Within the platEU project the round table discussion entitled ‘Creative Labour as Platform Work: Infrastructures and Interactions’ was held on the 6th of June 2022 at 20h in Filodrammatica Gallery in Rijeka. The participants of the round table discussion were Ana Alacovska, Copenhagen Business School, Denmark, and Jamie Woodcock, The Open University, UK, while the moderator of the discussion was Valerija Barada, University of Zadar, Croatia. The introductory notes on behalf of the organizer of the Department for Culture and Communication, Institute for Development and International Relations were given by project coordinator Jaka Primorac. The round table gathered more than twenty cultural workers, artists, students and other interested citizens who actively participated in the final discussion. Before the beginning of the round table, the meeting of the Academic Board of the project was held at Drugo more premises, and the final programme of the events is available here.

The announcement of the round table together with speakers’ CVs can be found here.

The audio recording of the event is available at Mixcloud link.

Detailed report from the event can be found here (in Croatian only).

The Masterclass Lecture with Antonios Vlassis from the University of Liège, Belgium entitled ‘Online platforms, audiovisual industry and governance: lessons from the review of the European Audiovisual Media Services Directive’ was held in the hybrid format at the Academy of Dramatic Arts, F22 Hall, Frankopanska 22 in Zagreb and online on the 25^th of March 2022 from 17h to 19h.

The event was opened by the platEU programme coordinator Jaka Primorac from IRMO who was the organizer of the Masterclass, and by Davor Švaić, Dean of the Academy of Dramatic Art as the host and partner organization of the platEU project. The Masterclass was moderated by Jaka Primorac and the discussant of the programme was Paško Bilić from IRMO. The event was preceded by the meeting of the Organisation board of the project. The final programme of the events can be found here.

Video recordings of the Masterclass lecture and the discussion can be found at the following link. The report is available here.

Department for Culture and Communication at IRMO organized a round table entitled ‘Digital Cultural Politics: From Policy to Practice and Back’ as a part of the activities of the Erasmus+ Jean Monnet project ‘EU Policies and the Platformisation of the Cultural and Audio-visual Sectors – platEU’. The round table was held on the 4th of March 2022 in the Multimedia Hall of the University of Zadar. Partners in the organisation of the event were the Department of Sociology, University of Zadar and the Zadar Branch of the Croatian Sociological Association (HSD).

The meeting was opened by Valerija Barada on the behalf of the Department of Sociology of the University of Zadar as the host and the partner of the round table. Head of the Department Barada stressed that she was pleased that the Department of Sociology could host a round table on digital cultural policies and media regulation, as cultural sociology is one of the focus of the Department’s work. Professor Barada then gave floor to Marija Šarić, head of the Zadar Branch of the Croatian Sociological Association. Dr Šarić stressed how she was glad that the partnership at this round table was the first activity of the Branch after a long time, and stressed the importance of the meeting in the current socio-political context. Šarić then introduced the project coordinator and the moderator of the round table Jaka Primorac, who gave the context for the organization of the discussion and introduced the speakers. She noted how the inspiration for the organization of the round table was the book ‘Digital Cultural Politics: From Policy to Practice’ by Bjarki Valtysson from the University of Copenhagen, to whom she then gave the floor. Valtysson presented the key points of the book, and opened a discussion on public policy changes in the field of culture and media due to the growth of platforms, which put the issues of convergence and converging regulation at the centre of discussion. He advocated for critical digital cultural policies that take into account the overall complexity of regulatory frameworks, and that should be able to promote different public goals in such a complex and layered environment.

The next discussant was Aleksandar Brkić from the Goldsmiths University, who, using examples of the emerging digital environment of the Metaverse, pointed out the complexities and problems that the possible regulation of the new digital environment brings. He also stressed that the key problem of the cultural policy lies in the fact that instead of compensating for market failures, it is becoming more and more market-oriented. Giving examples of the UK Parliamentary ‘white papers’ and proposals for possible regulatory frameworks for platforms, Brkić concluded that such activities, although limited, are still better than leaving the platforms to market regulation, as its’ concerns are not only the issue of economy but also of democracy, public policy and the social contract.

