2015 UNAOC Alumni Event

Celebrating Diversity and Intercultural Dialogue through the Arts

July 31st - August 1st Milan, Italy

- Proceedings -

Edited by Lorenzo Kihlgren Grandi

1 TABLE OF CONTENTS

Cultural diplomacy. National and international initiatives.

• Mohammed Al Bloshi, Chief Operating Officer of Qatar Pavilion at Expo Milano 2015

• Maria Yudina, Communication Officer of Russia Pavilion at Expo Milano 2015

• Michele Vangi, Scientific Advisor at the Villa Vigoni

• Pr. Mark Vlasic, UNAOC Alumni

• Jeremy Blaney, UNAOC Alumni

Cultural diplomacy. Empowering civil society and local community. A transnational approach.

• Lorenzo Kihlgren Grandi, UNAOC Alumni

• Pr. Francesca Corrao, president of the Fondazione Orestiadi

• Luigi Galimberti, coordinator at Transnational Dialogues

• Vincenzo Bevar, project manager at the Cinemovel Foundation

• Saida Ibrahimava, UNAOC Alumni

• Reem Abdel Hadi, UNAOC Alumni

• Rowaida Al Khulaidi, UNAOC

• Georg Castlunger, FAI Giovani

• Vasenka Leka, Urban Cooking and Gardening at the Global City Forum

Cultural Diplomacy and Intercultural Dialogue through Artistic Engagement.

• Mahmoud Saleh Mohammadi, founder of Spazio Nour & Seyed Arsham Alaviani, member of Spazio Nour

• Christina Sciabarra, UNAOC Alumni

• Shawn Lent, UNAOC Alumni

• Paolo Petrocelli, UNAOC Alumni

• Olga Pavlenko, Cultural Innovators Network

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The UN participation in Expo Milano 2015 this goal, the Zero Hunger Challenge has UN Expo Team proposed five elements:

For the first time in the history of world 1. Zero stunted children less than 2 years expositions, the UN does not have a pavilion but instead a horizontal presence with content 2. 100 percent access to adequate food all spread throughout the Expo site. An itinerary year round dedicated to the theme “the Zero Hunger Challenge • United for a sustainable world” 3. All food systems are sustainable links these content. The UN Itinerary goes from Pavilion Zero – where the link between 4. 100 percent increase in smallholder Expo 2015’s theme and the mission of the UN productivity and income is most evident – through the UN Garden, the Biodiversity Park, the Children’s Park, the 5. Zero loss or waste of food. Future Food District, the nine clusters, country pavilions and the civil society area, Cascina As integral part of all five elements, the UN Triulza. has chosen to highlight the issue of women’s empowerment and gender equality at Expo The main element of UN logo for Expo 2015, a Milano 2015, considering the fundamental role spoon in the blue that is so reminiscent of the that they play in the fight against hunger and UN flag, is the symbol of United Nations’ malnutrition. presence at the universal exposition. This was chosen as our emblem because, when talking Visitors can join the challenge and make the about food and nutrition and the challenge of UN itinerary interactive and educational using feeding the whole world, the spoon is a tool "Get to Zero", the United Nations' free app for common to all food traditions, demonstrating Expo Milano 2015 and contribute to get the how the Zero Hunger Challenge belongs to virtual number of hungry people in the world to each and every one of us. zero.

A large part of the UN Itinerary is made up of several UN spaces in Expo Milano’s main thematic areas, easily recognizable by their giant blue spoons. By visiting the UN spaces visitors can discover through videos, photo stories, infographics and maps how the UN System strives daily to eradicate hunger and guarantee a sustainable future for our planet. Above all, by following the UN itinerary they can discover how to take part in the Challenge, because in order to get to zero, everybody needs to get involved.

In fact, the challenge was not envisioned as a plan but rather as a call to action: eradicating world hunger is a goal that concerns everyone. The objective of the UN’s presence at Expo Milano 2015 is to ensure that when discussing food and food production, the catastrophe of 795 million people who still suffer from hunger is not forgotten or left unmentioned.

When talking about hunger, the only acceptable number is zero. In order to achieve 4

1st Panel – Cultural diplomacy. see the permanent exposition of Moscow National and international initiatives Museum of Design that shows the real patterns used for textile and ceramics in 50s – 60s. The exhibition is created to introduce the How culture is presented in the Russian visitor to the leading Russian movement in art Pavilion at Expo Milano 2015 – Avant Garde. Maria Yudina, Russia Pavilion at Expo 2015 Milano Of course, in the Russian Pavilion a lot of particular souvenirs can be found! The visitor Talking about culture in the Russian Pavilion it can take a piece of culture back home, buying is important to start with the structure of the beautiful hand painted wooden toys popular all building. A lot of wood as the construction around the world – the matreshkas. material was specifically used for honor the Russian culture of wooden architecture and This September the Russian culture will be represent to vast forests that cover the celebrated at Expo 2015: from 25 to 29 of country. September the Russian Pavilion is organizing the days of Russian culture in Milan that will Inside the pavilion the visitors can truly include: music Festival, sculptures exhibition, discover the country through one of the main literature festival and other cultural activities. parts of the culture – its cuisine. In the first hall of the pavilion every visitor has an opportunity to taste the authentic traditional drinks from the Maria Yudina is an Water Bar where free degustations are experienced PR happening 10 times per day, each lasts 40 specialist working for minutes. EVENTICA, an agency specialized Later on the visitors can taste various on international traditional cuisine at the heart of the Pavilion – communication. the Show Kitchen. A lot of dishes are made Currently she is from real Russian products that we, organizers fulfilling her duties as of Russia Expo 2015, especially bring to Milan. the Communications Rye bread, caviar, porridges and many more Officer of the Russian Pavilion at Expo Milano can be found on the menu of free degustations 2015. Her individual approach and that are held 6 times per day for 30 minutes. international background have allowed her to work on some of the major projects all over the The unique culinary book “Russian Regional world. Born and raised in Moscow, Russia, she and modern cuisine” was published especially studied at the top universities in Russia, for Expo 2015. It is divided to 11 chapters Switzerland and the UK, and was awarded representing 11 regions of Russian with merit in Masters degree in International Federation. The important cultural aspect is Enterprise studies. In the last 9 years Maria that the reader is supposed to explore not only has lived in 5 countries and speaks 5 the recipes but also the particular qualities of languages. With the passion for traveling and the region and its traditional products. It is cross-cultural communications she is always necessary to mention the high quality open to new challenges and opportunities. photographs and images illustrating the book – it is a real piece of art.

Another treasure of the Russian Pavilion is located on the first floor. Specifically created for the World Exposition in Milan – the core of Earth, the union of two cultures: Italian and Russian. Secondly on this floor the visitors can

