2006-12-19
Cultural Co-operation between Europe & Asia. An ever-increasing priority?
The current boom in Asia is not only economic but also cultural. The Asian region as a whole and individual states, in particular China and Vietnam, have developed into a region of increased priority in the field of cultural co-operation. Cultural co-operation, however, has always been tied to other strategic goals. The growing interest in the Asian region is above all also political, historical, diplomatic and last but not least economic.
Cultural co-operation between single European states and Asia seems to become more and more of a priority, while cultural co-operation at European level is still mainly taking place in the framework of development work. From time to time, the European Commission also supports cultural projects in Asia under the Cotonou partnership. The European Commission welcomes projects, which aim to increase exchange with Asia and likes the fact that European cultural institutes are showing increased interest in Asia and that some of them have been able to gain ground in the region. The British Council, the Alliance Française and the Goethe Institut have increasingly shifted their work towards Asia, because their foremost goals, language learning and the promotion of their cultures no longer seem that urgent. This is due to intensive co-operation that makes Europe seems more international and smaller than ever.
Co-operation at national level is very different to initiatives at European level. At national level most of the projects realised are one-off ventures while projects at European level are mostly initiated through calls for proposals and are meant to be more sustainable. Film and audio-visual media seem to be a priority both at national and at European level and also play an important role in the co-operation with Asia. Intensive cultural co-operation at European level takes place mostly between member states and within European territory. Due to programmes like Culture 2000 (2007) by the European Commission, co-operation is mostly multilateral. However, some countries represented by cultural institutes and embassies still insist on the importance of bilateral cultural activities and agreements in addition to multilateral co-operation.
Not only co-operation with Asia but also within the Asian region has increased substantially over the past few years. The Asian culture ministers meet on an annual basis and the last Asia Culture Co-operation Forum took place in Hong Kong in only November 2006. The Asian region is growing together, through increased co-operation, as is Europe, and is monitoring the process of European integration, co-operation and developments in the field of linguistic and cultural diversity. This process is intensified through increased mobility, growing international experience of the younger generations and intensive information exchange in the region. Therefore, the interest in cultural co-operation can by no means be seen as one-sided, seeing that Asia definitely also has an eye on Europe.
The Asia-Europe Foundation (ASEF), a multilateral organisation located in Singapore has a special role in co-operation between Europe and Asia. ASEF was founded in 1997 by 10 Asian and 15 EU states and has since then already grown by another 3 Asian and 10 European states. The foundation promotes sustainable relations between the regions and is also very active in the cultural field. Its goals are the networking of artists and practitioners, the promotion of information exchange and the dialogue between practitioners and policy makers.
ASEFs answer to the question of how the interest in cultural co-operation with Asia has developed over time was that the interest had always been mutual but there is now a deeper interest in the creation of not just one-off partnerships with other arts organisation in the other region but long-term sustainable partnerships or platforms for exchange. In the field of new media there is a special interest in joint cultural projects. There are also many possibilities in this field, due in part, to the nature of the media themselves, which allow for long-distance collaboration to take place at a relatively low cost.
The mobility of artists is now more important than ever as a growing number of artists wish to show their work in Asia and vice versa. ASEF also says that there is an increased perceived need for funding artists mobility between Europe and Asia. In both regions there is also a growing need for information on education, funding opportunities, exchange programmes, research etc. which lead to co-operation and exchange. ASEF is currently developing a web portal, which will serve as a virtual meeting space and aims to facilitate the exchange of ideas and bilateral co-operation between artists and practitioners of both regions.
Another type of co-operation takes place through various artistic networks, which exist in large numbers, particularly in Europe. According to ASEF, European networks have started to expand to include Asian countries, while at the same time Asian artists are looking for partners for co-operations in Europe. In addition, Visiting Arts, an organisation in London, which promotes intercultural understanding through the arts, offers information for artists, practitioners and officials who take interest in cultural co-operation. Visiting Arts has already published a few very detailed country profiles of Laos, Vietnam, Cambodia and Japan that aim to facilitate the kick-off of joint cultural projects.