In the next presentation, Paško Bilić connected to the issues presented in the previous discussion by asking what is really new that platforms bring, and what is the continuation or repetition of known aspects of capitalism and market economy. As a basis for his intervention, he used the arguments from the book ‘The Political Economy of Digital Monopolies: Contradictions and Alternatives to Data Commodification’, which he co-authored with Toni Prug and Mislav Žitko. Bilić emphasized that it is necessary to move away from the discourse of platform exceptionality, which is often present through markers such as platform capitalism, etc. Bilić pointed out that the business model on which platforms are based is the commodification of data produced by user activity, no matter what the content is. As a consequence of such an orientation, there is the spread of hate speech and fake news on these platforms. Due to the public pressures caused by these issues, the digital giants have finally opened up to the regulation. However, this shifts the focus away from the critique of their business model, and thus the possibility of banning the commodification of data. In his concluding remarks, Bilić advocated for the concept of public wealth, which he develops in the book together with Prug and Žitko. Public wealth refers to a different model of dealing with issues of public interest and infrastructure protection such as public health, science and education. The presentation was followed by a discussion in which the complexity of the overall regulatory framework was highlighted, the black box policy of platform algorithms was discussed, and the continuous lagging behind of public policies behind the (technological) practices was emphasized.

After the round table, the meeting of the Academic Committee of the platEU project was held. You can find the entire program of events at the following link.

As part of the Erasmus + Jean Monnet project ‘EU Policies and the Platformisation of the Cultural and Audiovisual Sectors – platEU’, the Department for Culture and Communication at IRMO organized a round table entitled ‘Towards Critical Digital Cultural Politics? EU, Platforms and Converging Regulation’. The round table was held on the 3^rd of March, 2022 in the Council Hall of the Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences, University of Zagreb. Partners in the organization of the event were: the Department of Sociology, Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences, University of Zagreb, and the Section for Sociology of Media of the Croatian Sociological Association (HSD).

The meeting was opened by Helena Popović on behalf of the Department of Sociology at the Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences as the host and the partner of the round table. She pointed out that the issue of regulation is an old topic of media studies and media research, and that she hopes that the discussions during the round table will be more focused on a broader contextualization of the problems that the development of online platforms opens for the cultural and media sector. Popović then gave the floor to the project coordinator and the moderator of the round table Jaka Primorac, who gave the context for the organization of the discussion and introduced the speakers. She noted how the inspiration for the organization of the round table was the book ‘Digital Cultural Politics: From Policy to Practice‘ by Bjarki Valtysson from the University of Copenhagen, to whom she then gave the floor. Valtysson presented the key points of the book and opened a discussion on public policy changes in the field of culture and media due to the growth of platforms, which at the center of the discussion put the issues of convergence and converging regulation. He advocated for critical digital cultural policies that take into account the overall complexity of regulatory frameworks, and that should be able to promote different public goals in such a complex and layered environment.

The next discussant was Aleksandar Brkić from Goldsmiths University, who, using examples of the emerging digital environment of the Metaverse, pointed out the complexities and problems that the possible regulation of the new digital environment brings. He also pointed out that he sees how the key problem of cultural policy lies in the fact that instead of compensating for market failures, it is becoming more and more market-oriented. Giving examples of the UK Parliamentary ‘white papers’ and proposals for possible regulatory frameworks for platforms, Brkić concluded that such activities, although limited, are still better than leaving the platforms to market regulation, as its concerns are not only the issue of the economy but also of democracy, public policy, and the social contract.

