European Round Table Meeting, Cracow (Poland), 10-13 June 1999

Organised by CIRCLE, the Council of Europe, the Ministry of Culture and Art of the Republic of Poland and the International Culture Centre, Cracow.

This Round Table was organised to explore the evidence of policy and research responses to the changes in the international cultural policies of governments. According to the European Task Force on Culture and Development report In From The Margins, governments need ´to re-examine their cultural policies to reflect more adequately contemporary arts practice and the new political environment in Europe´. This Round Table was a direct response to the recommendation contained in the same report that a European conference should address this issue.
Cultural co-operation is not only about the flow of cultural goods and services; it is also about the exchange of ideas. Therefore, CIRCLE tried with the Round Table to promote a dialogue on how international cultural policies are changing. It examined the potential synergies between various governments departments in promoting or exporting their cultures and identify models of good practice. The potential for collaborations between cultural institutes to effect savings in administrative or other costs was also examined. In particular, the Round Table searched to establish whether governments or their agencies need to refocus their international strategies for the beginning of a new millennium.

For more information about the programme, speakers and debates, CIRCLE Members are invited to view the Conference Reader.

It is hoped that transcripts from most of the speakers presentations will be available on line shortly.