CDCULT: Newsletter N° 1

Newsletter N° 1 - December 2010

The Secretariat is pleased to issue the first edition of a newsletter especially designed for you, the Steering Committee for Culture delegates, with information on the latest developments in the activities overseen by the CDCULT.

A new impetus for the Council of Europe Cultural Routes

The Council of Europe Cultural Routes initiative has been given a new impetus by the decision to create an Enlarged Partial Agreement. The Agreement will allow Council of Europe member states, as well as other interested countries, to join efforts in developing thematic trans-national cultural routes as tools for cultural co-operation, quality tourism and regional development. The new structure will increase the resources available for the setting up and promotion of cultural routes and thus enhance their visibility and their social, cultural and economic impact.

The solid partnership with the European Commission already established in this field, will be reinforced in the framework of the new Agreement. Cultural Routes are expected to become an important element of the European Tourism Strategy and in particular for cultural tourism – tourism which is sustainable, ethical and social, because it builds on local knowledge, skills and heritage assets, and which Europe as a destination for a quality cultural experience. (more...)

More information

Culture policies and actions portal

2010 calendar

Country profiles

Documentary resources

CDCULT meetings

Bureau Meeting of the CDCULT

Council of Europe Paris Office, 22-23 November 2010

The 9th Bureau meeting of the Steering Committee for Culture (CDCULT) studied the latest developments of the Council of Europe reform process and reviewed the CDCULT 2011 activities programme.

The Bureau discussed a paper on "Culture and Cultural Heritage in conflict prevention, resolution and reconciliation – the Council of Europe approach" and the preparations of the 2011 World Summit on Intercultural Dialogue (April 2011, Baku, Azerbaijan) as well as first plans for a proposed Conference of Ministers of Culture in 2012, hosted by the Russian Federation (subject to agreement by the CM as part of the review of Conferences of Specialised Ministers).

Finally, the CDCULT Bureau heard progress reports on the various cultural policy and action projects it oversees: Compendium; CultureWatchEurope; Cultural Policy Reviews; Intercultural Cities; Cultural Routes and its forthcoming Partial Agreement; Council of Europe Art Exhibitions and Cultural Events; Artists for Dialogue and Film Policy.

List of decisions

4th Ordinary session of the Intergovernmental Committee for the Protection and Promotion of the Diversity of Cultural Expressions

29 November - 3 December 2010, UNESCO Headquarters, Paris

The session dealt with the development of operational guidelines for Articles 9, 10, and 19 of the Diversity Convention as well as the implementation of the International Fund for Cultural Diversity. The Council of Europe, being an Observer, participated and highlighted the relevance of the Organisation's information instruments (Compendium, HEREIN, European Audiovisual Observatory) with a view to the reporting tasks by European signatory states. (more...)

Intercultural cities: communities oriented toward the future

An International information seminar on "Intercultural cities: communities oriented toward the future" was held in Melitopol (Ukraine) from 25 to 26 November 2010. Ukrainian cities and partner cities from Europe participated to this meeting in order to formulate intercultural city strategy and to develop the collaboration between cities of Ukraine and Europe. (more...)

Council of Europe Cultural Events Label – call for 2011 candidates

The label is awarded annually to a small number of exceptional and innovative cultural projects organised in Europe which convey a strong message relevant to the Council of Europe’s work and critical issues of European societies. The deadline for entries is the 30 June 2011.

Application form

CultureWatchEurope 2010 Conference Reader

The conference reader on "Culture and the Policies of Change" is now available on the website of the Council of Europe. Steve Green (EUNIC) volunteered to write up the final report covering the broad range of issues dealt with by the event. Also included are detailed outcomes of the discussions of the nine thematic work groups that met in the framework of the conference. A printed version of the work will follow in early 2011 and we will alert you to this by mail.

Conference folder

Russian Federation: cultural policy review

The Russian Federation is planning to update its previous cultural policy review and will engage in a focused exercise as of 2011. Work will begin in January with a Secretariat and expert visit to Moscow where the precise parameters and work schedule of the policy review with the Russian Authorities will be defined.

Special folder

The European Route of Historical Thermal Towns becomes reality

The Council of Europe has awarded the "European Route of Historical Thermal Towns" by adding it to its Cultural Route's programme. The ceremony took place on 25 November 2010 in Vichy in the framework of the "Journées d'Automne du Thermalisme". Mr Corne, President of the European Historical Thermal Town Association, received the certificate in the presence of Mr Claude Malhuret, Mayor of Vichy and Mr Jean-Pierre Audy, Eurodeputy.

CDCULT delegates are invited to help CultureWatchEurope and Compendium works through voluntary contributions, in line with previous decisions of the Committee.