In the next presentation, Paško Bilić connected to the issues presented in the previous discussion by asking what is really new that platforms bring, and what is the continuation or repetition of known aspects of capitalism and market economy. As a basis for his intervention, he used the arguments from the book ‘The Political Economy of Digital Monopolies: Contradictions and Alternatives to Data Commodification‘, which he co-authored with Toni Prug and Mislav Žitko. Bilić emphasized that it is necessary to move away from the discourse of platform exceptionality, which is often present through markers such as platform capitalism, etc. Bilić pointed out that the business model on which platforms are based is the commodification of data produced by user activity, no matter what the content is. As a consequence of such an orientation, there is the spread of hate speech and fake news on these platforms. Due to the public pressures caused by these issues, the digital giants have finally opened up to regulation. However, this shifts the focus away from the problematization of the basis of their business model, for example, the possibility of banning the commodification of data. In his concluding remarks, Bilić advocated for the concept of public wealth, which he develops in the book together with Prug and Žitko. Public wealth refers to a different model of dealing with issues of public interest and infrastructure protection such as public health, science, and education. The presentation was followed by a discussion in which the complexity of the overall regulatory framework was highlighted, the continuous lagging behind public policies behind the (technological) practices was emphasized, and the need for a stronger accent on the bottom-up changes and applications was highlighted.

Before the round table, a meeting of the organizing committee of the platEU project was held. You can find the entire program of events at the following link.

The international conference ‘Perspectives of National Cultural Policies Development in the EU Context: Critical Dialogues’ organized by the Institute for Development and International Relations (IRMO) was held in Zagreb on May 17-19, 2017. The conference gathered cultural policy researchers, cultural professionals, cultural civil society representatives, policy-makers, students, and young cultural professionals from Europe and Croatia.

As an introduction to the main conference program (18-19 May), on the 17th of May 2017, two pre-conference activities took place, organized in cooperation with IRMO partners. The workshop ‘CAE Croatian Hub – Reflection exercise on the future of Europe’, was co-organized with the network Culture Action Europe within the framework of the project ‘EUROPE OF CULTURE: co-creating a cultural scenario’. Furthermore, in cooperation with the Academy of Dramatic Art, IRMO organized a pre-conference lecture by Ms. Corina Şuteu, cultural consultant, president of FilmETC, and former Minister of Culture of Romania.

The conference focused on the following themes:

• Cultural policies and the crisis in/of European Union – how to achieve sustainable cultural development?
• Strategies and tendencies of local cultural development in Europe: the role and impact of the European Capital of Culture project
• What kind of European comparative cultural policy research is needed today?
• National cultural policies in need of vision, innovation, and leadership.

‘’Culture is not simply a large and important sector of the economy, it is a ‘social software’ that is badly needed to manage the complexity of contemporary regional societies and economies in all of its manifold implications” said Professor Pier Luigi Sacco, from the IULM University in Milan during his keynote lecture ‘Making cultural policy matter in the EU agenda: key topics and perspectives’. The interesting lecture on the change that culture is undergoing, in the context of convergence, from Culture 1.0 to Culture 3.0 kickstarted the main conference program, set the tone for the next two days, and sparked interest for a lively discussion. In the course of the conference, the main speakers and participants reflected on how to make cultural policy matter on national or EU agendas, on the future of Europe and the place and role of culture in it, on prospects of achieving sustainable cultural development, etc.

By bringing into dialogue past experiences with present and future challenges the conference discussions tried to put in focus relevant questions that cultural policy must address in order to ensure an emancipatory and sustainable culture. The international conference “Perspectives of National Cultural Policies Development in the EU Context: Critical Dialogues” was attended by 110 participants – cultural policy researchers, cultural professionals, cultural civil society representatives, and policy-makers in the field of culture from Croatia and 16 European countries. This diversity of participants contributed to the widening range of the discourses and contributed to the breadth of discussions raised by the conference. The conference showed the key aspects of the changing cultural and media landscape today and how new approaches in cultural development and, thus, cultural policy, need to be made, which would take into account emerging concepts such as Culture 3.0, algorithmic culture, participatory cultural governance, and cultural power. The discussions and contributions of the participants who represented most domains of the cultural sphere – from artists and practitioners to researchers, executive managers, and political decision-makers – demonstrated not only awareness but also the ambition to (re)shape cultural policy in order for it to be able to respond to upcoming challenges.

