Newsletter
The Diversity of Cultural Expressions
Vol. 10, No. 13, Monday, July 26, 2010
Efforts to implement the Convention on the Diversity of Cultural Expressions are underway!
Editor's note
We are pleased to present this week’s News Bulletin on the diversity of cultural expressions. The Bulletin will be taking a summer break. We’ll be back on September 7. See you then!
In the meantime, you can still browse the headings and documents available on our website. We wish you a great summer of cultural exploration and discovery!
IN THIS ISSUE :
Convention Update
Press Releases, Speeches, and Declarations
- The Commonwealth Foundation launches a pioneering exchange program in the film industry
- France launches a mission on the future of digital radio
- The European Commission launches a call for tenders to create a European network of cultural experts
Recent Publications
- Website launched for the Interparliamentary Conference on the Diversity of Cultural Expressions (Québec City, February 2011)
- The Portal of Culture of Latin America and the Caribbean newsletter
- New book on cultural observatories and infrastructure and event mapping published in Spain
- Critical Arts - A Journal of South-North Cultural and Media Studies
- The Compendium newsletter, July 2010
- “The ABC of Copyright”
Cultural Policies and Measures – Best Practices
Other News of Interest
Convention Update
Efforts to implement the Convention on the Diversity of Cultural Expressions are underway!
The UNESCO Convention on the Protection and the Promotion of the Diversity of Cultural Expressions came into force on March 18, 2007. At the first session of the Conference of Parties to the Convention in June 2007, the Intergovernmental Committee was given a mandate to develop the necessary operational directives for implementing the Convention. Since then, three ordinary and two extraordinary sessions have been held, for a total of five. A fourth ordinary session will be held in December 2010.
The second session of the Conference of Parties, which took place in Paris on June 15 and 16, 2009, saw the adoption of operational directives concerning nine articles of the Convention. The Intergovernmental Committee was mandated to continue developing operational directives.
At press time, 112 Parties (111 states and the European Community as a regional economic integration organization) had ratified the treaty. Efforts to implement the treaty are well underway, but the mobilization campaign to encourage Member States who haven’t already done so to ratify the treaty must continue with commitment and conviction. The Convention’s legitimacy will be directly proportional to the number of countries from all parts of the world that ratify, accept, approve, or join the treaty.
- Why must states ratify this convention? To find out, see the January 16, 2006 edition of the Bulletin
- What is the procedure for ratifying the Convention? Find out about UNESCO’s ratification instructions
- Official text of the UNESCO Convention
- Parties to the Convention
Press Releases, Speeches, and Declarations
The Commonwealth Foundation launches a pioneering exchange program in the film industry
In a recent press release, the Commonwealth Foundation announces the implementation of an innovative exchange program in the film industry. The new model will promote twinning networks.
“Two world renowned film festivals are embarking on a pioneering exchange program to share the best of the Commonwealth’s diverse films and cultures. The exchange, taking place between the Zanzibar International Film Festival, Tanzania, and the Trinidad and Tobago Film Festival, will see films from one region screened at the other, in the first exchange of its kind to take place.
The objective of the twinning, a model initiated and supported by the Commonwealth Foundation, is to maximize the ability of both partners to promote and distribute African and Caribbean cinema to audiences throughout the Commonwealth, introducing them to new films, creating opportunities for networking and building lasting bridges among key film festivals.”
The exchange took place at the Zanzibar International Film Festival July 10–18. According to the press release, “This festival brings new talents together from all over the world. Each year, some of the most captivating and cutting-edge cinema from Africa and beyond is screened at venues across the island. […] The Trinidad and Tobago film festival seeks to highlight excellence in filmmaking. TTFF is a cutting-edge Caribbean film festival that continues to evolve and expand in celebrating expression and empowerment through film. With a series of well-organized workshops and events, TTFF is quickly emerging as the premier film festival of the Caribbean.”
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France launches a mission on the future of digital radio
The French government recently launched a mission on the future of digital radio. Prime Minister François Fillon and Minister of Culture and Communication Frédéric Mitterrand have confided the task to Mr. David Kessler.
Mr. Kessler will examine the progress of the digital cable radio project currently underway and weigh potential complementary measures to ensure digital radio meets the needs of listeners, producers, and content creators as well as the public purse. The findings of the mission are expected in late November 2010.
