ARS BALTICA conference - summary
(2009 12 07 14:40)
On 26th November 2009 ARS BALTICA conference: cultural policies for the Baltic Sea Region was held in the Baltic Sea Cultural Centre in Gdańsk.
The conference was opened by Lawrence Okey Ugwu, Director of the Baltic Sea Culture Center - the host of the Conference. Key-note speeches were delivered by Jan Kozłowski, Marshal of Pomorskie Voivodship, Tomasz Merta, Vice-Minister Polish Ministry of Culture and National Heritage and Dr Ekkehard Klug, Minister of Education and Culture, Land Schleswig – Holstein.
Invited expert speakers (among others Ilona Kish, Secretary-General Culture Action Europe, Chris Torch – Artistic Director of Intercult, Sweden; Vice-president Culture Action Europe and Anthony Jay, Council of the Baltic Sea States) gave the participants a new perspective and overview on the transformation processes on the European level and on regional level in the Council of the Baltic Sea States. There was also a presentation given by a BSR Strategy expert Krystyna Wróblewska (Head of International Department in the Office of the Marshall of Pomorskie Voivedoship), responsible for tourism and cultural heritage. Although the cultural sector is not highlighted in the Strategy, there are 3 flagship projects (out of 80), where artistic creativity might become an important factor.
Very refreshing were also the presentations of 6 European Capitals of Culture (present, future or candidating) around the Baltic. It was evident that there is a new quality on cross-sectoral approach in culture in our Region, with a lot of innovative, brilliant artistic ideas connected to ecology, tourism, creative industries, urban renewal. There are great “tailor-made” tools in the Baltic cities, which for ARS BALTICA cultural policy makers could be now a challenge, how to promote and support this potential and how to connect and stimulate the respective cities to cooperate in the “Balticness spirit”.
The conference marked the occasion of terminating the tenure of ARS BALTICA Secretariat in Gdansk at the Baltic Sea Cultural Centre of the last 6 years. Since 1 January 2010 the ARS BALTICA Secretariat will be located in KulturZentrum Salzau / next to Kiel under the auspices of Land Schleswig – Holstein.
On Friday, 27th November the 38th ARS BALTICA Organising Committee meeting in Gdansk was held.
See the photogalery of the conference in the article below.
Read about the backgrounf of the conference here.
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