Initiated by the Ministry of Education, Science, Culture and Sport of Georgia with the support of the Government of Georgia a new long-term program/campaign “Georgia, Europe” has been elaborated and launched in 2019 with an ultimate objective to promote Georgia in Europe and Europe in Georgia though Arts and Culture.
As part of this programme, Toni Attard, Founder and Director of Culture Venture and Ragnar Siil, Managing Partner from Creativity Lab in Estonia, have been engaged by the Ministry of Education, Science, Culture and Sport of Georgia to develop with the Ministry the programming of a 2 day forum in Tbilisi, Georgia. The Forum, entitled Connecting Cultures – shaping a creative future for Georgia and Europe will be organised on the 6th and 7th of May 2019.
As Georgia builds a more dynamic and positive presence in Europe, its public institutions, its regions, its citizens and its creative communities are impacted by global developments. The relationship between Georgia and the rest of Europe is shaped by the strength of the relationship between Georgians and other Europeans. By placing culture at the heart of this process, Georgia, as a European nation, will contribute further towards a collective sense of togetherness and mutuality.
The forum, officially opened by the President and the Prime Minister of Georgia, will bring together diverse European voices, to assess the role of culture in fostering a creative voice for Georgia in European cultural diversity and the multiplicity of European creativity in Georgia. The aim is to showcase more Georgia in Europe, and more Europe in Georgia. The forum will provide a space for various stakeholders – policy makers, artists, cultural organisations, civil society platforms and creative entrepreneurs – to come together, debate and share good practices that provide insights on cultural relations and ways to overcome the challenges that may be hindering this creative dialogue.
Georgian and international speakers will provide diverse perspectives on shared cultural values, culture and creativity as soft power to enhance positive change, the impact and influence of culture and media and the role of the creative economy in fostering dialogue and prosperity.
The second day of the Connecting Cultures Forum will enable participants to explore further the different aspects of how culture and creativity can bring about positive change in our towns, regions and country as a whole. The in-depth workshops with practical approach by Europe’s leading experts will highlight the significant impact that culture and creative professionals have on creating cohesive society as well as innovative and sustainable economy.
The Forum will also serve as the launch of a yearly Regional Forum that will bring diverse stakeholders from across the region and beyond.