From the Focal Point

When Former Ministers of Culture Speak...

In its latest issue, L'Observatoire, a review of cultural policies (www.observatoire-culture.net), had the wonderful idea of gathering several former French ministers of culture to ask them some questions about their initiatives and work. Thus, Jacques Toubon (1993-1995), Catherine Trautmann (1997-2000), Catherine Tasca (2000-2002), Jean-Jacques Aillagon (2002-2004), Christine Albanel (2007-2009), Aurélie Filippetti (2012-2014) and Fleur Pellerin (2014-2016) each answered four, at the same time retrospective and prospective questions: What measures were taken at the time of their mandates that they were proud of? Is there any decision they regret not to have been implemented? What surprised them most during their mandates? Which orientation or project should be given priority in the coming years?

It was interesting and instructive to read their answers. Of course, the answers differ because the points of view and the approaches to the issues of culture of the former ministers differ, but, above all, some themes proved to be crucial for cultural policy of both today and tomorrow, and common to all. Primarily, this holds true of artistic and cultural education, i.e. the necessity of an improved intersectoral connection of culture and education (in the 1980s the efforts of minister Jack Lang were particularly strongly oriented towards this goal). Catherine Tasca calls it "rapprochement of two administrative cultures, which are far removed from one another". Then, there is the issue of the digitalization of culture, that enables new creative practices, the preservation and promotion of cultural diversity (referring to UNESCO 2005 Convention), the protection of cultural heritage and renovation of museums, cultural democratisation (access to culture for all citizens, especially for underprivileged and distant audience) and the decentralisation of culture. The need is emphasised for a deep reform of the Ministry of Culture, that could not be implemented mainly owing to the too short duration of the mandate (which is, as stressed by Jean-Jacques Aillagon, "an endemic disease of the Ministry of Culture"), and which was also the problem with the reform of the entire artistic education. Speaking about the future, Aurélie Filippetti states that "artistic education for all children from the earliest age should be the mother of all battles: all echelons of collectivities should take part in it". Without any doubt, in times of global fundamental social changes, cultural education must be among the educational priorities, instead of being continuously reduced in the education systems. Effort should be undertaken to rethink cultural policy, whose future lies in the interweaving with other public policies, particularly with policies of education, science and technology, as well as in international cooperation in response to the new development challenges. We should not forget that cultural policy by its very nature aspires to innovation and sustainability.

Dive into L'Observatoire, that valuable resource for all those devoted to cultural policy problématiques.

Biserka Cvjeticanin
Culturelink Network Director

1.   CALL FOR PAPERS FOR INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE ON HERITAGE AND IDENTITY

In 2018, the European Year of Cultural Heritage, the theme of the Interpret Europe Conference, to take place in Koszeg, Hungary on 23 - 26 March 2018, will be Heritage and Identity. The conference is organised by the Hungarian Association of Cultural Heritage Managers (KOME). The deadline for the submission of paper abstracts is 15 December 2017. >>>

2.   CREATIVE EUROPE CALL FOR COOPERATION PROJECTS RELATED TO EYCH 2018

The Education, Audiovisual and Culture Executive Agency (EACEA), responsible for the management of the Creative Europe programme, has published a call for cooperation projects related to the European Year of Cultural Heritage 2018 (EYCH2018). The call supports transnational cooperation projects and invites cultural actors across the EU to promote cultural heritage as a source of inspiration for contemporary artistic creation. The deadline for submissions is 22 November 2017. >>>

3.   OPEN CALL FOR THE ARTISTIC PROGRAMME OF THE IETM PLENARY MEETING 2018

The organising team of IETM (International Network for Contemporary Performing Arts) Plenary Meeting, to be held in Munich, Germany on 31 October - 4 November 2018, is looking for artists and companies from German-speaking regions to showcase their work as part of the artistic programme of the meeting. The artistic productions should already exist and deal with the topics of Europe / Participation / Future. The deadline for applications is 30 November 2017. >>>

4.   OPEN CALL FOR PROPOSALS TO SAFEGUARD DOCUMENTARY HERITAGE UNDER THREAT

The Prince Claus Fund, through its Cultural Emergency Response programme (CER), and the Whiting Foundation announce a new call for proposals for projects in Africa, Asia, Latin America and the Caribbean to safeguard documentary heritage that is acutely threatened by recent conflict or other disaster, whether natural or man-made. Proposals will be accepted until 31 December 2017. >>>

5.   CULTURAL PLANNING WORKSHOPS

The Centre for Cultural Planning and Development at the University of British Columbia provides online university-level training and education programmes focused on building the organizational and leadership capacities necessary to advance cultural development as a vital component of success and sustainability. Starting in November 2017, the Centre for Cultural Planning and Development offers a set of online professional development workshops. >>>