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The crucial role of cross-cultural who have begun travelling and living in Qatar, relationships in the Qatari history bringing their traditions that mixed the with Mohammed Al Bloshi, Chief Operating Officer, local ones. Qatar Pavilion at Expo Milano 2015 The people living and working in Qatar today, The World Expo is by definition a platform for come from more than 110 different countries. dialogue to whom citizens, countries and institutions are invited to participate in order to This implies the need for dialogue and present, discuss, share innovations, understanding between cultures and religions: discoveries, points of view in order to give a Muslims, Christians, Buddhists. The Qataris collective response to a current topic of global have had to learn dealing with people with interest. different backgrounds and origins, and this was and it is only possible if coming from a When we started planning our participation to deep and mutual respect. Expo Milano 2015, under the theme ‘Feeding the planet, energy for life’ , the first question In the past, the place of social life was the that we asked ourselves was: what should Souq the center of trade and evolution of the Qatar tell to Italians and all other Participant country. Countries in order to give a significant contribution to this discussion, considering that The Qatar Pavilion at Expo 2015, in its it is a country importing 90% of its food and external path, allows visitors to get a taste of supplies? what it is and was the traditional Souq with its spices, dates, bread handicrafts, traditional We decided to start from our history and to dishes. An open space to move around and have people discover, through a journey meet the Qatari culture and people coming leading to the present day, the role of trade in from different countries of the world. the development of our country. Trade as the exchange of goods, people and cultures. The Arab market becomes a welcoming place. Trade was for Qatar the practice that enabled In Qatar, the first hotel was built right in the the building of a relations’ system. Souq Waqif in Doha. After World War II, an Indian boy decided to open this hotel with a Spices from India, wood from Africa and their few simple but comfortable rooms. A symbol merchants from different areas of the world for the city that has been preserved over the that came together, telling stories decades. experiences, sharing. Things have obviously changed step by step Asia and Africa were the first continents with over the years and the relationships with whom Qatar has ever come into contact, foreigners are now lived daily and in many exchanging goods and welcoming and sharing places of the country. The world has become culture. Relations with Europe have been part of Qatar in a very extended way. We have developed in more recent times beginning with for instance more than 10 European schools: pearls, one of the rich resources of our sea Italian, French, English, Pakistani, Indian, and bordering countries that attracted jewelry Chinese, Japanese, other Arab states. manufacturers looking for high quality raw materials to create necklaces and other Expo Milano 2015 is a special occasion for us jewelry for instance for Indian Maharajas. All to let people discover the heritage of the this happened in the early 1900s. Country and to share with the rest of the world our commitment to sustainability and the After World War II, with the discovery and the methods and technologies we have and those beginning of oil exportation, the lives of Qataris we are working on to grant the Qatar people and their relationship with the rest of the world enough and safe food. have changed. New opportunities, new relationships, new countries and foreigners 6

Villa Vigoni: fostering the spirit of cooperation is very often based on human intercultural dialogue sympathy – born not only during working Michele Vangi, Villa Vigoni sessions in a conference room, but also through conversation, drinking a glass of wine The German-Italian Center Villa Vigoni has on a loggia surrounded by an English garden been pursuing for 30 years a very special full of Mediterranean plants. mission: to foster – mostly through academic meetings and conferences – the relationship I wish Villa Vigoni could host future UNAOC- between Italy and Germany in the fields of meetings, with its fascinating ambient scientific research, higher education and contributing to their success. culture. Every year more than 70 events take place in an inspiring environment of rare fascination: two villas of the 19th century, Dr. Michele Vangi offering an amazing view of the Lake Como. works as scientific advisor and public I have worked at Villa Vigoni for 6 years and I relations officer at just would like to mention three aspects which Villa Vigoni. He also in my opinion make this center a unique place teaches German in the field of the cultural relationships in Culture at the Europe. University of Milan. After his studies in First of all, the high thematic diversity: from Modern Literature at natural sciences through politics to humanities. the University of Bari, followed the PhD at the This diversity is also reflected in numerous University of Münster where he wrote his formats of the activities: scientific meetings, dissertation on the reception of photography in seminars on contemporary politics, workshops the literary discourse. He was lecturer and for PhD students, debates between journalists, coordinator at the Romanisches Seminar of round tables among experts. the University of Münster for four years. While writing his dissertation he was a scholarship Moreover I am pleased to see that Villa Vigoni holder of the Stifterverband, after his is trying to open this bilateral dimension dissertation he was postdoc-scholar of the towards an European and international Goethe-Gesellschaft, of the Klassik-Stiftung perspective. In fact, as a result of the Weimar and of the Leibniz Institute for mentioned thematic diversity, cultural Regional Geography Leipzig. He held guest dialogues transcend the binational lectures at the Universities of Marburg, perspective. Thus, more and more scholars, Oldenburg, Bochum, Leipzig and Luxembourg. intellectuals and artists coming from all over the world are invited to Villa Vigoni to discuss about various politically and socially relevant issues such as migration, sustainable development and digital societies.

Finally I would like to refer to my own experience to emphasise a very important aspect of what I call the spirit of intercultural dialogue. Over the last few years several guests of the Villa Vigoni met for the first time at our conferences: it is very interesting and touching to observe how friendships begin, grows up during the years and leads to very productive collaborations: research projects, publications, new academic conferences. This is for me the evidence that scientific 7

Addressing the trafficking of blood Mark V. VLASIC is antiquities an adjunct professor Mark Vlasic, UNAOC Alumni of law at Georgetown University, a senior This lecture focused on culture and the global fellow at its Institute fight against impunity -- specifically, as it for Law, Science & pertains to curbing war crimes, human rights Global Security, and violations, grand corruption and stolen a principal at antiquities. It was based on the premise that Madison Law & those that are willing to slaughter thousands of Strategy Group. innocents, are also willing to steal millions of Formerly the head of operations of the World dollars and loot and destroy our collective Bank's Stolen Asset Recovery Initiative, he cultural heritage – and that the fight against served as a White House Fellow/special impunity includes both war crimes and assistant to the Secretary of Defense and was economic crimes – and that such a discussion awarded the Secretary of Defense Medal for should take into account the current cultural Exceptional Public Service by Secretary cleansing in Syria and Iraq at the hands of Robert Gates. He practiced law at Gibson ISIS. The discussion, led by a professor with Dunn, and served on the Slobodan Milosevic first-hand experience in the fight against and Srebrenica prosecution teams at the UN impunity via his own personal experience with war crimes tribunal. Mark has taught the Iraqi the Srebrenica genocide, Slobodan Milosevic, judges that tried Saddam Hussein, served on Saddam Hussein and Omar al-Bashir matters, the U.S. Delegation to the Pan Am 103 as well as with the World Bank’s StAR “Lockerbie” terrorist bombing trial in the Initiative and helping recover stolen assets on Netherlands. He provided commentary for behalf of the Governments of Haiti, Liberia, multiple global news media, and contributed to Nigeria, and others, as well as supporting several books. He has a BS and JD, cum sovereign efforts to recover looted antiquities, laude, from Georgetown and was a Fulbright focused on the importance of establishing a Scholar to Leiden. Mark is Counselor to the multi-stakeholder global engagement group to Antiquities Coalition, a Fellow of the UN confront the current crisis posed by ISIS. Alliance of Civilizations, and is World According to Professor Vlasic, “the trafficking Economic Forum Young Global Leader. As a of blood antiquities needs to be addressed, U.S. Army officer, he has been attached to through law enforcement, pro-active market Capitol Hill and the Defense Attaché Office at regulations and collaboration.” He noted that, the U.S. Embassy in The Hague, and was “collectors, archaeologists, museums, dealers, awarded the Army Commendation Medal. insurance companies, transport companies, freeports, governments and related parties should work together – via the World Economic Forum in Davos - to create a public- private initiative to help crack down on this lucrative illicit market.” In doing so, we may limit terrorist financing, helping save lives and our collective cultural heritage.

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Bridging the Divide: U.S. Service members Jeremy BLANEY is Engage in Cultural Diplomacy an Institute for Jeremy Blaney, UNAOC Alumni Business in the Global Context With more than 300,000 United States military Scholar at The personnel stationed abroad, engagement Fletcher School at between U.S. servicemembers and foreign Tufts University nationals is all but certain. Given the size of where he is pursuing this population (certainly one of the largest a master’s degree in ambassadorial groups of the United States) international business, specializing in global and the cross-cultural interactions that are human resources. As a self-described global bound to take place in the course of official citizen, Jeremy is deeply passionate about duties and day-to-day life, one cannot help but bringing people of different cultures together. wonder what the Department of Defense Drawing on personal and professional (DoD) is doing to prepare servicemembers for experiences as well as academic research, he situations of cultural unfamiliarity. A decade of recently presented on culture shock as it war and the, at times, deadly results that pertains to cross-cultural misunderstanding at cross-cultural (mis)cues have produced TEDxTufts 2015 and collaborative approaches demonstrate a keen need for such training. to public diplomacy at TEDxMacatawa 2015. That is not to say the DoD is without such Before attending Fletcher, Jeremy served as programs in place. Indeed, when Robert Gates an officer in the U.S. Air Force. He completed became the Secretary of Defense in 2006, the three deployments in support of Operations DoD began to take seriously the need to ENDURING and IRAQI FREEDOM, earning introduce servicemembers to other cultures three Air Medals. and societies. Though efforts to grow Captain in the Massachusetts Air National servicemembers’ cross-cultural competency Guard. During his military career, he also (3C) have largely mirrored other U.S. military completed a remote tour at the NATO Allied training programs (i.e., computer-based Air Command Headquarters in Izmir, Turkey. modules), the DoD has also adopted a high He continues to serve as a conducted touch approach, exposing servicemembers research on and experienced firsthand several first hand to different cultures and languages public diplomacy initiatives sponsored by the by offering two-week immersion programs in Department of Defense. countries around the world. Such opportunities take on elements of cultural diplomacy to ensure both parties – the servicemembers who participate and the foreign nations with whom they interact – gain or increase mutual understanding. Indeed, servicemembers enroll in cooking courses, learn how to play local music, attend cultural events, and much more. This session explores the DoD’s cultural agenda, beginning prior to 9/11 when gaining 3C was not a priority and continues to the present day when enhancing 3C is done through a variety of training programs, one of which embraces cultural diplomacy as an effective means to build bridges between “us” and “them” and gain mutual understanding.

