International Cultural Policy Conference, for the first time in Bucharest

On June 30th, 2022, the National Institute for Cultural Research and Training organised the International Cultural Policy Conference: Culture & Cultural Policies in Times of Crisis. Effects, Roles, Transition, initiated by Compendium of Cultural Policies & Trends Association.

The event took place at the National Library of Romania and the guests of the official opening were: Sergiu Nistor – Presidential Counsellor, Lucian Romașcanu – Minister of Culture, Andrei Țărnea – General Director for Communication and Public Diplomacy, Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Carmen Croitoru – General Director, National Institute for Cultural Research and Training.

“On behalf of the President of Romania, it is my privilege to encourage you to address the important issues facing culture in these times of crisis; identifying the appropriate means and tools to increase public participation in cultural life, sharing the richness of our European cultural diversity and common cultural heritage”, said Sergiu Nistor – Presidential Counsellor.

“We will have to adapt to this new reality of crisis so that we can guide the culture in the right direction. This is a major challenge for all fields, especially culture. I believe this Conference will stimulate new ideas and new ways forward. Culture creates its own flow. It travels, it moves, it follows the artists, and it is up to us to create the right policies, to formulate a clear vision and a strategy for the future that will help those who work in the cultural field”, underlined Lucian Romașcanu – Minister of Culture.

“Culture is the primary means of communicating and signalling values and is as important for identity as it is for propaganda or influence campaigns. But culture is also a source of dialogue, understanding and cooperation, be it cross-border or international cooperation. Culture is also a structural force that generates processes, institutions and frameworks so that communities and countries exist, thrive and develop. Protecting heritage, mobility of artists, cultural sovereignty – all these are a priority in a context like the current one”, said Andrei Țărnea – General Director for Communication and Public Diplomacy, Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

“This is an essential moment for Romania that places our country on the international map of cultural policies. We are honoured to be co-organisers of this event, initiated by the Compendium of Cultural Policies & Trends Association, which brings together experts in cultural policies and strategies from all over Europe with cultural professionals and administrators in Bucharest, in an effort of solidarity and resilience across geographical borders. The Conference is also an opportunity to discuss the premises for the development of the Sectoral Strategy for Culture 2023-2030, which for the first time is based on a broad analysis of all Cultural and Creative Sectors in Romania”, said Carmen Croitoru – General Director, National Institute for Cultural Research and Training.

Among the personalities who were present as speakers, we were privileged to have: Milena Dragićević Šešić – Head of the UNESCO Chair for Interculturalism, Art Management and Mediation (Belgrade, Serbia), Oleksandr Butsenko – Director of the Development Centre “Democracy through Culture” (Ukraine) – online participation, Giuliana De Francesco – Director for the Coordination of European and International Affairs, Italian Ministry of Culture and Kathrin Merkle – Director of the Culture and Cultural Heritage Division, General Directorate for Democracy, Council of Europe (CDCPP).

For more details, click here.