Cooperation – national, regional and international – is essential for the small state of Liechtenstein in the heart of Europe. The Ministry of Culture and the Ministry of Education are responsible for cooperation with the Council of Europe, the EEA, the EU and the Lake Constance/Rhine Valley region. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs is responsible for cultural events at the embassies in Bern, Vienna, Berlin, Strasbourg, Brussels, Washington and New York, as well as for its involvement in the UN. In 2008, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs had stepped up its dialogue with UNESCO. However, there is no government policy for Liechtenstein to join UNESCO for the time being.
As a member of the United Nations since 1990, Liechtenstein is particularly committed to human rights (see 2.1).
Liechtenstein has been a member of the Council of Europe since 1978 and is also involved in European cultural projects. The cultural objectives of the Council of Europe – promoting diversity, identity and creativity – are reflected in Liechtenstein’s cultural policy. Liechtenstein has signed the European Cultural Convention and the European Conventions for the Protection of Architectural and Archaeological Heritage. In 2007, for the first time, the government defined culture as a mandate of foreign policy in order to take cultural creation out into the world: through embassies, through its involvement in the “Steering Committee for Culture” of the EEA and in the “Steering Committee for Cultural Heritage” of the Council of Europe, by collaborating in the cultural commissions of the International Lake Constance Conference (ILCC), by cooperating with the cantons of Eastern Switzerland and with the Austrian province of Vorarlberg. Liechtenstein is currently represented by the Office of Cultural Affairs in the Steering Committee for Culture, Heritage and Landscape (CDCPP) of the Council of Europe. CDCPP is the committee responsible for activities related to culture, heritage and landscape and for following up on their implementation, monitoring and evaluation. The exchange with the neighbouring countries of the Lake Constance region is particularly lively. In 1998, Liechtenstein joined the International Lake Constance Conference (ILCC), represented by the Office of Cultural Affairs (see 1.2.3). Every two years, the ILCC initiates encounters of artists in rotating domains of the arts. The purpose is to promote artistic dialogue across borders in the Lake Constance region. Partners in southern Germany, Vorarlberg, Graubünden, Tyrol and the Principality of Liechtenstein, for example, took a closer look at the history of the “Swabian children”. The cooperative project was supported by the Interreg IV programme of the EU entitled “Alpine Rhine – Lake Constance – High Rhine”.
Since 2013, Liechtenstein has made use of the worldwide network of libraries of the Goethe Institute of the Federal Republic of Germany (EU). These now also offer publications from Liechtenstein on the country’s history and culture. Both countries have close and multifaceted cultural relations. This includes a long-standing presence at the Frankfurt Book Fair and an intensive exchange with the Berlin district of Treptow/Köpenick. Since 2006, artists from Liechtenstein have been able to live and work in a studio in Berlin. Furthermore, the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD) enables German students or university teachers to spend time in Liechtenstein. In turn, Liechtensteiners are given the opportunity to study, teach or conduct research in Germany.
Relations with Austria (EU) and the customs treaty partner Switzerland (EFTA) are of central importance for Liechtenstein (EEA/EFTA). In 2015, Austria and Liechtenstein signed a cultural agreement. With the signing of a memorandum of understanding in February 2016 between Austria and Liechtenstein, musical talents from Liechtenstein can also take part in the renowned youth music competition “prima la musica” at the national level in Austria. The two countries further consolidated their cooperation in 2020. This also includes the expansion of the “Liechtenstein shelf” in 65 Austrian libraries in more than 28 countries – a window for Liechtenstein culture and literature out into the world.
Switzerland and Liechtenstein have had a dense network of treaties for around 100 years. In 2019, an agreement also came into force that complements the existing opportunities for music education in Liechtenstein. The programme “Youth and Music”, or “Y+M” for short (see 5.1), aims to facilitate access to music for children and young people. But it also offers associations – for example, harmony bands, choirs and all those involved in music – additional opportunities and possibilities for further training and certification.
At the same time, representatives from the Ministries of Culture and Education work closely with Swiss partners. For example, the Archaeology Division of the Office of Cultural Affairs is represented in the Conference of Swiss Cantonal Archaeologists (KSKA) and the Archaeology Commission of the Canton of Zurich. It also cooperates with the Ludwig Boltzmann Institute for Archaeological Prospection and Virtual Archaeology Vienna (LBI). The Monument Preservation Division of the Office of Cultural Affairs is a member of the Conference of Swiss Monument Conservators (KSD) and is also involved in the interdisciplinary coordination committee of the Swiss Federal Office for the Environment (FOEN), such as on earthquake issues. The Liechtenstein Cultural Foundation works with the Conference of Cultural Officers of Eastern Switzerland (KBK). In the area of education, the Liechtenstein Ministry of Education and the School Board exchange information in specialist groups of the German-Swiss Swiss Conference of Cantonal Directors of Education (D-EDK).
With their “cultural diplomacy”, the diplomatic representatives, in particular, contribute to Liechtenstein’s international prestige. In 2019, for example, exhibitions and lectures were held at Liechtenstein’s embassies in Bern, Berlin, Washington and Vienna to mark the 300th anniversary of the Principality. Art and cultural creation as well as the history of Liechtenstein played a central role in that context.
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