6.   COMPENDIUM EXPERTS ASSEMBLY: CELEBRATION OF THE 19th ANNIVERSARY

The 16th Assembly of experts/authors of the Compendium of Cultural Policies and Trends in Europe will take place in Prague, Czech Republic from 8 to 10 November 2017, within the framework of the Czech Republic's chairmanship of the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe. The Assembly will provide the opportunity to celebrate the 19th anniversary of this unique European cultural cooperation project in the area of policy information, trend analysis and monitoring of standards in the cultural policy. >>>

7.   2017 ASIA CULTURE FORUM: CULTURE, TECHNOLOGY AND CREATIVITY

The 2017 Asia Culture Forum will be held in Gwangju, Republic of Korea, on 13 - 15 November 2017, with the main theme of Culture, Technology and Creativity: Creative Industry and City in the Age of the 4th Industrial Revolution. The Forum will be organised by the Gwangju International Center. A Youth Camp is held alongside the Forum for young people around the world who are interested in culture and creative industries, providing a venue for the future leaders of Asian culture. >>>

8.   B.CREATIVE IN SHANGHAI: CREATIVE ENTREPRENEURSHIP AND URBAN CHALLENGES

b.creative - the global event for creative entrepreneurship - will be held in Shanghai on 15 November 2017 in the context of the High Level People to People Dialogue (HPPD) Summit between the European Union and China, taking place on 13 - 15 November 2017. The conference, which will focus on Creative Entrepreneurship and Urban Challenges, is organised in the scope of the EU co-funded project Creative Tracks, supporting young creative entrepreneurs worldwide and encouraging cross-cultural collaborations. >>>

9.   PARTICIPATORY GOVERNANCE IN CULTURE: EXPLORING PRACTICES, THEORIES AND POLICIES. DO IT TOGETHER

An international and interdisciplinary conference on Participatory Governance in Culture: Exploring Practices, Theories and Policies. DO IT TOGETHER is organised by the Kultura Nova Foundation, Zagreb, Croatia, in partnership with Rijeka 2020 LLC. The conference will take place on 22 - 24 November 2017 in Rijeka, Croatia. >>>

10.   2017 EUROPEAN CULTURE FORUM

The European Culture Forum is a biennial flagship event organised by the European Commission to raise the profile of European cultural cooperation, to bring together the cultural sectors' key players and to debate EU culture policy and initiatives. Its 2017 edition, to be held in Milan, Italy from 7 - 8 December 2017, will also mark the official launch of the European Year of Cultural Heritage 2018, the thematic EU year devoted to our common cultural assets and all their aspects. Register by 10 November 2017. >>>

11.   ANNUAL CONFERENCE ON CULTURAL DIPLOMACY 2017

The Annual Conference on Cultural Diplomacy is the world's leading event in the field of cultural diplomacy hosted and organized by the Academy for Cultural Diplomacy, Berlin, in partnership with other leading institutions at the end of each year. This year, the conference entitled Promoting Global Collaboration, Unity and Peace through Cultural Diplomacy will take place in Berlin, Germany, on 19 - 22 December 2017. >>>

12.   2018 MUSEUM CONNECTIONS

Museum Connections is an international event intended for museum and tourism professionals focusing on exhibitions and conferences. The next edition of the Museum Connections event will take place in Paris, France, from 17 to 18 January 2018. E-badges are free until 1 December 2017. >>>

13.   INTERCULTURAL TRENDS IN THE EURO-MEDITERRANEAN REGION

A new survey from the Anna Lindh Foundation on Intercultural Trends in the Euro-Mediterranean Region reveals that the region is not a victim of a clash of civilizations, as is often reported, but rather a 'clash of ignorances' based on historical stereotypes and the 'culturalisation' of conflicts promoted by some media and political narratives. >>>

14.   YOUTH AND THE MEDITERRANEAN: EXPLORING NEW APPROACHES TO DIALOGUE AND COOPERATION

Published by the Istituto Affari Internazionali (IAI) and the New-Med Research Network, the edited volume Youth and the Mediterranean: Exploring New Approaches to Dialogue and Cooperation collects the revised and updated versions of eight policy papers produced by outstanding young scholars and activists from the Middle East and North Africa. >>>

15.   TOWARDS CULTURAL DEMOCRACY: PROMOTING CULTURAL CAPABILITIES FOR EVERYONE

The report Towards Cultural Democracy: Promoting Cultural Capabilities for Everyone, published by King's College London, presents a new agenda for cultural policy and practice in the UK, that call for a radical but pragmatic new approach to supporting the UK's arts and culture in all its diversity and richness. >>>

16.   MAKING SPACE FOR CULTURE - HANDBOOK FOR CITY LEADERS

The World Cities Culture Forum has published a report on Making Space for Culture - Handbook for City Leaders, the latest handbook in the forum's Policy and Practice Series. The publication explores how world cities are working to maintain and develop a dynamic mix of spaces and facilities for cultural production and consumption, amidst the current affordability crisis these cities are facing. >>>

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