Cultural Diplomacy in Europe: A Forum for Young Leaders (Berlin, February 16th - 20th, 2009) will explore the question of how Cultural Diplomacy can create sustainable intercultural relations within Europe based on dialogue, understanding and trust. The Forum is designed with the intention of bringing together young, influential people from Europe and across the world, in order for them to gain an insight into Cultural Diplomacy, to exchange ideas and experiences, and to learn from influential figures. Participants will develop contacts on both a social and professional level, and participate in challenging discussions.

The curriculum of the Forum has been developed to provide the participants with clear examples of how Cultural Diplomacy has been, and is being, used in different areas and by a range of different actors. Participants will benefit from insights and presentations from leading figures in the fields of international relations, business, academia, and the media. These will be followed by question and answer sessions, group analysis, and discussions of the case studies. This structure encourages critical consideration of how the examples considered may be transferred to the relationship between the European countries.

Participants will consider a wide variety of issues related to Cultural Diplomacy within Europe, including:

• The history and development of Cultural Diplomacy.
• How Cultural Diplomacy is conducted by individual European countries, and by the European Union.
• An analysis and exploration of some of the main cultural divides in Europe, and a consideration of how they can be addressed through Cultural Diplomacy.
• A consideration of why some countries are pro-European and others Euro skeptic.
• The potential for sport as a platform for dialogue and cultural exchange
• The challenges EU enlargement presents and the potential for Cultural Diplomacy to complement this process.
• An analysis of stereotypes associated with “Western” and “Eastern” Europe.
• A consideration of the potential for art as a platform for dialogue and cultural exchange
• Opportunities and challenges for cultural diplomats on the local, national and international levels

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Institute for Cultural Diplomacy