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2nd Panel – Cultural diplomacy. and Culture; Food, Urban Gardens and Expo Empowering civil society Side Events; Participation and Active and local community. Citizenship; Museum of Cultures; Communication and Cultural Events), has thus A transnational approach. implemented numerous activities over the last 4 years, dealing with a variety of themes.

Promoting diversity as a tool for urban Indisputably one of the key players in the city's cultural dynamism: Milan's experience cultural life, on May 1st 2015 the Forum Lorenzo Kihlgren Grandi, UNAOC Alumni opened the city’s main international event, the Universal Exposition, with a parade by Over the last few years, growing migrant representatives from all its communities. The communities urged European local Forum contributes regularly to Milan’s cultural administrations to design and implement more events such as BookCity Milano, an annual effective policies for inclusion, dialogue and literary festival, Tramedautore, international civil society empowerment. The City of Milan theatre festival, and Expo in the City, the faced such a challenge by developing an program of Expo Milan 2015’s side events innovative cultural platform, whose success taking place in the city center. lies in the enthusiastic response and participation provided by migrant communities The enhanced cultural dynamism Milan is themselves. experiencing thanks to the Forum shows the great potential of the promotion of cultural Since 2011 Milan has enhanced the value of diversity and represent a best practice which is its cultural diversity, conceived as a source of likely to influence local authorities keen to cultural, social and economic development and foster dialogue and integration. innovation. The Municipality, through its Cultural Networks office, bet on the migrants’ cultural and creative activism as well as on the Lorenzo KIHLGREN willingness of the diverse communities to GRANDI is an officer cooperate with each other. The Municipality of the International invited migrants to establish their own cultural Relations Department associations and launched the Forum della of City of Milan and in Città Mondo (World City Forum), an umbrella charge of relations organization designed to provide these new- with international born associations with guidance, networking organizations, MENA opportunities and project management skills to countries and foreign impact on Milan’s vibrant cultural scene. media. Lorenzo is also involved in a dual doctorate at EHESS in Paris and LUISS in Moreover, the Municipality, with its overall goal Rome, where he worked as teaching assistant of linking ancient and modern cultural in Techniques of International Negotiation and expressions, hosts the Forum's headquarters in Mediterranean Studies. Lorenzo’s thesis, in its brand-new Museum of Cultures “Scope and challenges of the youth activism (MuDeC), house of the municipal ethnographic conveyed by art and culture”, benefits from his collections. At MuDeC several cultural experience as founder and chairman of Il activities designed and implemented by Tamarindo, an Italian NGO devoted to migrants’ associations take place every month, intercultural dialogue, cultural diversity, including conferences, courses, workshops creative economy and youth empowerment. and intercultural meetings. Lorenzo has been the head of several projects implemented by Il Tamarindo, such as its The response of the migrant communities multilingual cultural magazine, international could hardly be stronger. The World City seminars, concerts and exhibitions, artistic and Forum, counting now over 500 participating entrepreneurial competitions. Lorenzo studied organizations and 5 thematic groups (Women International Relations at the University of 10

Bologna, Sciences Po Paris, Istituto per gli laboratory working on transformations that Studi di Politica Internazionale in Milan and involved the towns of the Belice Valley and LUISS. He gained his first professional various others, such as Mazzara del Vallo. The experiences at the European Commission in piazza system was created by Franco Purini Brussels, the UNESCO Culture Sector in and Laura Thermes, and leading artists were Paris, the Italian Embassy in Tehran and summoned to bring beauty to the town. Alberto Istituto Affari Internazionali in Rome. Burri, for example, was called upon to preserve the memory of the old town working on its ruins, and created the “Cretto”; Pietro Consagra designed the “Star”, the gateway to The Museum “Mediterranean Patterns” in the Belice Valley, Quaroni created the Church Gibellina as a process of redefinition of and numerous monuments were raised by a artistic languages great many artists. Francesca Corrao, Fondazione Orestiadi Corrao was fond of both the traditional and modern culture of the Mediterranean area, and Introducing the Museum “Mediterranean therefore promoted international seminars and Patterns” leads us to recall its founder, conferences together with the group of Ludovico Corrao. As a fine young intellectual scholars led by Prof. Antonino Buttitta of the he was already sensitively responsive to the Faculty of Humanities and with the professors beauty of art and started collecting the greater Michele Argentino of the Industrial Design part of the exhibits displayed here. From Institute of Palermo Faculty of Architecture; antique Sicilian furniture, to classical and together we have strengthened and structured contemporary works up to and including the what was originally a slender scheme, the objects of Mediterranean arts and crafts. His desire to show the common cultural roots of all experience in political life and travels led the peoples of the Mediterranean. Among the Corrao to further his vision of Sicily as a bridge many initiatives we may recall the recital of of trade and exemplary model of dialogue, as Arab Poets in Sicily (1987) which I organized evidenced by the precious collection of the as a scholar of Arabic poetry together with the Museum. Sirian poet Adonis; the Conference on Corrao was a tireless Mayor who gave all of Costume promoted by Prof. Janne Vibæk himself to make of Gibellina a modern city of Pasqualino of the Laboratory of Anthropology art, sensitive to the processes of social and of Palermo University and the expert Antonella cultural renewal. At the time of Gibellina’s Corrao (1995); the symposium coordinated by reconstruction, the project and its development Enzo Fiammetta - who was shortly after to model represented concrete evidence of civic become the director of the Museum - on engagement, studied and appreciated at "Materials for a museum of Sicilian-Arab international level. In 1993, following a culture" (1996). proposal by Corrao, the town council approved In 1996, the Minister of Culture, Prof. Antonio the charter of the Orestiadi Foundation as Paolucci, inaugurated the Museum permanent workshop for the artistic memory of “Mediterranean Patterns”, a breeding ground the city. Definition of the Museum guidelines of ideas which houses works, experimental saw the convergence of projects conceived by workshops and exhibition projects promoted Corrao together with experts invited to give with enthusiasm - unflagging among us at the their contributions. Corrao was emblematic in Foundation Orestiadi - in many centres of the his ability and insight shown in carrying out the Mediterranean, where they were always work through a process of cooptation and greeted with interest and keen attention. adaptation to the conditions of the time. Corrao Over the years, artists, authors of the ateliers, promoted international Congresses to study and the Italian and foreign intellectuals with the Parks and the urban structures of old and their contributions have carried through a new cities. These events stimulated new process of redefinition of artistic languages. projects drawn up by the architects Unghers, Among them I would remember the Maroccan Pirrone and Venezia as a remedy to the former poet Muhammad Bennis and the painter ill-conceived ones. Gibellina became a Muhammad Melehi, the Tunisian painter Mja 11

