Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/736806
maltatoday, SUNDAY, 9 OCTOBER 2016 30 This Week Why do you think it's impor- tant for Malta to be hosting the World Summit? The 7th World Summit on Arts and Culture, co-hosted by IFACCA – the International Federation of Arts Councils and Culture Agencies – and Arts Council Malta, is expect- ed to attract around 400-500 participants from all over the world. These participants will be representing different parts of the cultural sector – from ministers and high government representatives, heads of fund- ing agencies, academics and re- searchers, to artists and cultural professionals. Apart from the panels, work- shops and the plenary discus- sion sessions, the organisers will be hosting a cultural pro- gramme which will present a unique opportunity for all the delegates to experience a taste of a rich and vibrant Maltese culture. The Summit is expect- ed to lead to new collaborations, engagements and visibility for Maltese artists and cultural or- ganisations, thus providing op- portunities for strong network- ing and creative interfacing. Malta being 'at the cross- roads' geographically and culturally has been touted as one of the reasons for hosting the summit on our shores. But what is the value of this claim beyond what has essentially become a facile cliché? It is by no means a cliché. Mal- ta indeed represents a unique culture that emerged from many different influences, which is relevant today more than ever in history. Today, the Mediter- ranean is again perceived as a space with many conflicts where diversities clash and do not in- teract. In this context, Maltese culture which embraces Arabic, Euro- pean, Christian and Muslim in- fluences and has developed over centuries through dynamic ex- changes, proves how possible it is to communicate peacefully, to interact without tensions and to benefit from exchanges rather than insist on closing borders and building walls around us. In a fast-changing, inter-con- nected world, cultural relations offer a unique opportunity for improving interethnic com- munication, understanding and tolerance. Culture is a valuable resource to tackle many of the challenges Europe and the world are cur- rently facing. Cultural practitioners and cre- atives gathered together from around the world at a geograph- ic and cultural junction like Malta to debate these challenges is not just metaphorical rhetoric but a serious attempt at leaving a rich legacy in this Summit's wake: creating synergies, pool- ing resources, facilitating co- operation and providing more visibility to cultural exchanges and actions are among the real values that go far beyond the 'crossroads' cliché. Where would you say Malta stands when it comes to some of the core themes set to be dis- cussed during the summit? As you know, the central topic of the Summit is cultural lead- ership. Malta has a very vibrant cultural scene. Also, with the recent reforms both at the lev- el of the government and the Ministry but especially through reforms undertaken by its Arts Council, Malta is significantly reforming cultural governance and cultural leadership. Maltese operators, artists and adminis- trators can therefore share with the Summit participants many innovative examples and initia- tives that are challenging tradi- tional perceptions of cultural leadership. Would you say that publicly- funded art in Malta has fa- voured works which somehow explore and/or reinforce no- tions of 'national identity' over the last couple of years? How does this tally with the Sum- mit's exploration of the dichot- omy between the local and the global? The reinforcement and explo- ration of notions of 'national identity' are not necessar- ily among the foremost driving forces behind our strategy in the administration of artistic pub- lic funding. Arts Council Malta seeks to promote cultural hy- bridity rather than hyperbolical eccentric eulogies about 'the na- tion'. The global cultural land- scape has changed rapidly over the last years and the demand for exchanges and intercultural cooperation has increased in pace with the digital revolution. Although there isn't any fixed or closed agendas for the de- bates and deliberations that are envisaged to evolve during the Summit, it is hoped that, against a background of a world faced with many challenges and conflicts, culture is conceived as a phenomenon of great po- tential to overcome divisions, strengthen fragile societies and improve international relations in a context of multiculturalism where intercultural dialogue and peace-building are stimu- lated, cultural production and tourism are supported as drivers of development and economic growth, and education, research and science are used as agents for dialogue and exchanges. Representatives of the Mal- tese cultural sector who will be engaging is these conversations during the Summit are bound to embark on an exciting jour- ney of discovery – conceptually, pragmatically, culturally and ar- tistically. For more information about the World Summit, log on to http://www.artsummit.org/ "Today, the Mediterranean is again perceived as a space with many conflicts where diversities clash and do not interact" Let's talk about 'crossroads' Ahead of the 7th World Summit on Arts and Culture – which will be held at the Mediterranean Conference Centre in Valletta between October 18 and 21 – the Summit's Programme Director Nina Obuljen Korzinek and the Executive Chair of Arts Council Malta Albert Marshall speak to TEODOR RELJIC about why the event – whose theme this year is 'At the crossroads? Cultural Leadership in the 21st Century' – is so important for Malta Nina Obuljen Korzinek Albert Marshall