The opening session started with the speech on behalf of the host – the European Economic and Social Committee by Mrs. Anne-Marie Sigmund, a member of the EESC.

Mrs. Sigmund introduced the notion of culture as a dynamic system of values, a societal system comprising the arts, education science and contributes the social realities and a carrier of the sustainable development.

Gabriela Battaini-Dragoni (Director General of Culture, Heritage, Youth and Sport, Council of Europe) then introduced main issues the conference is addressing, thus looking into new policies of change.

"It is only through culture that we will find the responses to today’s challenges", such as ecology, intolerance, social and economic problems. It is through policies deeply rooted in the shared values of human rights, democracy and rule of law, we can overcome these challenges – fostering the dialogue among governments and involving strongly the civil society.

You can read her opening remarks to the conference on the Culture and the Policies of Change website.

This post is part of the "Culture and the Policies of Change" reporting on LabforCulture.
Read more at http://www.labforculture.org/cweconference2010