Mdaoui and the poets Moncef Ghachem and Transnational Dialogues. Establishing and Abdelwahhab Meddeb, the Siryan painter reinforcing links among artistic and Ziyad Dalloul and the musician Abed Azrie, the cultural practitioners across Brazil, China Lebanese writer Etel Adnan, the Egyptian and Europe painter Adel al-Siwi and the poet ‘Abd al-Mo’ty Luigi Galimberti, Transnational Dialogues Hijazi. The Museum brings together items donated by Transnational Dialogues is an exchange and artists and connoisseurs, and also the records research programme for artists, curators, of arts and crafts created for the Orestiadi designers and architects taking place across Theatre Festival. Promoting the creation of Brazil, China and Europe. Started in 2011 by extraordinary displays, Corrao summoned the NGO European Alternatives, the major artists such as Emilio Isgrò and Arnaldo programme is now in its third edition. One of Pomodoro, calling upon them to bring out the its principal assets is the creation of a best of their craft to enhance the local festivals functioning logistical, linguistic and conceptual and the growth of the local community, infrastructure for individuals and organisations respecting their dignity and expertise, always working in the artistic and cultural fields. The placing to the fore the central role of the following text has been drafted in support of human being. cultural diplomacy and, in particular, of that Donors who shared in Corrao’s initial project carried out by those non-governmental have, over time helped to build a Museum that organisations that relentlessly try to establish bears witness to a beauty competition between and reinforce links among artistic and cultural patterns, the synergy of the different skills and practitioners across the world. the harmonious collaboration between the arts One of the many reasons beyond setting up a Sino-European exchange, as Transnational Francesca Dialogues began in its early days, was the CORRAO, full inadequacy of how China and its cultural professor of Arabic production were presented and discussed in Language and Europe. Aside the evergreen Orientalist Literature at Luiss manifestations, which still persist in massive Guido Carli Rome, numbers, the monotonousness of China's Master of Art at the representation as an emerging economy was American University overwhelming: even in the scarce occasions in in Cairo, Ph.D. at which Chinese art was mentioned in the Rome University La Sapienza. She gave media, it was because of it breaking record lessons, seminars and conferences at the after record at auctions. Therefore, the culture following Universities Cairo, Oxford, that is communicated and circulated is yet but Cambridge, Parigi, Beirut, Istanbul, Amman, another manifestation of capitalism. The role of Damascus and Tunis. She teaches Islamic organisations involved in cultural exchanges is Politics and Society, Mediterranean Studies. that of breaking up the status quo and fighting Member of the Union of European Arabist and against the dullness and sterility created by the Islamist (UEAI) and the European professor of commodification of art and culture. European Researchers of Modern Arabic Literature (EURAMAL), and the Institute of Strictly linked to the subordination of culture to Oriental Philosophy, Soka University Tokyo; financial and economical values is the President of the Scientific Committee of the unevenness of what goes global and what Fondazione Orestiadi in Gibellina. stays local. Indeed, artistic and cultural products (from artworks to languages) go global largely when they are bound to specific sets of economic values. In other words, the art and culture that transcend their national or regional boundaries can do so only if associated to specific consumption patterns – 12 contemporary art fairs being an exemplary (London), SESC Pompeia (São Paulo) and case. The global culture that results from this Organhaus (Chongqing), among others. context is uninformative and misleading. Therefore, while we should stay well clear of rhetorical no-global stances, it is essential not to deprive culture – both in its global and local Cinema as a tool of social communication forms – of its complexity and fertility. Vincenzo Bevar, Cinemovel Foundation Among the many facets that cultural diplomacy can take, a successful strategy is that of Cinemovel is an innovative cultural project targeting communities that are dispersed dedicated to touring cinema and the across the world, but whose shared values or potentialities that cinema can develop both on common practices can become a bond as cultural and social field. This idea begins both strong as that given by geographical proximity. with the passion for cinema and the African This is the case of the global community of continent of its two founders, Elisabetta individuals and organisations working in the Antognoni and Nello Ferrieri, and from the artistic and cultural fields. Transnational enthusiasm created by the first touring cinema Dialogues has been working in the field and caravan in Mozambique in 2001. helping the circulation of people and information by establishing connections that Cinemovel Foundation takes cinema on a mostly avoid the already globalised hubs of journey to support and reinforce the civil cultural production – "globalised" is used here society trough the improvement of human with the meaning of being uniformed to the abilities, the stimulation of the economic, requirements of the global market. The social, cultural growth and trough the importance of supporting the emergence of a information exchange, focusing its activities on multi-polar artistic and intellectual world should the quality of the experience and the encounter not be underestimated. between tradition and innovation.

Cinemovel Foundation is an international Luigi GALIMBERTI foundation, which believes in and operates is currently involved following the values of social identity, in several projects solidarity, equal distribution of resources, related to artistic dynamism and technological innovation, research and focusing its actions on what cinema does best: production across tell stories. the world, with a particular focus on Believing in the existence of an indissoluble socially and connection between democratization of the politically engaged visual arts. In addition to countries and access to the new technologies, his undergraduate and postgraduate studies in Cinemovel Foundation moves cinema, using it sociology (BSc, LSE, London) and as a tool of social communication, in order to international relations (Master, ISPI, Milan), he ease the exchange of know-how and has been awarded cum laude a master degree expertise, the diffusion of information and a in art management (IULM, Rome). Luigi has better distribution of intellectual and material been collaborating with the transnational NGO resources. European Alternatives since its foundation and is now one of the coordinators of Transnational In this presentation I would like to introduce Dialogues, an exchange programme for young you to 3 of our projects, trying to better explain artists, curators, designers and architects the flexibility of our activities. across Europe, China and Brazil. He has been presenting papers and moderating discussions The first one, in Mozambique started in 2001. at Centre Pompidou (Paris), MAXXI Museum During 3 months we covered 3.700 km from (Rome), Bartlett School of Planning, UCL Maputo, the capital city close to South Africa, to Pemba, at the border with Tanzania, 13 involving an audience of more than 120.00 cinema and theatre, and with Mymovies.it, people. The Cinemovel crew realized, during Fondazione Fabbrica Europa, 20th Century 52 cinema nights and 130 screening of movies Fox. After all these diverse experiences, he and documentaries in 7 different languages, found in Cinemovel the ideal marriage an informative campaign on AIDS, with the between performing arts and cinema. support of the Italian Embassy, the United Vincenzo strongly believes in the role of Nations, the Mozambican Government and culture in fostering intercultural dialogue, as Unicef. well as in the need to promote universal access to cultural content. Cinemovel aims at Free Cinema on a Free Land, travelling bridging the gaps between distant worlds cinema against mafia, realized in Italy and in through journeys and encounters, and allows Europe since 2006. Since the first edition of everyone to look beyond the limits of present this festival, Cinemovel brings touring cinema time, between tradition and innovation. on the lands dispossessed from the mafias and returned to legality, in collaboration with Libera of Don Luigi Ciotti and the young people of the Libera Terra Co-ops. Since the 2013 the Intercultural projects powered by Y2Y project receives the mention of the European Saida Ibrahimava, UNAOC Alumni Commission. “Youth to Youth Initiative” is a young non-profit The third one is a transversal activity realized that aims to foster change and to construct an in all different project of Cinemovel effective environment for youth participation in Foundation: Cinemovel Campus. the decision making process and community An international workshop which uses moving development. Through dialogue and images in order to educate young people from immediate action plans it strives to solve the suburbs worldwide to use audiovisual most critical issues in the social-cultural multimedia techniques in a social context. The sphere. goal is to make them autonomous in realizing Unicity of the concept allows “Youth to Youth their video-documentation and public Initiative” to work in three planes: with youth, screening work by using low cost digital during the annual thematic International technologies. Summit, designed as a platform for dialogue and networking; with projects under “Youth to Never as today we live in a society that uses Youth Action Hub”, a highly responsive, moving images to communicate and share community-driven online incubator for socially different types of content. It never as today is beneficial ideas, projects and initiatives, essential to train citizens to the alphabet created by youth for youth; with young leaders audiovisual, strengthening the tools necessary from all around the world, assigned as “Youth for more active citizenship. Cinemovel to Youth Ambassadors” to maximize the reverses the flow of traditional use, bringing impact of youth-led initiatives on international cinema where there is or there has never level. been. Grasping for the development of intercultural cooperation between youth, “Youth to Youth Initiative” supports cross-cultural ventures and Vincenzo BEVAR cultural diplomacy projects through its online studied cultural incubator. Among supervised projects management at the "Dialogue Through Art", a start-up, promoting University of citizen partnership through art and creating Bologna and in awareness and empathy through non- Grenoble, France. threatening dialogue based on a shared Prior to that he interest by creating a low-cost, collaborative obtained a three- projects. The aim of the project is to increase year degree in cultural understanding between the cinema studies. He has worked in the fields of participants, create dialogue between 14 individuals who has no other opportunity to Saida IBRAHIMAVA interact with one another, and produce various has more than ten forms of art, including poems, photographs, years of successful music, and dance.; “I AM YOU”, a youth experience in the exchange project, aiming to connect young nonprofit sector and people across the world through a guided more than five years online dialogue, empowering them with the working experience tools necessary to create a meaningful for governmental exchange of ideas, unleash their potential and institutions. She has find new approaches to contemporary global implemented a number of projects in the challenges. “I AM YOU” Youth Exchange sphere of social inclusion, youth development, Program is a fusion of intercultural dialogue education, sport and volunteer movements. and a dialogue that strives to impact social She has earned a Bachelor's of Arts in issues. The Program is designed to increase International Relations from Belarusian State awareness of global challenges, affecting University and Masters of Arts in International young people all over the world, to foster a Economy and Politics from Charles University dialogue through cultural perspective that can in Prague. She is the one of the co-founders of become a bridge for youth with different "Youth to Youth Initiative" an umbrella non-for- backgrounds, and to unite efforts in profit organization that aims to construct advocating, campaigning or leading socially effective frames for youth participation in the beneficial initiatives; "Lensational" - a project decision making process and solving global aiming to empower oppressed women and challenges locally. Currently, she serves as a girls through the transformative tools of Director of Projects Development under Y2Y photography, and a model of social Action Hub (an interactive online incubator for entrepreneurship. Since 2013 “Lensational” socially beneficial ideas, concepts, startups, has empowered over 150 underprivileged projects and initiatives created by youth and women in Hong-Kong, Myanmar, Pakistan, the for youth). She enjoys focusing on the topics of US and the UK. Its sustainability model youth leadership, human rights and dignity, consists of three major steps: -equipping peace-building, cross-cultural dialogue, social women with recycled digital cameras; - entrepreneurship, and has a strong passion for providing some photography workshops; - and sustainability education, design, creative helping women to sell their photos online. The photography and art. At the moment she works empowerment through photography is on an ambitious project called “The Green happening on both emotional and economic School” - a start-up project in sustainability levels: participatory photography and digital education and social entrepreneurship. storytelling methods enable women to overcome isolation, express themselves freely, and create tools for communication. It also provides women with additional economic Seeing the other Sides revenue through photographs sales and skills Reem Abdel-Hadi, UNAOC Alumni to pursue future work opportunities in photography. When we look at this shape ∑ drawn on a “Youth to Youth Initiative” through its piece of paper, we see it as “M” from the right mentorship and supervision under its incubator side, but “W” from the left, three in English encourages artistic cooperation and cultural from the bottom and “4” in Arabic from the top, at ”٤“ diplomacy initiatives and believes that culture This shape is “W” and “M” and “3” and is a powerful tool to bring positive changes to the same time, but as we see it from only one the global community. side “from only one point of view” we’ll see it as only one of these possible shapes. In life, we look at people, societies, cultures and religions from our side, based on our “Point of view”, our backgrounds and the way we have

