U40 ARABESQUE

Network on Cultural Policies and Cooperation
for Cultural Change

In the framework of its programme CONNEXXIONS and its international U40 Network, the German Commission for UNESCO offered a platform to create a self-organised regional network on cultural policies and cooperation for cultural change. This invitation was addressed to young cultural experts coming from Arab countries in transformation processes. The “U40 Arabesque” idea aims at being a forum to advocate for cultural participation, to create strategic partnerships and self-organisation of civil society actors in the cultural field, to position young experts and their work into a wider context of international cultural policies and to exchange information, knowledge and practices in the field of promoting cultural diversity.

The programme included an in-depth training on the 2005 UNESCO Convention on the Diversity of Cultural Expressions. It re-energized the U40 Arabesque Network and linked it with other existing cultural networks and initiatives in the Arab region. During the workshop work and projects of young cultural activists were contextualized within international cultural policy frameworks and opened up to new scopes of action and participation. The aim was to meet, to talk to and to work with as many different people to establish a reliable basis for the “U40 Arabesque” network as part of the international U40 Network “Cultural Diversity 2030”.
(Text: Anna Steinkamp, DUK)

nextlearning co-developed and moderated the workshop as well as provided working methods that helped to mobilise and access participants’ expertise and knowledge.

U40 ARABESQUE
Partner: DUK, Al-Balad Theatre, U40 Arabesque
Format: Capacity Shaping Workshop and network Kick-Off
Time: October 2014
Place: Jerash, Jordan
Documentation: http://u40net.org/who-we-are/regional-networks/u40-arabesque/

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