International Cultural Cooperation and Cultural Policies

The dynamics of  trans-national cultural cooperation have led to fundamental organisational changes, including a departure from mainly government sponsored and controlled activities and the emergence of driect or horizontal exchanges between artists, producers, arts organisations or cities. In addition, policy strategies and legislative frameworks related to international cultural cooperation are being revised and new priorities are being set which link culture to other fields such as tourism, urban regeneration or economic development.

The updated Compendium country profiles provide more detailed information on how national governments and other actors are addressing these issues (see Organisation & Trends). They report on: main structures and trends; public actors and cultural diplomacy; European / international actors and programmes; direct professional co-operation; cross-border intercultural dialogue and co-operation and other relevant developments.

A comparative overview of national government approaches to international cultural cooperation is available in the "comparisons" section.

Related information systems such as the LabforCulture provide additional information and case studies on the cultural cooperation activities of artistic initiatives, funding bodies and NGOs in Europe. An analysis of the new Compendium resources on international cultural cooperation contributed to the "Gateway to European Cultural Cooperation" project (G2CC); this collaboration of the European Cultural Foundation, ERICarts, the Fondazione Fitzcarraldo and On the Move has been a main content driving force behind the LabforCulture development in 2005 and 2006.

The LabforCulture is a Resource Partner  of the Compendium, together with the European Heritage Network, IFACCA and ConnectCP.