15 been raised, so we see only one possible face Reem ABDEL-HADI and one narrative. But to be able to see the is a youth activist, other faces of it and even know they exist, we member of several mostly need to physically move from one place youth societies and a to the other just as we move from the right side founding member of of the paper to the left side, to travel and go Junior Chamber meet people from other cultures, people who International Jordan, are seeing our "W" as an "M", people who a branch of an have a different narrative to tell, and here international comes the role of exchange programs, it takes organization that focuses on individual us on a journey to explore the other sides, it development, community service and gets us immersed into other cultures which international understanding. In this ultimately enables us to understand why organization, she served as the first elected people have different perspectives and local president, national president and narratives and eventually we get to a level currently serve as elected councilor for Arab where we start seeing these differences as States. She was also a board member of the opportunities rather than threats, as a richness student union of the University of Jordan, a rather than a weakness and we learn that founding member of Third Eye Team, a there is no right or wrong when it comes to regional network for Arab youth. She has opinions, there are perspectives. a degree in Industrial Engineering and work at the American Embassy’s cultural section, In 2007 I got the chance to do a European where she handles cultural programming. voluntary service in a small city in the north of Previously, she did a yearlong voluntary France, it was a life changing experience for a service with AVRIL organization in France, and young girl coming from the heart of the Middle she still joins AVRIL’s annual environmental East, a mind opening one, and since then it camp in France as trainer on intercultural became a responsibility to find similar understanding. Recently, she received a EU opportunities for other young people to go on grant and successfully implemented a similar exchange programs. I worked with 7 youth exchange in Jordan. likeminded people to start a branch for a youth organization called Junior Chamber International (JCI). In JCI, our focus is personal development that would lead to Empowering artists in Yemen community development and International Rowaida Al-Khulaidi, UNAOC Alumni cooperation. Through our organization that has branches in over 100 countries, we aim to The British Council is the UK’s international bring people from different cultures together to organisation for cultural relations and debate, dialogue and discuss the challenges educational opportunities. It creates that are facing the world and come up with international opportunities for the people of the plans that can be implemented on a local level UK and other countries, and builds trust to create an impact. between them worldwide through projects delivered in over 100 countries around the We believe that the more we get to know world in 3 major areas; English language, Arts, people from other cultures, the more tolerant Education and Society. we become and the more we understand it is not differences that divide us, it is rather our With arts being a cornerstone of the British inability to embrace them, we strive to continue Council’s mission to create a friendly offering young people the chance to travel and knowledge and understanding between the meet people from other cultures and we hope people of the UK and the wider world, a huge every youth and civil society organization will emphasis is given to developing art projects continue brining people across borders to that bridge the gap and enables a better meet and connect and celebrate differences. understanding of other cultures.

16

In Yemen, where the British Council has been With the current situation in Yemen, there is operating since 1973, numerous art projects even more need to have art projects that will were delivered to help build the capacity of help artists in Yemen document and use their Yemeni artists, showcasing Yemeni artists skills to highlight the ongoing conflict and work in UK while at the same time showing create artwork from the destruction created by British artwork in Yemen and organising UK the war. The British Council will continue to study tours. develop projects with local partners that meet that need for the time being. Showcases included projects like Last of The Dictionary Men, which tells the story of the last Rowaida AL- remaining seamen of the oldest recorded KHULAIDI is a Project Middle Eastern communities existing in Britain Manager at the British today; A Time in Hadhrmaut, where Council in Yemen. In photographs taken by Harold and Doreen addition to this, she Ingrams during their time in Hadhrmaut from manages a women 1934 were exhibited in Yemen, and My self-development Father’s House that featured work by five program entitled emerging Middle Eastern artists and three UK ‘Springboard’, photographers – including Winner of the World designed for women in jail and women with Press Photo of the Year 2007 Tim disabilities to help them integrate in society, Hetherington – to examine how the built build their confidence and positive image about environment reflects the people, the themselves. During her five years as an arts community, society and the nations of the Gulf manager, she worked with many artists and States and Arabian Peninsula. organized many events, exhibitions, discussions, film screenings and workshops in In addition to exhibitions and events in Yemen Yemen, other countries in the region and the and the UK, the British Council organised a UK, in order to initiate a dialogue and bridge pilot study tour in 2014 for 7 young cultural the gap between the two cultures. Amongst managers from Yemen to visit small and mid- the projects she developed and led on a size cultural institutions in London, Liverpool project entitled 'Zoom', aiming at showing and Bristol to professionalise the work in the Yemen beyond the image it is portrayed in cultural sector in Yemen and learn about international media and at the same time audience building, curating and project developed to build an interaction between development. Yemeni and British filmmakers. Films were shown on BBC Arabic and various venues in Identifying that Yemen is a widely the UK. misunderstood country, mainly due to the very little information provided to the people of the world, film projects were developed to shed more light on Yemen and its people and How FAI is involved in celebrating Diversity therefore help facilitate a better understanding and Intercultural Dialogue through Arts and provide another source of information than Georg Castlunger, FAI Giovani the media, these projects include Zoom, which provided a platform for young passionate FAI (Fondo Ambiente Italiano, the Italian Yemeni filmmakers to learn about filmmaking National Trust) is a national, not-for-profit trust from professional UK filmmakers in a country that was set up in 1975 and has since gone on that has no film school, and Comra; that to save, restore and open to the public enabled filmmakers and photographers to numerous fine examples of Italy's artistic and learn about documentary filmmaking, natural heritage. photoessays and guerrilla filmmaking at a time of war and create films that tells human stories The mission of FAI is twofold: on the one from Yemen. hand, it is to promote a tangible culture of respect for Italy's natural heritage, art, history 17 and traditions; and on the other, it is to protect This young volunteers are in between 18 and a legacy that forms a fundamental part of the 40 years old and involved in dedicated local or roots and identity of the Italian people. FAI nationwide events, initiatives and group travels operates throughout Italy from its headquarters for this specific target group. An important in Milan and through its Rome office, and also focus is also to care about the special interests thanks to an extensive network of volunteers and needs of the young volunteers and the organised into 116 Delegations, which are in cooperation with Universities, local istitutions turn managed by 14 Regional Administrative and associations. Bodies in 20 Italian Regions. How is FAI involved in particular in enhancing With the input of all concerned, FAI takes care the Intercultural Dialogue through Arts: of special places in Italy for the benefit of all generations, both present and future, - create community (volounteers, events, promotes education on, love for, and initiatives) and expand the related network knowledge and enjoyment of Italy's - collaboration with universities and environment, landscape and historical and international students living in Milan artistic heritage and supervises the protection - special intercultural events of the landscapes and cultural assets, in the - spirit of Article 9 of the Italian Constitution. multilingual initiatives