The interest in cultural co-operation between Europe and Asia seems to be present at all levels; individual, national, European and international level as well as through networks. The ever-growing exchange of information and the set up of information portals combined with increased mobility of people are a great help to those who wish to engage in co-operation with Asia. While cultural co-operation and networking between Europe and Asia certainly furthers mutual understanding between both regions, at the same time, however, it also contributes to increasing cultural globalisation.
Co-operation at national level is very different to initiatives at European level. At national level most of the projects realised are one-off ventures while projects at European level are mostly initiated through calls for proposals and are meant to be more sustainable. Film and audio-visual media seem to be a priority both at national and at European level and also play an important role in the co-operation with Asia. Intensive cultural co-operation at European level takes place mostly between member states and within European territory. Due to programmes like Culture 2000 (2007) by the European Commission, co-operation is mostly multilateral. However, some countries represented by cultural institutes and embassies still insist on the importance of bilateral cultural activities and agreements in addition to multilateral co-operation.
Not only co-operation with Asia but also within the Asian region has increased substantially over the past few years. The Asian culture ministers meet on an annual basis and the last Asia Culture Co-operation Forum took place in Hong Kong in only November 2006. The Asian region is growing together, through increased co-operation, as is Europe, and is monitoring the process of European integration, co-operation and developments in the field of linguistic and cultural diversity. This process is intensified through increased mobility, growing international experience of the younger generations and intensive information exchange in the region. Therefore, the interest in cultural co-operation can by no means be seen as one-sided, seeing that Asia definitely also has an eye on Europe.
The Asia-Europe Foundation (ASEF), a multilateral organisation located in Singapore has a special role in co-operation between Europe and Asia. ASEF was founded in 1997 by 10 Asian and 15 EU states and has since then already grown by another 3 Asian and 10 European states. The foundation promotes sustainable relations between the regions and is also very active in the cultural field. Its goals are the networking of artists and practitioners, the promotion of information exchange and the dialogue between practitioners and policy makers.
ASEFs answer to the question of how the interest in cultural co-operation with Asia has developed over time was that the interest had always been mutual but there is now a deeper interest in the creation of not just one-off partnerships with other arts organisation in the other region but long-term sustainable partnerships or platforms for exchange. In the field of new media there is a special interest in joint cultural projects. There are also many possibilities in this field, due in part, to the nature of the media themselves, which allow for long-distance collaboration to take place at a relatively low cost.
The mobility of artists is now more important than ever as a growing number of artists wish to show their work in Asia and vice versa. ASEF also says that there is an increased perceived need for funding artists mobility between Europe and Asia. In both regions there is also a growing need for information on education, funding opportunities, exchange programmes, research etc. which lead to co-operation and exchange. ASEF is currently developing a web portal, which will serve as a virtual meeting space and aims to facilitate the exchange of ideas and bilateral co-operation between artists and practitioners of both regions.
Another type of co-operation takes place through various artistic networks, which exist in large numbers, particularly in Europe. According to ASEF, European networks have started to expand to include Asian countries, while at the same time Asian artists are looking for partners for co-operations in Europe. In addition, Visiting Arts, an organisation in London, which promotes intercultural understanding through the arts, offers information for artists, practitioners and officials who take interest in cultural co-operation. Visiting Arts has already published a few very detailed country profiles of Laos, Vietnam, Cambodia and Japan that aim to facilitate the kick-off of joint cultural projects.
The interest in cultural co-operation between Europe and Asia seems to be present at all levels; individual, national, European and international level as well as through networks. The ever-growing exchange of information and the set up of information portals combined with increased mobility of people are a great help to those who wish to engage in co-operation with Asia. While cultural co-operation and networking between Europe and Asia certainly furthers mutual understanding between both regions, at the same time, however, it also contributes to increasing cultural globalisation.
An background report by Ulla-Alexandra Mattl, correspondent, London
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