How Do We Navigate Cultural Diplomacy? | New Report Launched!

ASEF through its arts and culture website, culture360.ASEF.org, together with the Arts and Theatre Institute (ATI) and the 18 participants of ASEF LinkUp | Asia-Europe Cultural Diplomacy Lab 2024 presents How Do We Navigate Cultural Diplomacy? Key Learnings, Challenges and Takeaways.

This report is based on the conversations, reflections and discussions from the second edition of ASEF LinkUp, a 4-day closed door event in the Czech Republic. Gathering in Prague from 10-13 June 2024, 18 participants from the arts and culture sector and the governmental and institutional representatives unpacked what, why and how artists, cultural professionals and institutions can deepen their international cultural relations practice.

Centered on 3 sections:

Principles for cultural diplomacy and international cultural relations
Challenges in building stronger cultural relations
"How can we advance cultural diplomacy?" Innovative approaches and collaborative strategies

Together, the group proposed several areas for improvement that can guide stakeholders involved in cultural diplomacy, to learn from one another, find solutions to the challenges they face and work towards a set of take-aways that should inspire international cultural cooperation.

We hope that this co-created report highlights the value of international cultural relations and contributes to the growing body of evidence advocating for the arts, heritage and cultural sector in both theory and practice.

We also hope that this report can offer some provocations and insights to stakeholders in the international cultural relations field, from local and regional governments, private foundations, civil society networks, to national and local cultural organisations and individual cultural professionals, to reflect on their role, how it fits in your contexts and practice and how you might like to go about approaching the future of cultural diplomacy.

Read the report: How Do We Navigate Cultural Diplomacy? Key Learnings, Challenges and Takeaways

Find out more about ASEF LinkUp 2024

Meet the Participants of ASEF LinkUp 2024

Highlights of ASEF LinkUp 2024