intercultural integration. Based on the knowledge and experience of the Intercultural Cities programme, the Recommendation endorses the intercultural approach to diversity and inclusion as it remedies the shortcomings of past policies and enables the realisation of the advantages of diversity.

Having regard to the pioneering work of the Council of Europe in the field of intercultural dialogue, in particular the White Paper on Intercultural Dialogue: Living Together as Equals in Dignity, the Committee of Ministers notes that access to citizenship, education, public services, the labour market and cultural life can only be equitable if governance and institutions are designed for culturally diverse communities and managed by culturally competent individuals and teams.

The Committee of Ministers acknowledges that cities are laboratories for policy innovation which can make an important contribution to social cohesion by adopting the intercultural approach. The text points out that the intercultural integration approach includes in particular actions such as promoting public discourse which emphasises shared values and strives to build a pluralistic and diverse urban identity; developing policies, institutions and services which are adapted to a diverse citizenry, intercultural competence of local officials and actors; and promoting active participation of all in local governance.

The Recommendation invites cities to make use of Step by Step: Practical Guide for Applying the Urban Model of Intercultural Integration and asks states to take the urban model of intercultural integration into account when revising and further developing national migrant integration policies or policies for intercultural dialogue and diversity management.

New horizons for intercultural dialogue and intercultural integration? A number of events presented in this issue of C-News question this problématique, ranging from the McGill University conference on multiculturalism and multilingualism, the SIETAR Congress inviting contributions from all disciplines and fields that deal with intercultural issues, the IACCM conference on education for cross-cultural competence and the Laval University conference on cultural diversity, to the book project on innovative perspectives and new approaches to Migration, Identity, and Space.

Culturelink Team

1.   CALL FOR CHAPTERS: MAPPING MIGRATION, IDENTITY AND SPACE

As conflicts over identities and space continue to erupt on a regular basis, while those from previous eras are far from resolved, the book Mapping Migration, Identity and Space will provide readings of the relationship between migration, identity and space from a fresh and innovative perspective. The deadline for submission of abstracts is 15 May 2015. >>>

2.   RETHINKING THE REGION AND REGIONALISM IN AUSTRALASIA

The Regional Studies Association Inaugural Australasian Conference entitled Rethinking the Region and Regionalism in Australasia: Challenges and Opportunities for the 21st Century will be held at RMIT University, Melbourne, Australia, on 31 August - 2 September 2015. One aspect of the themes that could be considered and will be welcomed is the cultural dimension of change, as reflected in emerging approaches to addressing change by local governments across the world. The deadline for the submission of paper proposals is 11 May 2015. >>>

3.   HARMONIOUS DEVELOPMENT, COMMON PROSPERITY AND THE TRANSFORMATION OF CITIES AND REGIONS

The Regional Studies Association China Conference 2015 entitled Harmonious Development, Common Prosperity and the Transformation of Cities and Regions will take place at Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China, on 25 - 27 November 2015. The aim of this conference is to consider the ways in which cities and regions throughout the world are facing up to and can adapt to new challenges. The deadline for submission of paper proposals is 31 July 2015. >>>

4.   FOR AND AGAINST MODELS OF OFFICIAL MULTICULTURALISM AND MULTILINGUALISM

The international interdisciplinary conference For and Against Models of Official Multiculturalism and Multilingualism will take place at McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada, on 5 - 7 May 2016. Scholars will be invited to take a hard look at the socio-linguistic realities of official language groups in various countries and regions. The deadline for the submission of paper proposals is 1 May 2015. >>>

5.   CALL FOR ENTRIES FOR THE COMPETITION MUSIC THEATRE NOW 2015

The Music Theatre Network of the International Theatre Institute is pleased to announce a new call for entries for the worldwide competition Music Theatre NOW. For the third time, this project is being supported by the German ITI-Centre. The main purpose is to promote creative exchange among creators of new opera and music theatre from around the globe. The deadline for entries is 30 June 2015. >>>

