Ireland highlights European Year of Intercultural Dialogue

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A two-day event in Brussels marking Ireland’s contribution to the 2008 European Year of Intercultural Dialogue was formally opened on Tuesday 4th November 2008 by the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism, Martin Cullen TD.  The event was organised and funded by the Department of Arts, Sport and Tourism and Culture Ireland, with contributions from other bodies including the Permanent Representation of Ireland to the EU, the Arts Council, Tourism Ireland and Fáilte Ireland. The principal aim of the initiative which includes a concert in the Leuven Institute for Ireland in Europe tonight, and a conference tomorrow Wednesday, is to present policies and grass roots initiatives in the arts, culture, audiovisual, sport and tourism sectors which have a strong intercultural dimension.

The event included a collaborative concert featuring composer and pianist Mícheál Ó Súilleabháin, who is also one of Ireland’s National Ambassadors for the Year of Intercultural Dialogue and Chair of Culture Ireland; vocalists Afel Bocoum (Mali), Liam Ó Maonlaí (Ireland) and Niwel Tsumbu (Congo/Ireland); percussionists Mel Mercier and Éamonn Cagney (Ireland); guitarist Kelly Hamadoun (Mali) and piper Paddy Keenan. The “Intercultural Ireland” Conference on Wednesday (5th November 2008) discussed a broad range of issues relating to Ireland’s policies and programmes which have a strong intercultural dimension.

Speaking about the European Year of Intercultural Dialogue, Minister Martin Cullen TD said: “The year is about recognising the modern realities of highly mobile populations globally, but also at a very personal level, how people interact and what measures we can take at a policy level to facilitate a positive dialogue between cultures, which helps people to recognise what we share and to respect what makes us different.”

 

Minister Cullen added: “2008 has been an opportune moment for us to take stock of what has happened in Ireland and also look at the experience of other Member States within the EU who have a longer history of inter-culturalism. The general objectives of the year are to promote dialogue as a process in which all those living in the EU and member states can improve their ability to live together in a way that acknowledges and celebrates diversity, and also promotes shared values.”

 

Eugene Downes, Chief Executive of Culture Ireland said: “In terms of intercultural arts practice, there are some exemplary projects to celebrate but also much more to be done – the artistic potential in intercultural exchange is immense.  The more exposure we have to diverse cultures, the more we can appreciate our own, and our understanding of each is enriched.  It is the ultimate win-win scenario."

Editor’s note: In preparation for the year, the Department of Arts, Sport and Tourism established a steering group comprising a broad range of government departments and stakeholders from civil society including NGO’s and other bodies working with minority ethnic groups, unions, business representatives, and agencies including the Arts Council and Culture Ireland.

 

The national strategy that emerged from these consultations emphasised the importance of dialogue as one of the key components in building an intercultural society in Ireland which values diversity, equality and interaction but which also values a shared sense of place and cohesion.  The strategy was launched in Dublin last January by President Mary McAleese.

 

For further information contact:

Madeline Boughton

Director of Projects and Promotion

Culture Ireland

+353 1 631 3906

madelineboughton@dast.gov.ie