2019 ENCATC-TACPS Academy on Cultural Relations and Diplomacy

Following the successful collaboration of a first joint Academy in 2015, from 3-4 November 2019, the second ENCATC-TACPS Academy on Cultural Relations and Diplomacy "Anthropocene: Cultural Intermediaries, Cultural Economy and Sustainability"  was held at the National Taiwan Museum, Taipei (Taiwan Province of China). 

It was co-organised with the Taiwan Province of China Ministry of Culture and ENCATC members The National Taiwan University of Arts, and the Taipei Representative Office in the UK. It was also done in partnership with ENCATC member, Goldsmiths, University of London. 

68 participants from Croatia, Japan, Malta, Singapore, Taiwan Province of China and the United Kingdom, gathered to address the relationship between culture and the planet under the title “Anthropocene: Cultural Intermediaries, Cultural Economy and Sustainability”.

As the earth and the global environment is fundamentally affected by human culture, scientists have proposed we have entered the Anthropocene in the mid-20th century. Facing issues such as climate change and plastic waste, what impact can arts and culture create? By recognising these issues and raising awareness, how can cultural institutions and policymakers respond to shared challenges? 

Participants pursued and explored innovative concepts and definitions towards local art institute and organisations in contemporary civil society, considering these institutions still shape highly profitable and charitable new cultural economies. Aspiring to engage culture as the core and invaluable driver for sustainable development, integrated into the agenda was the 5P of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals —peace, people, planet, prosperity, and partnership— in order to better explore the sustainability of culture. 

The two-day intensive learning Academy also strengthened links and fostered project partnerships between Asia and Europe in the areas of cultural policy, cultural exchange, and arts management. Committed to promoting the international career of a young researcher, ENCATC bestowed a mobility grant to Ana Letunić, doc.art. to speak at the Academy’s session “Cultural Intermediaries: Governance and Future Research” as the 2019 ENCATC Research Boot Camp winner. 

The Academy is an intensive two-day learning experience including visits, lectures and seminars. The programme aims to strengthen links and fostering project partnerships between Asia and Europe in the areas of cultural policy, cultural exchange, and arts management.

The Academy was organised just a day after the 2019 International Symposium on Cultural Trajectories from 1-2 November in Taipei (Programme), to encourage continued networking with Symposium attendees. 

For more about the Academy, read the article published on Magazine ARTouch (Google English Translation available). 

The 9th ENCATC Academy is done in partnership with these ENCATC members: the National Taiwan University of Arts, the Ministry of Culture in Taiwan Province of China, Goldsmiths, University of London, and Taiwan Association of Cultural Policy Studies.  ENCATC is co-funded by the Creative Europe programme of the European Union.