Detailed CULPOL Conference Report (in English), List of participants, and participants’ reflections (in English and Croatian) are now available on the CULPOL website.

Other conference materials:

Programme-Culpol-conference-2017

CULPOL-Conference-Reader-2017-

Within the Third Stakeholders Group Meeting of the Jean Monnet project ‘EU Competencies and National Cultural Policies: Critical Dialogues’ (CULPOL), Dr Paško Bilić from the Department for Culture and Communication, IRMO and Dr Krešimir Krolo from the Department of Sociology, University of Zadar held an interesting lecture and discussion entitled ‘Internet Monopolies and Redistribution of Digital Wealth’ at the Multimedia institute MaMa in Zagreb on 24th May 2018.

The video lecture is available on the following link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_aaocPF9Ct4

The lecture was organised by the Department for Culture and Communication of the Institute for Development and International Relations (IRMO) in cooperation with the Media Sociology Section of the Croatian Sociological Association within the Jean Monnet project ‘EU Competencies and National Cultural Policies: Critical Dialogues’ (CULPOL).

The postgraduate course ‘Platformisation of cultural and audio-visual sectors in the European Union: new policies for new stakeholders’ was held at the Interuniversity Centre (IUC) in Dubrovnik, Croatia from 9-14th May 2022. The postgraduate course was organized as a part of the activities of the Erasmus+ Jean Monnet project entitled ‘European Union Policies and the Platformisation of Cultural and Audio-visual Sectors – platEU’ that is been executed by IRMO from 2020-2022.

Questions that the course tackled were: How can we interpret changes in EU policies relating to online platforms and cultural and audio-visual sectors? How are they balancing market competition with cultural diversity and pluralism? Can we talk about European digital cultural policies and what they entail? What new stakeholders are emerging and what new policies are created? What new types of creative labour practices are brought about by online platforms? What theoretical frameworks would be best suited to interpret these changes?

This interdisciplinary international course gathered twenty participants from Croatia and abroad, while the course lecturers were: Valerija Barada, University of Zadar, Croatia; Paško Bilić, Institute for Development and International Relations (IRMO), Croatia; Lilian Hanania, Hanania Consulting and Sciences Po Paris, France (via Zoom); Ole Marius Hylland, Telemark Research Institute, Norway; Kylie Jarrett, Maynooth University, Ireland; David Nieborg, University of Toronto, Canada; Jaka Primorac, Institute for Development and International Relations (IRMO), Croatia; Aleksandra Uzelac, Institute for Development and International Relations (IRMO), Croatia and Bjarki Valtysson, University of Copenhagen, Denmark. Within the programme, doctoral students presented drafts of their doctoral theses, and within the final day of the programme PhD workshop was held where doctoral candidates also had the opportunity for knowledge exchange with lecturers and their peers. This intensive course also included research visits to Art Workshop Lazareti and places of platform work in Dubrovnik.

The programme and the reader of the course are available at the following link.

Zagreb, Croatia, 3-4 June 2013

Organizers: Culturelink Network / Institute for Development and International Relations (IRMO) and Centre for Democracy and Law Miko Tripalo, in cooperation with the UNESCO Regional Bureau for Science and Culture in Europe (Venice) and the Croatian Commission for UNESCO

Framework: UNESCO / Culture: A Bridge to Development Initiative

Participating Countries from SEE: Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Greece, Macedonia, Montenegro, Serbia, Romania, Turkey

Others: Austria, France, Germany, Italy, Netherlands, Switzerland, Canada

Experts/Participants: 2005 Convention national focal points, Ministry and National Commission representatives, civil society, NGOs, cultural entrepreneurs, European experts, Culturelink Network members from the region and beyond

