From the Focal Point

STRENGTHENING THE DIVERSITY OF CULTURAL EXPRESSIONS

In March 2015, the European Coalitions for Cultural Diversity have registered as an international non-profit association with a permanent legal structure. Their goal is to strengthen their presence within European institutions in order to defend the future of culture and cultural policies in Europe. The four main strategic priorities of the association were defined as follows: defend a high level of protection for authors' rights; modernize the financing of creation, the cultural tax system, and regulations in order to adapt them to the digital world; safeguard the cultural exception in European Union trade negotiations; promote in Europe the 2005 UNESCO Convention on the Protection and Promotion of the Diversity of Cultural Expressions.

As early as 2005, an informal network of European Coalitions for Cultural Diversity was established at the same time as national coalitions for global cultural diversity. The association of European coalitions is made up of national associations from 13 countries (Austria, Belgium, France, Germany, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Portugal, Slovakia, Spain, Sweden, United Kingdom, and Switzerland).

In 2013, Culturelink organised an international conference on Cultural Diversity, Civil Society and International Cultural Cooperation in South East Europe focused around a set of key issues concerning the implementation of the 2005 UNESCO Convention, and aiming to analyse the possibilities for strengthening cooperation between the countries from South East Europe. In this context, the question was raised whether civil society in South East European countries had an interest in the creation of coalitions for cultural diversity, and a number of participants expressed their interest in strengthening cooperation by setting up coalition(s) and being part of the European Coalitions for Cultural Diversity as well as the International Federation of Coalitions for Cultural Diversity seated in Canada. Culturelink is open to all ideas and projects aimed at the realization of this important goal.

Biserka Cvjeticanin

1.   INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE ON GLOBAL STUDIES: BUSINESS, ECONOMIC, SOCIAL AND CULTURAL ASPECTS

The Athens Institute for Education and Research (ATINER) will hold its 9th Annual International Conference on Global Studies: Business, Economic, Social and Cultural Aspects, in Athens, Greece, on 17 - 20 December 2015. The deadline for submission of abstracts is 24 August 2015. >>>

2.   CALL FOR THE SUBMISSION OF PROPOSALS FOR COLLABORATION PROJECTS IN ARTS AND CULTURE - COLABs

A call for the submission of proposals for Collaboration Projects in Arts and Culture - COLABs has been open. Independent cultural organisations, networks, foundations and/or associations in the Balkans are invited to submit ideas for COLABs. The deadline for applications is 6 September 2015. >>>

3.   DIGITAL-CULTURAL ECOLOGY AND THE MEDIUM-SIZED CITY

The international conference on Digital-Cultural Ecology and the Medium-Sized City, organised by the journal Architecture_MPS, the Center for Moving Image Research (CMIR) and the University of Western England will take place in Bristol, UK, on 1-3 April 2016. This conference focuses on how medium-sized cities from across the world are adapting to the economies, practices and infrastructures of the digital age. The deadline for abstracts is 1 November 2015. >>>

4.   CULTURAL PALIMSESTS: ETHNIC WATERMARKS, SURFACING HISTORIES

The Tenth Biennial Conference of MESEA, the Society for Multi-Ethnic Studies: Europe and the Americas, will be held at the University of Warsaw, Poland, on 22 - 24 June 2016. MESEA welcomes paper and panel proposals from scholars in a wide range of disciplines, including ethnic and race studies, literary, cultural and film studies, (art) history, etc. The deadline for the submission of proposals is between 15 August and 15 November 2015. >>>

5.   THESEUS AWARD FOR PROMISING RESEARCH ON EUROPEAN INTEGRATION 2015

The THESEUS Award for Promising Research on European Integration 2015 distinguishes an excellent piece of work of a junior researcher in the field of European Integration, which analyses an ongoing challenge for the European Union and its member states. Application deadline is 1 September 2015. >>>

6.   CANON FOUNDATION IN EUROPE: RESEARCH FELLOWSHIP APPLICATIONS

Each year, to contribute to international understanding between Europe and Japan, the Canon Foundation in Europe grants up to 15 Research Fellowships to highly qualified European and Japanese researchers. The deadline for applications is 15 September 2015. >>>