6.   SIETAR EUROPA CONGRESS 2015: REFRESHING THE CULTURAL PARADIGM

Registration is open for the SIETAR Europa Congress 2015 to be held in Valencia, Spain on 21 - 23 May 2015. The organiser invites those engaged in business, training and research as well as media and arts to participate and share contributions from all disciplines and fields that deal with intercultural issues. >>>

7.   INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE ON THE UNESCO CONVENTION ON THE PROTECTION AND PROMOTION OF THE DIVERSITY OF CULTURAL EXPRESSIONS

The international conference on the UNESCO Convention on the Protection and Promotion of the Diversity of Cultural Expressions: Ten Years After its Adoption, Issues and Challenges for Cultural Policies of States will take place at Laval University, Quebec, Canada, on 28 - 30 May 2015. It will allow for a review of the Convention's achievements and to identify challenges State Parties should consider in the coming years. >>>

8.   CONTEMPORARY APPROACHES IN TRAINING AND EDUCATION FOR CROSS-CULTURAL COMPETENCE - POTENTIALS, CHALLENGES AND ITS LIMITS

The IACCM (International Association of Cross-Cultural Competence and Management), SIETAR Austria and CEMS are organizing an international conference on contemporary approaches in training and education for cross-cultural competence in Vienna, Austria, on 1 - 3 October 2015. This conference brings together scientists and practitioners alike in order to foster the dialogue between practice and theory in the cross-cultural field. >>>

9.   CULTURAL MAPPING: DEBATING CULTURAL SPACES AND PLACES

The Valletta 2018 Foundation, responsible for implementing the European Capital of Culture (ECoC) project in Valletta and Malta in 2018, will be holding the Second International Conference on Cultural Relations in Europe and the Mediterranean in Valletta, Malta on 22 - 23 October 2015. The conference will seek to develop a better understanding of how various mapping practices are developing over time. >>>

10.   ELIA LEADERSHIP SYMPOSIUM: DOMINANCE/DIVERSITY/DISRUPTION

ELIA is announcing that the 7th ELIA Leadership Symposium hosted by the African Arts Institute will be held in Cape Town, South Africa, on 1 - 4 December 2015. The ELIA Leadership Symposium brings together influential leaders from higher arts education institutions and universities across the globe for an important discussion on current issues in leadership in higher arts education. >>>

11.   CULTURE AND SUSTAINABILITY IN EUROPEAN CITIES. IMAGINING EUROPOLIS

This book represents an interdisciplinary insight into the complex thematic of culture and sustainability in the urban age. This is an essential volume for researchers and postgraduate students in urban studies, cultural studies, cultural geography and urban sociology as well as for policymakers and practitioners wanting to understand the specificity of European cities as hubs of innovation, creativity and artistic industriousness. >>>

12.   NO CULTURE, NO EUROPE. ON THE FOUNDATION OF POLITICS

The essays analyse and describe both theoretical models and straightforward, concrete and provocative examples that clarify the central thesis: culture is an essential, binding fabric of investigating and assessing our identity, our human activities and how we can critically reflect on these. What would happen if culture succeeded in giving the European project a completely different meaning of sense? >>>

13.   HERITAGE FOR DEVELOPMENT IN SOUTH-EAST EUROPE

The essays in this book present, for the first time in published form, a systematic comparative overview of cultural heritage policy and its impact - specifically in the field of immovable heritage such as archaeological and historic sites - in Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Macedonia, Montenegro, Romania and Serbia. >>>

14.   FESTIVAL STATISTICS: KEY CONCEPTS AND CURRENT PRACTICES

This handbook describes the theories, concepts and practices that currently inform and are used in the effective measuring of festivals across the globe. It identifies prevailing theoretical perspectives on measuring festivals, current policy constructs concerning the collection of data on festivals, as well as best practices and processes for festival data collection and statistics based on experience from around the world. >>>

15.   COMMUNITY ARTS CENTERS AND NETWORKS PROCEEDINGS

The First World Summit of Community Arts Centers and Networks Proceedings proposes a different perspective, in which the arts fulfil their participatory and creative potential, thus serving the society rather than the imperative of economic growth. Such a call is really needed in the contemporary European Union, where conflicts and exclusions are rapidly increasing due to a concerning rise of far-right mentality. >>>

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