The „Cultural Diversity, Civil Society, and International Cultural Cooperation“ conference held in Zagreb, Croatia, on June 3-4, 2013, aimed to address the growing importance of cultural diversity in the face of globalization, migration, and digital advancement. Organized by Culturelink Network / IRMO, and the Centre for Democracy and Law Miko Tripalo in collaboration with UNESCO, the conference  gathered 55 participants from 16 countries across Southeast Europe and beyond, including government representatives, civil society actors, NGOs, cultural entrepreneurs, and experts. The conference emphasized the need for integrated approaches to cultural policy-making, recognizing cultural diversity not only as a heritage to be preserved but also as a resource for sustainable development and peace-building. Discussions revolved around strategies for integrating cultural diversity into development plans, promoting cultural policies through information exchange and awareness-raising, nurturing creativity in cultural expressions, and enhancing mobility and engagement of civil society.

Key themes of the conference included the integration of cultural diversity into sustainable development policies, the exchange and dissemination of cultural information, nurturing creativity in cultural expressions, and promoting mobility and civil society engagement. Participants discussed the challenges and opportunities in implementing UNESCO’s Convention on the Protection and Promotion of the Diversity of Cultural Expressions, emphasizing the role of civil society in fostering cultural dialogue and cooperation. The conference highlighted the need for continued collaboration and innovative approaches to address the complex issues surrounding cultural diversity in the region and beyond, aiming to foster mutual respect, understanding, and sustainable development through cultural cooperation and exchange.

Zagreb, Croatia, 13-15 November 2009

Organizers: Culturelink Network / Institute for Development and International Relations (IRMO)

With the support of: UNESCO Office in Venice – UNESCO Regional Bureau for Science and Culture in Europe (BRESCE); Humanist Institute for Development Cooperation (Hivos); Ministry of Science, Education and Sports, Croatia; Ministry of Culture, Croatia

The Third World Culturelink Conference held in Zagreb from November 13 to 15, 2009, brought together around 130 participants from around the world to discuss the evolving aspects of culture in the 21st century, with a focus on networking. The conference marked the 20th anniversary of the Culturelink Network, established in 1989 by UNESCO and the Council of Europe, and aimed to investigate the role and relevance of cultural networks in contemporary cultural development. Over the course of the event, four plenary sessions were held, addressing topics such as the history and current trends of cultural networking, the effects of ICT and digital culture on networking dynamics, cultural networks and cultural policy, and the evolving networking culture.

Presentations and discussions highlighted the challenges and opportunities posed by cultural networking, including issues related to evaluation, sustainability, and the changing nature of cultural practices in the digital age. Participants explored the impact of new technologies on artistic creation, communication, and cultural interaction, emphasizing the need for adaptation, education, and regulation. The conference concluded with calls for action to address key issues such as trade in cultural goods and services, the implications of the Internet for culture and development, and media concentration. Overall, the event underscored the importance of cultural networks in fostering dialogue, cooperation, and innovation in an increasingly interconnected world.

Palace Hotel, Zagreb, Croatia, 20-21 November 2008

Organizers: Culturelink Network / Institute for Development and International Relations (IRMO)

The international round table on “Intercultural Dialogue and Digital Culture,” held in Zagreb, Croatia in November 2008, brought together over forty participants – cultural researchers, policy experts, and practitioners from various regions to discuss the intersection of digital culture and intercultural dialogue. Organized by the Culturelink Network and supported by UNESCO-BRESCE, the Ministry of Culture of the Republic of Croatia, and the Department for Culture Education and Sports of the City of Zagreb, the event was Culturelink’s contribution to the 2008 – European Year of Intercultural Dialogue and aimed to explore the potential of digital culture in fostering intercultural understanding. Key themes addressed included the evolution of intercultural dialogue in a globalized context, challenges such as prejudices and Islamophobia, and the role of digital technologies in facilitating communication and collaboration across cultural boundaries.