“Digital cable radio […] means the age of low frequency and FM is at an end. Stations will now produce digital audio signals with higher sound quality. Digital broadcasting frees up frequencies, giving rise to new stations and allowing new features like text and image broadcast. For example, as a song plays, the name of the artist is displayed along with an image of their latest album.
[…] Introducing digital cable radio is more than a technical issue; it is also ethical and political. As expressed by Frédéric Mitterrand at the seminar entitled Numérique : investir aujourd’hui pour la croissance de demain held September 10, 2009, at Maison de la Chimie, ‘It’s also a question of the diversity of cultural expressions. We need a lot more information, but we already know that when it comes to Internet TV and radio, governing bodies like CSA are currently unable to enforce the regulations that have ensured rights, rules, and civilized discussion in traditional media. We need to accelerate and develop the transition from traditional to digital broadcasting in order to protect funding sources and platforms for cultural diversity.’”
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The European Commission launches a call for tenders to create a European network of cultural experts
DG Education and Culture has launched an open call for tenders to set up a network of leading European centers and experts on culture. This network, which will consist of at least eight experts from the cultural field plus a scientific and a logistical coordinator, will advise and support the Commission in the analysis of culture policies and their implications at the national, regional, and European levels.
Experts should have a high standard of scientific excellence and substantial, up-to-date knowledge and understanding of culture policies and practices in Europe. They should have experience working with and advising culture and other public policy decision makers.
Proposals can be submitted until September 17, 2010.
For terms and conditions, please visit the European Commission website.
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Recent Publications
Website launched for the Interparliamentary Conference on the Diversity of Cultural Expressions (Québec City, February 2011)
The official website of the Interparliamentary Conference on the Diversity of Cultural Expressions (CIDEC 2011) is now online. The event will be held in Québec City, Canada, February 2–3, 2011.
“Organized by the Parliamentary Assembly of La Francophonie (APF) in collaboration with the National Assembly of Québec, the conference aims to take stock of the implementation of the Convention and initiate discussions towards a strategy to mobilize and support cultural sectors in French-speaking countries,” states Yvon Vallières, President of the National Assembly of Québec and President of the Parliamentary Assembly of La Francophonie.
According to French Senator and APF Secretary General Jacques Legendre, “This meeting will be an excellent opportunity for the parliamentarians of La Francophonie, allowing them to fully adapt the Convention on the Protection and Promotion of the Diversity of Cultural Expressions to their respective regions. It will also be an opportunity to forge strong ties with other parliamentarians and artisans working in the cultural sector in order to breathe new life into the Convention.”
With regard to CIDEC 2011, we also wish to draw attention to a speech by Mr. Vallières at the 36th session of the Parliamentary Assembly of La Francophonie held in Dakar July 6–8. In his speech, Vallières reiterated his commitment to “make the protection and promotion of the diversity of cultural expressions a priority” of the organization. The speech is available on the APF website.
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The Portal of Culture of Latin America and the Caribbean newsletter
A new edition of the Portal of Culture of Latin America and the Caribbean newsletter is now available online. The newsletter stems from the 17th Forum of Ministers of Culture and Officials in Charge of Cultural Policies of Latin America and the Caribbean held in Quito, Ecuador last April. It was created to share information on developments in Forum projects. Here are the topics covered:
- 17th Forum of Ministers of Culture and Officials in Charge of Cultural Policies of Latin America and the Caribbean (Quito, Ecuador, April 12–13, 2010)
- Travelling Caribbean Film Showcase
- Virtual Museum of Latin America and the Caribbean
- Caribbean Festival of Arts (CARIFESTA)
- Portal of Culture of Latin America and the Caribbean
- Caribbean Capacity Building Program (CCBP)
- CARICOM Children’s website
- Project SICSUR (MERCOSUR Cultural Information System)
The newsletter is available in French, English, and Spanish on the UNESCO website.
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New book on cultural observatories and infrastructure and event mapping published in Spain
A book entitled Observatorios culturales Creación de mapas de infraestructuras y eventos by Cristina Ortega Nuere was published this year by Editorial Ariel (Barcelona, Spain).
Here’s what the publisher has to say about what it calls “the first book to address the theme of observatories and cultural mapping”:
“Cultural observatories are a recent phenomenon arising from a society in which knowledge and information drive social, cultural, economic, and political development.
They provide references for creative industries. Their priorities are to observe, monitor, and share information on the cultural sector, provide in-depth analysis of the reality of individual communities, carry out research, and share their findings to help understand the effects of cultural phenomena and anticipate future scenarios.