Protecting, restoring, opening to the public and bringing back to life a plethora of Italy's Georg wonderful jewels of art and nature is a CASTLUNGER, born complex and never-ending task. From castles, in 1984 in South Tyrol monasteries and gardens to sites of natural with Austrian roots, beauty, villas, heritage houses and other little graduated from the gems that make Italy all the more precious, all University of of our sites require care and attention day in, Innsbruck Law day out, in order to guarantee their effective School. He long-term conservation. participated in student exchange programs in Padua and FAI's volunteers, who are organised into Milan and interned at major law firms in Delegations that span the entire country, work Toronto and Milan. After gaining work to involve new members, organize the FAI experience in commercial and legal Spring Day and the FAIMarathon in October consultancy and marketing at the Commercial on behalf of FAI. In addition, the volunteers set Section of the Austrian Consulate General in up – for the benefit of local FAI members and Milan, he is currently involved in the all those who share FAI's values and mission – management of the Austrian presence at Expo meetings, conferences, trips, concerts and Milano 2015. He volunteers with the FAI much more besides. Moreover, the volunteers Giovani Milano movement to promote the help to raise the funds required for the mission and the initiatives of the youth section restoration of works of art or properties of the Delegation of Fondo Ambiente Italiano, entrusted to FAI. the Italian National Trust, of Milan.

FAI Giovani, the youth movement of the foundation, aims to promote its commitment among its young members and a specific community: students and young enterpreneurs and professionals, outstanding in their student, professional and social life, with a keen passion and interest in arts and history, architecture, environmental issues – in order to make sure they become ambassadors of FAI. 18