Throughout the sessions, speakers emphasized the transformative impact of digital culture on communication practices and societal norms. Discussions ranged from the changing dynamics of cultural identity in the digital age to the ethical implications of technology-mediated interactions. Participants highlighted the need for updated cultural policies and educational initiatives to address the evolving landscape of digital culture and promote inclusive dialogue. Despite acknowledging the benefits of digital technologies for intercultural exchange, concerns were raised about issues such as information overload, surveillance, and the persistence of the digital divide. Overall, the round table underscored the importance of rethinking traditional notions of culture and embracing innovative approaches to intercultural dialogue in an increasingly digitalized world.

Zagreb, Croatia, 14-15 June 2007

Organized by Culturelink Network / Institute for International Relations

In partnership with UNESCO Office in Venice – UNESCO Regional Bureau for Science and Culture in Europe (BRESCE)

With the support of: Ministry of Science, Education and Sports, Croatia; Ministry of Culture, Croatia; City of Zagreb Office for Education, Culture and Sports; Zagreb Tourist Board; Vatroslav Lisinski Concert Hall; Dekod telekom; Event

The international symposium on “Virtual Culture and Its Impact on Cultural Tourism: Experiences from South-East Europe,” held in Zagreb, Croatia in June 2007, aimed to explore the influence of digital culture on cultural tourism development. Supported by various governmental and organizational bodies, the event focused on measurable methods of cultural institutions’/organizations’ virtual presence impact on cultural tourism development, aiming to offer exact data on the usage websites by tourists using the on-line sales technology of tickets/souvenirs/venue rentals/downloads etc. The symposium featured presentations of best practices from countries in South-Eastern Europe, including Slovenia, Bulgaria, Croatia, Serbia, Romania, Albania, Montenegro, and Macedonia, highlighting the diverse approaches to utilizing online platforms for cultural promotion and tourism enhancement. The Symposium gathered tourism, culture and ICT sector representatives either from the public, private or civil sphere with a total of 79 participants.

The thematic sessions of the symposium delved into specific aspects of virtual culture’s impact on cultural tourism, including the role of music institutions, festivals, museums, and theaters’ websites. Participants discussed the need for a common research structure to analyze the digital culture chapter in national cultural policies, acknowledging the varying levels of digitalization and internet usage across different countries. Proposals were made to divide future research into two parts, with the first part focusing on common aspects such as digitization overview and internet user statistics, and the second part tailored to countries practicing or not practicing online sales and bookings. The symposium concluded with the recognition of the potential economic opportunities arising from the collaboration between the cultural and tourism sectors, highlighting the need for continued funding and support for research and initiatives in this field.

Dubrovnik, Croatia, 20-22 October 2006

Co-organized by the Culture.mondo and Culturelink network

The 2nd Culture.mondo International Roundtable, held in Dubrovnik, Croatia in October 2006, was co-organized by Culture.mondo and Culturelink network, focusing on the theme of “Cultural Portals: A New Era of Cooperation.” With the rapid expansion of the internet, the cultural sector has been prompted to adapt to emerging changes and evaluate new virtual structures and collaboration models. The event aimed to foster synergy among cultural portal experts worldwide, sharing expertise and experiences in digital culture. Over 50 participants from various cultural portals from all parts of the world, from Europe and the USA to Canada, Latin America, Africa, Asia and Australia, globally convened, facilitating productive exchanges and discussions on topics such as Web 2.0 technologies, virtual cultural networks, and the evaluation of portal activities.

Discussions revolved around the impact of Web 2.0 technologies on cultural portals, highlighting the need to balance new possibilities with editorial policies and the role of cultural institutions. Around 50 participants explored concrete examples of technological advancements, organizational methods, and information organization within portals. While the internet offers vast opportunities for information sharing and exchange, actual cooperation among portals and their partners remains limited, requiring changes in working practices. Additionally, sessions addressed the evaluation and measurement of success for cultural portals, identifying editorial, marketing, and financial perspectives. Despite financial challenges faced by many portals, the event emphasized their growing significance in cultural tourism, underscoring the need for continued knowledge exchange and community development within the Culture.mondo network.