Identifying and analyzing what is available on the cultural market requires maps that help us recognize and locate cultural infrastructure and events. The cultural map model used by cultural observatories is therefore an essential tool for measuring, analyzing, and evaluating current and future cultural policies.”
The 288-page book is available online at the Editorial Ariel website.
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Critical Arts - A Journal of South-North Cultural and Media Studies
Culturelink has announced the publication of the latest special edition of Critical Arts: A Journal of South-North Cultural and Media Studies. This issue, edited by Sonja Narunsky-Laden and entitled Cultural Economy, features articles examining the “post-transitional” economy of South Africa.
According to Culturelink, “Critical Arts is a non-profit project owned and produced by an independent group of academics who act as editors, associate editors, editorial consultants, and regional organizers. The journal is currently located in the Centre for Cultural and Media Studies at the University of Natal in Durban, where its editor-in-chief, Prof. Keyan Tomaselli, is director. The journal's editorial consultants and editorial associates are presently drawn from South Africa, Botswana, and Zimbabwe in Africa, and scholars in Scandinavia, England, the U.S., Canada, and Australia. The first issue was published in 1980. Critical Arts is a truly international journal, with international authorship, an international editorial board, and international readership. It regularly receives submissions from the rest of Africa ( Nigeria, Lesotho, Malawi, Ghana, Zambia, Namibia, Botswana, Ivory Coast, etc.) as well as from India, Australia, USA, UK, Belgium, France, and Ireland. Theme issue editors have been selected from South Africa, Namibia, the U.S., the U.K., and Australia.”
Contact: Sertanya Reddy, Editorial Coordinator, Culture, Communication, and Media Studies, Howard College Campus, University of KwaZulu-Natal, King George V Ave., Durban, 4001, South Africa; email: criticalarts@ukzn.ac.za
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The Compendium newsletter, July 2010
The July edition of the Compendium newsletter is now available on the Compendium Cultural Policies and Trends in Europe website. The topics addressed include organizational reform, policy development, new laws, and new statistical data.
The newsletter is available in English on the Compendium Cultural Policies and Trends in Europe website.
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“The ABC of Copyright”
UNESCO recently published a booklet entitled “The ABC of Copyright.” It is intended to address a wide audience of people concerned with the creation, circulation, and transfer of knowledge and provide answers to questions they may have about copyright. Its sole objective is to clarify a complicated subject by translating legal language into language that can be easily understood by everyone. The booklet is available online in French and English on the UNESCO website.
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Cultural Policies and Measures – Best Practices
Eurimages Co-production Development Award
The Council of Europe’s Eurimages Fund has joined forces with coproduction markets in Rotterdam (CineMart), Sarajevo (CineLink), and Rome (New Cinema Network) to confer the Eurimages Co-production Development Award. According to the press release:
“This €30,000 cash prize was created to promote the fund’s mission to encourage European co-production at every stage.
To be eligible, a project must be designed from the outset as a European coproduction—and not solely in financial terms—between at least two member states of the Eurimages Fund.
The prize will be awarded for the first time at the forthcoming Sarajevo Film Festival during the CineLink event held July 28–31, 2010.
Eurimages is a fund supporting the coproduction, distribution, and screening of European films. It was established by the Council of Europe in 1988 and has since supported 1,320 European co-productions with a total of approximately €397 million in funding. Since September 1, 2009, Eurimages has had 34 member states: Albania, Austria, Belgium, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, the Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, and Turkey.”
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Other News of Interest
France declares 2011 its Year of Mexico
After celebrating China (2004), Brazil (2005), Turkey (July 2009–March 2010), and Russia (2010), France will be honoring Mexico in 2011. This follows an initiative by the presidents of France and Mexico.
“Through hundreds of artistic, academic, scientific, gastronomic, economic, and technological projects, Mexico will present its rich heritage and creativity to the people of France. The Year of Mexico in France will give people an opportunity to see, hear, and read about the diverse identity and modern outlook of Mexico. The goal is to give French citizens from all walks of life a full panoramic view of Mexican art and life through scheduled events and an interactive bilingual platform for dialogue and virtual visits.
In addition to providing an exceptional view into Mexican life, this year will promote lasting partnerships between cultural agents, local groups, civil society, and businesses in our two countries,” states Culturesfrance.
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