Denmark/ 4.2 Specific policy issues and recent debates  

4.2.7 Intercultural dialogue: actors, strategies, programmes

One of the main priorities in the new governmental programme A Denmark That Stands Together, amended in October 2011 and the Danish Presidency of the EU January  – July 2012 (see chapter 3.4) is to improve a more open identity and integration policy and strengthen intercultural dialogue (see chapter 4.1).

There is no specific legislation covering interculturalism, apart from the very important legislative frameworks for home rule in the Faeroe Islands and the self-governing system in Greenland which came into force on June 21 2009 (see chapter 4.2.4). In compliance with the Danish tradition of self-governance, responsibility for the implementation of cultural policy and cultural projects for cultural minorities, groups and communities lies with the institutions, institutes, councils and boards.

The Centre for Cultural Development / DCCD, The Danish Cultural Institutes and Danish Agency for International Education are the major organisers of intercultural dialogue in Denmark and abroad, financed by private and public funding. 

To some extent, the councils and boards within the agencies of the Ministry of Culture, the state cultural institutions and the local cultural institutions, spread over the country and funded partly by the state and the municipalities, also take responsibility in developing special programmes and measures for "the new Danes", refugees and other new audiences.

Examples of initiatives promoting intercultural dialogue are:

• the Danish Royal Theatre has reduced the ticket prices for refugees and immigrants to a tenth of the normal price (see chapter 4.2.4-4.2.8 and chapter 5.3);
• a local media institution took part in creating the television channel I-TV, a television channel for and about immigrants (see chapter 4.2.4); and
• the Danish Centre for Culture and Development (DCCD) promotes cultural co-operation between Denmark and the developing countries in Africa, Asia, the Caribbean, Latin America, and the Middle East. DCCD presents art and culture from the developing countries in co-operation with partners in Denmark and provides the framework for large initiatives such as the Images Festivals and information projects (see http://www.dccd.dk).

Additional Resources:

Government's overall approach to intercultural dialogue

Database of Good Practice on Intercultural Dialogue

Key Resources

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