Organized by the Institute for International Relations, Zagreb and Culturelink Network

Supported by the European Cultural Foundation, ECF, Amsterdam

Dubrovnik, 8-14 May 2006

Partner Organizations

UNESCO Chair Program at the University of Arts in Belgrade, Serbia and Montenegro

Department of Cultural Studies, Faculty of Philosophy in Rijeka, Croatia

Department for Visual Communication Design, Arts Academy University of Split, Croatia

Department of Sociology, Faculty of Philosophy, University of Zadar, Croatia

Inter-University Centre (IUC), Dubrovnik, Croatia

From 2001 to 2006, the Institute for Development and International Relations organized a series of yearly postgraduate courses that addressed topics of cultural transition, cooperation, and cultural identity. The postgraduate course on “The Creative City: Crossing Visions and New Realities in the Region” held in Dubrovnik from 8th to 14th May 2006, was supported by the European Cultural Foundation (ECF) and organized by the Institute for International Relations (IMO) in Zagreb. This was the sixth installment in a series of courses focusing on cultural transitions in Southeastern Europe (SEE). The course aimed to explore the impact of creative industries on urban cultural development models and policies, with presentations on case studies from cities like Zagreb, Tirana, Budapest, and Belgrade. Key themes included urban cultural identities, city growth, alternative cultures, cultural policies, and city regeneration strategies. The course brought together 39 lecturers and postgraduate students for lectures, workshops, project presentations, and visits to cultural sites in Dubrovnik.

Through presentations and discussions, participants highlighted the diverse challenges faced by cities in SEE, such as inadequate cultural policies, lack of coordination between local governments, and limited resources for cultural institutions. Despite these challenges, there was recognition of the potential of creative industries to drive urban regeneration and the need for innovative approaches to cultural development. However, it was noted that responses and efforts in this area were often inadequate, highlighting the need for more professionalized policy responses that move beyond a purely instrumental view of culture in city development. Overall, the course provided a platform for interdisciplinary dialogue and knowledge exchange to address the complex dynamics of cultural transitions in SEE and explore strategies for fostering creative cities in the region.

Zagreb, Croatia, 9-12 June 2005, Mimara Museum

Organized by:

CULTURELINK Network/IMO, Croatia

Supported by:

UNESCO; Council of Europe; Ministry of Culture of the Republic of Croatia; Ministry of Education, Science and Sport of the Republic of Croatia; City of Zagreb

In partnership with:

CIRCLE – Cultural Information and Research Centres Liaison in Europe, The Netherlands

Centro de Estudios Europeos, Universidad de Navarra, Spain

CICIBA – Centre International des Civilisations Bantu, Gabon

OCPA – Observatory of Cultural Policies in Africa, Mozambique

Cátedra UNESCO de Derechos Culturales y Intelectuales, Argentina

Fundación Libre, Paraguay

APRCCN – Asia-Pacific Regional Centre of Culturelink, Korea

The Second World Culturelink Conference, held in Zagreb in June 2005, convened 150 participants from 37 countries, representing diverse cultural organizations and institutions. The conference explored the impacts of globalization on cultural dynamics, highlighting shifts in roles from national states to local authorities and professional organizations. Discussions revolved around the challenges of decentralization and regionalization in cultural development, as well as emerging intellectual and technological borders such as the digital divide. New actors in cultural life, including local communities and civil society, were emphasized, with calls for shared cultural policies involving state, private sector, and civil society collaboration. Additionally, sessions focused on cultural diversity, affirming multiculturalism and interculturalism, and addressing issues like indigenous peoples’ rights and legal regulations to promote cultural diversity.

Furthermore, the conference delved into new modes of communication and cooperation, particularly the impact of the internet and digital technologies on cultural exchange and participation. It highlighted the proliferation of cultural portals and digital art forms, underscoring the need for cultural policies to adapt to these emerging trends. Special sessions commemorated Culturelink’s 10th anniversary, reflecting on its growth as a facilitator of international cultural cooperation and research hub on cultural policies and identities. Overall, the conference fostered open dialogue and collaboration, and it provided a collection of papers for further dissemination of the valuable insights shared during the event.