Urban Cooking & Gardening: grow food, the opportunities offered by activities related to grow people, grow communities nutrition and agriculture, also from a Vasenka Leka, Forum della Città Mondo standpoint of international cooperation with third countries; the valorization of the cultures The Municipality of Milan has instituted the of the communities active in the area through Forum della Città Mondo, a space for the project activities during EXPO Milano intercultural dialogue and representation of 2015, giving value to the experience and skills over one hundred foreign communities active acquired in their home countries; to foster the in the Milan area and their associations. The City’s intercultural dialogue policies in an Forum fosters active participation of the international context. communities and associations of diverse In its “gardening” part, the project identifies the nationalities living in the Milan area and it now themes of agriculture and nutrition and the use includes more than 500 associations. of the urban gardens as elements that are able Associazione Città Mondo, a second level to promote and reinforce intercultural dialogue association, has also been funded with the and stimulate integration among host societies participation of more than 80 associations. In and foreign citizens through training on the order to give the Forum della Città Mondo planning and planting of urban gardens. We even more stimulus, significance and visibility, offer the opportunity to attend a training course the Municipality of Milano – DC Culture – held by expert instructors to support the Servizio Reti e Cooperazione Culturale has activation of an urban garden network. We developed the project “Urban Cooking & select and support interventions in the field. Gardening: grow food, grow people, grow As for the “cooking” part: the kitchen, a natural communities”, with the support of the following place for mixing cultures, is one of the areas partners: Social Cooperative of the where integration manifests itself in the most Giambellino Community, Pandora Onlus Social heartfelt ways, and as an excellent driver of Cooperative, A&I Onlus Social Cooperative. socialization processes. We have identified The project, with an overall value of € two pathways: “From the world with flavor”, a 234,824.83, was selected for funding within cooking competition for amateur third-country the European Fund for the Integration of Third citizens, and the organization of promotional Countries Citizens (FEI), Action 6, Year 2012. events with the goal of promoting and sharing Specific objectives included the promotion of project activities with all the foreign intercultural dialogue, favoring mutual communities in the Milan territory. We also awareness and acceptance among the intend to extend the invitation to supporting societies and integration for third country institutions and other local bodies of the communities; the valorization of civic province to share the results of the project and participation in the local associations of third foster their transferability. countries in the metropolitan Milan area, favoring, among other things, bottom - up participation initiatives; the inclusion of world Vasenka LEKA is heritage, through activities related to nutrition presently involved in and agriculture; the development of activities related to transferrable models of intercultural actions social care, many of shared by third country citizens and host which include societies starting from strategic themes like cultural, socio– urban and suburban agriculture and nutrition; political and ethical the activation of third country citizens in a research projects training providing occupational perspectives, aimed at promoting with incentives for the creation of a network of multicultural awareness. She is a co-founder of urban gardens in the communities of the third the Forum of the City Network (Cultural countries to promote real re-appropriation Cooperation of the Municipality of Milan) and practices and care of the territory, sustainable also a journalist, communication strategist of lifestyle and quality of foods; the creation of the Città Mondo Association and senior awareness in third country citizens regarding consultant for Migration Policies. She has 19 completed her undergraduate and 3rd Panel – Cultural Diplomacy postgraduate studies in Psychology and Intercultural Dialogue through Education (L. Gurakuqi University, Albania) Artistic Engagement. and holds a Masters II Level Degree in Migration Law ( University of Bergamo) as well a series of other qualifications, such as a Diploma on Migration Policies (Ciessevi, Spazio Nour: creating new forms of artistic Milan), Diploma on Good Governance and dialogues Coordination of the Third Sector (Social Policy Seyed Arsham Alaviani and Mahmoud Saleh Development - Albania), etc. Vasenka has Mohammadi, Spazio Nour collaborated with several transnational NGO’s and is the Director of the Albanian Cultural What is Spazio Nour? Spazio Nour is Spazio Center in Milan, since its foundation. She has Nour, but what does this mean? presented papers and moderated discussions Not a gallery, not a club, not a social center. at Metropolis, Sacro Cuore and Biccoca Spazio Nour is a Cultural Association which Universities in Milan, and many other brings together a part of those places occasions. mentioned above, developing them in its own style, to create an environment which is not an isolated center from its context (which is the city and the building in which Spazio Nour is active), but it would be a point of reunion that is born from Art and linked to the realities which surround it. The activities of Spazio Nour are focused on two basic concepts: social art and intercultural collaborations. The project of Spazio Nour has got started from the necessity of creating a new synergetic model, which manifests the contamination of different forms of Art in an artistic and social project, thanks to the collaboration of international artists. Spazio Nour is the atelier of Mahmoud Saleh Mohammadi, Iranian artist, who had chosen to turn his studio in Milan in a collective work of art, creating a site-specific in continuous construction, which particularly affects the context in which it is located. Spazio Nour is greeted in the courtyard of Viale Bligny 42, the building is located in the city center, between Porta Romana and Via Bocconi, on that stretch of road that for 68 steps reveals a parallel world, known to the chronicle of Milan as a theater of drug dealing and petty crime. “El Camerùn”, drug fortress, world building: many are the names with which Bligny 42 is known and this reflects the multiple identities of the building. Its courtyard is the heart of this microcosm which is not just a common area of transit, but a real square, where the encounter and the clash between different cultures and lives happen. It is in this context that Spazio Nour functions, using the possibilities offered by this atmosphere to realize its projects. It also creates a base to start moving toward 20 more expanded ideas which can engage the Mahmoud Saleh whole city. MOHAMMADI is an The main objective behind the Spazio Nour’s Iranian artist active in activities is to create a network of artists and Milan. He was born people who are passionate about art and in 1979. His artistic artistic role in the society, and mainly those career begun when who believe that we as people and artists can he started studying make changes in the dynamic of the society by painting at the using the art language. University for Fine Art of Karaj (Iran) where he took his first steps Since the day that Spazio Nour has started its toward becoming an artist. After different kinds activities as a cultural association, there are of collaboration in Iran with art institutions and different projects that have been done: galleries, he decided to go to Italy to improve workshops, laboratories and artistic his artistic skills and amplifying his knowledge residencies with artists from Austria, Bulgaria, about the Contemporary Art. It was in Milan Finland etc. The “Free photos” project which that Saleh Mohammadi has opened his studio engaged the people from the Bligny 42 in 2014 that has become the "Cultural building to have a portrait of themselves and in association of Spazio Nour" in 2015. Spazio order to encourage contacts between them, Nour association works with fostering closer ties through an artistic project. international artists and its activities are Two “Contemporary Evening Nour” Festivals, 3 focused on the different projects of Social Art day events in which different art forms created and the artistic residency. Saleh Mohammadi artistic dialogues. has been awarded by M-WAM as a new emerging international artist active in Milan. Recently his works are focused on “Carpet” as Seyed Arsham an element of his Eastern culture mixed with ALAVIANI is a the Western language of contemporary art. Kurdish-Iranian member of the cultural association of Spazio Nour. He Dialogue through Art: Civil Vision was born in 1986 in International and Y2Y International Sanandaj, Iran. After Christina Sciabarra, UNAOC Alumni being graduated in Economy and Insurance from the University of The Dialogue through Art project seeks to Allameh Tabatabai of Tehran he decided to create awareness and empathy by facilitating continue his studies abroad and eventually in non-threatening dialogue between people from September 2011 he went to Milan, Italy. From different cultures. This is accomplished by that moment on he started studying Cultural building on a shared interest in art and the Heritage in the University of Milan (Università creation of a low-cost, collaborative art project, degli Studi di Milano). In Iran he had various which will be showcased on the CVI website. experiences in artistic environments, and Based on the idea that art, which is the truest before he goes to Italy he has joined the form of culture can overcome the artificial, "House of Art" institution for almost 10 month, political culture created by governments, the which was an artistic center for contemporary project provides participants with the art in Iran. In 2015, he started collaborating opportunity to learn about another person's life with Spazio Nour as the director of while working on a collaborative piece of art in international collaborations, which is still going any medium. The shared love of either an art on. Recently his activities are focused on form or a particular subject gives individuals developing the Spazio Nour concept of the the space to indirectly challenge their social art and the artistic residency at the assumptions about other cultures and international level. develop/share their artistic skills and insights. The project is completely free and open for 21 anyone wishing to participate. There are 7 Reach. 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. partnerships currently in progress and participants live in numerous countries I am a social practice dance artist. The goal, including Afghanistan, the United States, above all else, is engagement. I believe in Russia, Brazil, Germany, and Bangladesh. embodied learning, the lived experience, the power of being applauded. Dance is the Christina median because it is beyond words, requires SCIABARRA is a little resources, and is in the body. My Political Science PhD objectives are reflexive, contextual. We dance candidate in the where people are. Performance and therapy School of are not the purpose, but both can be part of Government and the process. Public Policy. Her research interests I would love to share with you a couple stories. include post-conflict reconstruction, conflict resolution, and peace- In a village in Northwest Bosnia, there is a field building strategies. Her case study work that has seen devastating horrors. Families includes assessments of post-conflict peace- were rounded up there and separated. People building strategies in Northern Ireland, Bosnia were killed or sent off the nearby concentration and Herzegovina, Iraq, and Lebanon. She has camps. Nowadays, this piece of land holds a a B.S. in History from the United States Naval community center but the people remain Academy, B.A. in Russian from the University separate. Locks are changed. Muslim children of Arizona, and an M.A. in Diplomacy from go to the local school in the early morning. Norwich University. Christina is a program Serb and Croat children start later in the day. director There are separate shops, separate services with Civil Vision International, a non-profit and societies. organization dedicated to connecting, informing, and inspiring individuals to achieve Yet, a friend of mine, a survivor of a Serb- peace and cultural understanding through controlled concentration camp decided to collaboration and dialogue. She has facilitated retake this piece of land and gather artists. a number of video dialogues between students Together we had 300 children dancing on this in the U.S. and Afghanistan as well as hosted land. The kids came from different a number of educational and artistic events. communities and spent a week together. On the first day, I noticed a clique forming. This little group was snickering at a girl who was socially-awkward but had the courage to run The power of social practice dance and leap across the field. I pulled the clique Shawn Renee Lent away for a break. My definite assumption was that these kids had come from the same Stand up from your seat and plant your feet neighborhood, same background. As I asked beneath you. them where they went to school and where they live, and I realized this was not the case. Breathe in 4 counts. Hold 1 2 3 4. Exhale 1 2 3 Within hours, a dance workshop had formed a 4. bond (in brattiness) across institutionalized differences. I was shocked. Breathe in 4. Hold 4. Exhale 4. At 57357 Children’s Cancer Hospital Egypt, I Breathe in 4. Hold 4. Exhale 4. was leading dance workshops for the outpatients coming for treatment. A woman Now reach five different ways: reach out, came up to me, fully covered in conservative reach inward, reach down to pull someone up, black. I braced myself, thinking she was there reach across, reach with your heart, however to complain about our wild dancing. I had you want to reach. never had a conversation before with someone 22 in a niqab and I honestly did not know where Shawn holds a Masters degree in Arts to look. She simply told me she wanted her Management with a focus in Arts in Youth and son to participate and asked if it was okay. He Community Development from Columbia had recently had surgery and was not able to College Chicago, as well as her BFA degree in move his limbs or much else other than his theatre and dance from Millikin University and eyelashes. She and her husband, a man in a a Post-Graduate Certificate in Professional rural galabiya, wheeled in their son. She took Practice with a focus in Youth Arts one arms and the dad took the other. Development from Goldsmith’s College, Together, they helped their son to dance, spin, University of London. reach. The boy’s eyes and corners of his mouth lifted to their capacity.