7.   PhD PROGRAMME IN VISUAL ART AND DESIGN: RESEARCH IN AND THROUGH ARTISTIC PRACTICE

PhDArts offers an international, high-level doctorate in visual art and design at Leiden University and the Royal Academy of Art, The Hague, The Netherlands. The PhDArts research trajectory consists of two elements: individual research and participation in the doctoral study programme. Application deadline: 1 October 2015. >>>

8.   SOMA: TWO-YEAR ACADEMIC PROGRAMME OPEN CALL

Founded by a group of contemporary artists working in Mexico and abroad, SOMA is an organization based in Mexico City dedicated to intercultural exchange in an immersive, innovative and learning experience. SOMA offers a two-year full time programme for training contemporary artists. Application deadline: 4 October 2015. >>>

9.   INTERNATIONAL SUMMER SCHOOL IN CULTURAL ECONOMICS ON VALUE OF CULTURE

The 7th International Summer School in Cultural Economics organised by CREARE (Centre for Research in Arts and Economics) on Value of Culture will take place on 25 - 27 August 2015 at Impact Hub, in Amsterdam, The Netherlands. The value based approach that this course covers is intended to anticipate, understand and deal with the big changes in the economy and in the cultural sector that are currently underway. >>>

10.   BEYOND THE OBVIOUS 2015

The international conference Beyond the Obvious 2015, organised by Culture Action Europe in collaboration with the Vastra Gotaland Region, Sweden, will be held in Gothenburg, Sweden, on 15-17 October 2015. The 2015 Conference will explore the growing tensions between the private interests and the public/common sphere, and will question their impacts on cultural rights and affairs. The 2015 Conference will tackle burning issues, proposing avant-garde approaches to their elucidation and solution. >>>

11.   COMMUNICATION FOR INTEGRATION (C4i)

The C4i-Communication for Integration project, co-funded by the Council of Europe and the European Commission, aims to create social networks in order to address negative but widespread, misconceptions (rumours, prejudices and stereotypes) about persons from diverse backgrounds and to provide evidence-based information to counteract such misconceptions. >>>

12.   WORLD CULTURES CONNECT: NEW INTERNATIONAL NETWORKING PLATFORM FOR THE CULTURAL AND CREATIVE SECTORS

World Cultures Connect is a new online meeting place for cultural managers and creative or artistic professionals to promote their work and services, discover and connect with new partners, tools and resources to support their international work. This project managed by the British non-profit organization Visiting Arts brings cultural managers and creative professionals around the globe closer together, and responds to an increasing need for international networking within the arts. >>>

13.   CULTURAL CONSUMPTION AND PARTICIPATION OF LATVIAN POPULATION IN CULTURAL ACTIVITIES 2007-2014

The publication of the research project Cultural Consumption and Participation of Latvian Population in Cultural Activities 2007-2014: Research Data and Statistics was released at the end of 2014. The implementation of the study has allowed to obtain data on the population's attitude to culture in general, the most convenient channels of information and communication for target audiences, factors influencing the selection of cultural events, cultural consumption (including on the Internet) and participation in cultural activities, as well as identification of new cultural infrastructure objects and willingness to visit them. >>>

14.   THE WIDER BENEFITS OF INVESTMENT IN CULTURAL HERITAGE

On the basis of detailed case studies, the book provides an overview of the main challenges facing cultural heritage in South-East Europe from a pan-European perspective and analyses the institutional and policy framework for effective sustainable rehabilitation. >>>

15.   FUTURE MEMORIES Online Publication

How is the memory of history expressed in the public space of African cities? What role does art play in processes of urban transformation? These are the questions addressed in the online publication Future Memories by the Institute for International Cultural Relations - ifa. >>>

16.   REDEFINING THE SYSTEM OF AUDIOVISUAL ACTIVITIES IN THE REPUBLIC OF CROATIA

In order to develop the creative industry, it is necessary to implement audiovisual activities both efficiently and effectively. To do so, it is necessary to redefine, develop and implement a set of strategies and instruments in the cultural policy of the Republic of Croatia in the field of audiovisual activities. >>>

17.   BANDUNG SPIRIT AND GLOBALIZATION

This year the 60th anniversary of the Bandung Conference is marked. The Conference, held in Indonesia in 1955, was fully sponsored and organized by Asian and African countries. Thus, it was the first joint action of the Third World in the post-war period, independent of the dual blocs of East and West. The Conference marked the beginning of the emergence of the Third World, the start of South-South cooperation and an overture of a multi-polar process in the world order. >>>

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