Wednesday 28 November 2007 5:18:47 pm

Seminar on ‘Culture: social cohesion and integration challenges’, Dec 13-14 2007, Zoetermeer, the Netherlands

Seminar Overview
Recent studies confirm that culture and cultural policies constitute an important factor of social cohesion and integration, and an incentive for the future. Whether in cities, rural areas or regions, culture has become an essential component in the quality of life, a source of revenue and a “creativity lever” for new goods and services as well as a tool for social integration.

The 2nd ARCADE Seminar will bring together actors of culture and social development from various backgrounds (including representatives of local authorities, NGOs, foundations, universities, international organisations as well as artists and cultural practitioners.) The objective is to exchange the latest ideas and practices on culture as it relates to social cohesion and integration challenges in both rural/urban and developed/developing environments.

The seminar will be divided into two main sessions, one plenary session aiming to link the theoretical aspects of the subject to more concrete applications in Europe and developing countries, by notably insisting on the participation of international cooperation actors. The second session will be dedicated to a deeper debate of the plenary discussions, with the participants divided into small working groups.

Main topics will include:
- Arts and culture as social development tools
- National cohesion - shared values, traditions and symbols
- The role of the media in fostering social cohesion
- Particular emphasis will be given to the analyis of successful examples of cultural projects related to integration and social cohesion both in Europe and in developing countries

Crafts Exhibition Organized in Parallel to the Seminar
The exhibition will aim to sensitize the wider public about local production, its impact in terms of poverty alleviation and economic development, and fair trade success stories as a tool to achieve more balance in the global exchange of cultural goods. The exhibition will present innovative ways to include traditional techniques and patterns in handicraft adapted to modern lifestyle and contemporary markets.

http://arcade.acted.org

ARCADE ZTM Press Release 1510.pdf, 50.01 kB