This is what social practice dance can do and Music diplomacy: the experience of EMMA why I am proud of it. If you know of any places, for Peace in Malta projects or support for this work, please let me Paolo Petrocelli, UNAOC Alumni know. EMMA for Peace (European Mediterranean Music Academy), is a non-profit organization Shawn Renee LENT for music diplomacy and education. EMMA for is a social practice Peace brings together music institutions, dance artist and universities, and philanthropic foundations manager, blogger interested in music and the promotion of peace and in the Mediterranean and Middle East regions. presenter/facilitator, World-renowned artists have joined EMMA to who recently help music become an instrument of returned to the understanding, awareness, and collaboration United States after toward a peaceful future. years living in Cairo, Egypt. Shawn has designed and led dance experiences with EMMA’s goal is to create a conversation and children in divided communities of Belfast and to share musical excellence among Northwest Bosnia; as part of the cultural international musicians of the highest level and diplomacy efforts of the U.S. Embassy Cairo; students and young people from with childhood cancer patients in Egypt and disadvantaged backgrounds across Europe the US; Muslims, Orthodox Jews, Mormons, and the Middle East. It uses music as a tool for and Sikhs; students in Palestine, Uganda, peace in places torn apart by war, bringing the Detroit and Chicago; preschoolers and senior best talent from the world’s concert halls and citizens; high school physics students, la academies to refugee camps and other Quinceaneras; Bat/Bar Mitzvahs; juvenile deprived areas where music education is offenders/young people in East London; otherwise inaccessible. homeless lesbian-gay-bisexual-transgender “You can’t make good music using just white teenagers in Chicago; among others. Shawn keys. And you can’t make good music using recently left her post as the EducationUSA just black keys. If you want to make good Advising Coordinator at AMIDEAST Cairo music, you have to use black and white keys. (through the U.S. Department of State), and Music is life”. instructor for the full-time professional program That’s what a young migrant from Ghana said at Cairo Contemporary Dance Center. Shawn in the middle of a concert organized by EMMA is a U.S. Fulbright Scholar, American Express for Peace, Malta Philharmonic Orchestra and Leadership Fellow, and UN Alliance of Malta Youth Orchestra on last 1st February at Civilizations International Fellow. In 2014, the Robert Samut Hall in Floriana (Malta), as a Shawn was the Commencement Speaker for final event of Sounds at the heart of the Millikin University. Mediterranean, a join project in collaboration with Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), 23

Foundation for Shelter and Support to featuring acclaimed Maltese soprano Miriam Migrants, Junior Chamber International in Cauchi under the direction of Greek conductor support of young refugees of the Michalis Economou. A pre-concert talk about Mediterranean. the dramatic situation of refugees in the Mediterranean and EMMA for Peace The Mediterranean is one of the busiest educational activities in Malta took place seaways in the world, as well as a dangerous before the performance. sea frontier for migrants and asylum seekers en route to southern Europe. Today, hundred It was exciting and moving seeing how of thousands of migrants live in refugees Maltese population has demonstrated its camps after having lost everything: their attention and support participating at both homes, their loved ones, their dignity, their concerts with enthusiasm and warmth, hope. completely feeling the two rooms.

Most of the time efforts of concerned A significant demonstration of attention organizations concentrate mainly on covering towards the project came from all the major basic needs like food, medicines and warm Maltese media and institutions, included the clothing, while moral and psychological President of the Republic of Malta, His support is very lacking. EMMA for Peace’s Excellency Dr George Abela, how received a mission is precisely to help large international delegation of EMMA for Peace, along with organizations bringing added value to their aid Chairman of the Malta Philharmonic programs. Orchestra, Mr. Sigmund Mifsud, and Greek conductor Michalis Economou, to express his Through music, education, arts, culture we are personally appreciation and support for the hoping to create a common territory for many initiative. young refugees, a world in which they will discover the importance of listening to each Another small but equally strong signal of other, communicating, working together, dialogue, unity and reconciliation has been expressing themselves, singing their pains and sent from the heart of the Mediterranean by hopes and having their voice heard by the EMMA for Peace. world. A world in which they can live in harmony with themselves and with others. Paolo PETROCELLI is an international Musicians from the Youth Orchestra relations and cultural percussion section and young migrants, led by affairs expert, senior MPO principal percussionist Daniel Cauchi, arts administrator, came together for a powerful musical lecturer, experience. Three weeks of workshops where musicologist, improvisation, collective lyric-writing and violinist, UNESCO musical composition were the building blocks Expert in Music, culminating in a public performance that TEDx Speaker. As a music diplomacy attracted an extremely diverse audience made ambassador, he serves in institutional roles to by children, students, adults, professional forge bonds through music in Europe, the musicians, migrants, diplomats, Middle East, Africa, Asia and the US. Paolo representatives from international founded EMMA for Peace (Euro- organizations (including Ms Chiara Milani, Mediterranean Music Academy for Peace) to Junior Chamber International World President drive positive change in the Mediterranean 2013, and Jon Hoisaete, Head of UNHCR region. EMMA brings together major Office in Malta). institutions and world renowned artists under On 31st January 2014 at Teatru Manoel in the shared passion for music Valletta (Malta), Malta Philharmonic Orchestra and the promotion of peace. His most high- in collaboration with EMMA for Peace profile appointment thus far is as one of the presented a solidarity concert of Italian Opera, youngest members ever elected to the Board 24 of Directors of Fondazione Teatro dell’Opera di information on the diverse CIN projects that Roma (Rome Opera House). Top-level roles in could be divided by areas of work on: the private sector have rounded out his cultural - peaceful acceptance of cultural diversity relations and senior arts administrator - civic participation expertise, allowing collaboration with global - stimulate entrepreneurship spirit leaders in performing arts management. He is - art and culture as communication tool Assistant to the Superintendent of the Rome - providing an understanding of political and Opera House for International Development social dynamics on the ground and External Relations, Director of - network of experts International Relations of Kyoto Opera Festival - human rights and co-existence and Sawakami Opera Foundation in Japan. In - cultural heritage in the Euro-MENA Region order to serve as an active citizen and support - fostering interaction among the region non- profit activity, he has become a leading - capacity building for young professionals member of some of the most prestigious - making information public international and cultural organizations. - interaction and interdisciplinary - inclusion of locals

For CIN is very important to give the same Cultural Innovators Network importance to all the cultures and realities Olga Pavlenko, Cultural Innovators Network participating in the network activities, avoiding any kind of cultural dominance or cultural Cultural Innovators Network could be defined colonialism. We research on local strategies as visions and actions of tomorrow’s societies. good to be applied in a specific area, acting It is composed of artists, cultural managers, mainly through local activists. At the same time civil society professionals and activists who one of the aims of the CIN is to enhance it’s are seismographs of the situation in societies. members professional capacity and to share It is cross-cultural and cross-sectoral platform the good practices experience. for innovation. CIN members are coming from 31 countries CIN network started in 2012 with learning around the Mediterranean region, central journeys in Egypt, Italy and Germany. 3 Europe and Meddle Est counting 109 Forums were organized till now: 1st CIN members, 60 female and 49 male. Forum in Istanbul, Turkey in December 2012; CIN got an important support from the Goethe 2nd CIN Forum in Hammamet, Tunisia in institute on the various steps of it’s November 2013; 3rd CIN Forum in development, and since 2015 CIN became an Thessaloniki, Greece in June 2014. In 2014 independent legal entity. also the CINnovation journeys between the members of the network took place. In 2015 CIN days were organized in Algiers, Bagdad, Olga PAVLENKO Beirut, Berlin and Tessaloniki. moved from her original country All this activities are essential to create a kind Ukraine to Italy in of big family around the region and to develop 2004. Leaving her he common goals and strategies. A special home made her attention is paid to keep the communication conscious of her own through network really active and practically identity. “I started to useful. ask, what makes But a part from those the huge number of people feel that they belong to different capillary actions are done through the cultures.” As a visual artist this question found numerous CIN projects developed in common its way into her work. In her art practice she during the CIN Forums and implemented by unites the experience of her degree in law the CIN members locally. To have more obtained in Ukraine and art degree, obtained in Fine Arts Academy in Florence. Olga 25

Pavlenko always demonstrated an interest in the intercultural dialogue and consider essential the experience of the Roots&Routes network. Subsequently she travelled nearly all central and eastern Europe, mainly the cities with high numbers of second and third generation immigrants, meeting other artists. “It is great to see how fresh European culture can be.” Further on she took part at the Cultural Innovators Forum in Istanbul in 2012 and since that she is a part of the CIN network. She is a coordinator of the 1000and1realities CIN project visual art project for children in Turkey, Iraq and Cyprus. In 2013 she continue to reflect on the intercultural relationship through Euromediterranean Youth Meeting, Barcelona. In her art research and didactic practice she always pay a particular attention to the collective and multiple authorship, collaboration and collective conscience. In 2014 she took part in Steps Ahead Academy Professionalization of Junior Coaches in Performing Arts and Media and UCARE Urban Culture Against Racism in Europe. Since that she implemented a cultural didactic project Feel the Music in local schools and cultural centers.

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