A Soul for Europe
ARS DOR wil participateat at the:
“A Soul for Europe”
Forum Cluj – Culture and Urban Development
27-28 October 2009
Fabrica de Pensule, Cluj
Forum Cluj is a platform for cooperation between civil society and decision-makers that aims to gain a new understanding of regional and urban development, one that includes and makes use of its cultural dimension.
The forum brings together representatives of the EU Institutions, national government and local authorities, as well as experts and civil society representatives from different European countries to identify means to build on this cultural dimension for the benefit of cities and regions.
They are invited to share practical knowledge on how to use cultural resources, and lay emphasis on the potential of contemporary culture and civil society initiatives to effectively impact on democratization processes, social and economic development, education, foreign affairs and community development (see the programme).
By this, the event contributes to the action sought for by the European Parliament through its resolution on the Role of culture in the development of European regions (April 2009).
Forum Cluj – Culture and Urban Development is organised by A Soul for Europe Initiative and AltArt Foundation. The Forum Cluj is based on the experience of previous forums in Belgrade(March 2007, October 2008), Pécs (November 2007), Skopje (April 2008), Lyon (October 2008) and Sofia (2009).
The Forum takes place inside Fabrica de Pensule / the Paintbrush Factory, a new independent space for contemporary arts initated by a group of 40 artists, curators, cultural managers and producers in Cluj.
Alt Art Foundation Cluj in co-operation with the “A Soul for Europe” Initiative.
Partners
German Cultural Centre Cluj, Foundation for Urban Projects and Research, Fabrica de Pensule, www.madeincluj.org
Supported by
Agency for Governmental Strategies Romania AFCN – Administration of the National Cultural Fund Trust for Civil Society in Central and Eastern Europe Soros Foundation Romania in the framework of East-East: Partnership Beyond Borders Program
Contact
Rarita Zbranca, Director of the AltArt Foundation and member of the “A Soul for Europe”Strategy Group
Berlin Conference “A Soul for Europe”, 14/15 November 2008
On 14 and 15 November 2008, high-ranking representatives from European politics and the economy, cultural representatives and young players in European civil society will come together for the third Berlin Conference to discuss the role of culture in the future organisation of Europe with regard to politics, the economy and civil society. The opening speakers are Hans-Gert Pöttering, President of the European Parliament; Norbert Lammert, President of the German Bundestag; and Richard von Weizsäcker, Former Federal President of Germany. Under the motto “What Europe needs now”, deficits as well as opportunities will be discussed; strategies on increased involvement, particularly on the part of young citizens, as well as the role of European institutions will be deliberated. With: among others, Ján Figel’, EU Commissioner; Dessy Gavrilova, The Red House Centre, Sofia; Miklos Marschall, Transparency International; Frans Timmermans, Minister of European Affairs, The Netherlands; and Dejan Ubović, Kulturni Front, Belgrade.
The significance of European culture and the interactions between politics, culture and the economy in a globalised world will be touched upon as main issues by, among others, Erhard Busek, South-Eastern European Cooperative Initiative; Meglena Kuneva, EU Commissioner; John C. Kornblum, Former U.S. Ambassador to Germany; Catherine Mühlemann, Media Manager; Louis Schweitzer, Renault S.A.; and Farid Tabarki, Coolpolitics, Amsterdam. On the second day of the conference, the panel “A Europe for European Citizens” will discuss the options for creating a European public and introduce specific projects. Participants include: Mark Beundermann, NRC Handelsblad Rotterdam; Elmar Brok, MEP; Rarita Szakáts, AltArt Foundation; Nevenka Koprivsek, Power Station/Bunker Ljubljana; Thomas Krüger, Federal Agency for Civic Education (Bundeszentrale für Politische Bildung). Strategies for the increased recognition and utilisation of the potential of culture for European integration will be formulated by, among others, Dario Disegni, Compagnia di San Paolo; Xavier Troussard, EU Commission; Luc van den Brande, Committee of the Regions, Brussels. The initiative “A Soul for Europe” and the Berlin Conference will be supported by Stiftung Zukunft Berlin, Compagnia di San Paolo, Fundaçao Calouste Gulbenkian, Riksbankens Jubileumsfond and the Robert Bosch Stiftung. Starting in 2009, the initiative founded in Berlin in 2004 will also operate from Amsterdam, Porto, Belgrade and Brussels. An international network of around 40 young players from culture, education, politics and the media will then support the initiative and develop strategies for action.
The conference will take place at Dresdner Bank, Pariser Platz 6, and is open to the press. The pressconference will take place on 14 November at 12:00 p.m. With: Hans-Gert Pöttering, President of the European Parliament; Verena Knaus, European Stability Initiative as well as Nele Hertling and VolkerHassemer, “A Soul for Europe” initiative.
