Meetings
The Secretariat of the Anna Lindh Foundation organizes every year a meeting of the network coordinators from the 43 participating countries. Its aim is to summarize the achievments of a passing year and to negociate a strategy for the coming one.
Please, see below short summaries of the lastest meetings:
For more information on Barcelona forum
Annual Meeting of Heads of National Networks 2008
From November 27 to November 30, 2008, the city of Nice held the 7th Annual Meeting of the Heads of the Anna Lindh Foundation National Networks. The meeting gathered representatives of 43 national networks, the representatives of the Secretariat as well as Andreu Claret and AndreAzoulay – the Executive Director and President of the Foundation respectively. The major topic discussed in Nice was the Foundation’s policy as well as strategies and plans for 2009-2011.
Annual Meeting of Heads of National Networks 2009
On November 7-9 Heads of the National Networks gathered in Goteborg, Sweden for a next annual meeting whose aim was to discuss the activities carried out by the Foundation in 2009 and to present its plans for 2010. There were special guests invited for the meeting - namely, the representatives of the EuroMed Award 2009 winners - the Combatants for Peace as well as the History in Action Project Team who received a special mention in the award competition. The participants of the meeting took also part in a special Community Night of the Swedish Network organized in the seat of the Head of the Network, the Museum of World Cultures.
When it comes to the achievements of 2009 it has to be emphasized that Anna Lindh Foundation was the only institution of the Barcelena Process that did not stop functioning in answer to the recent Gaza crises. On the contrary, it adapted to the problem by announcing the Restore Trust, Rebuild Bridges campaign. Most of the time at the meeting, however, was dedicated to the plans for 2010, including Report of Intercultural Trend to be carried out by the Gallup Institute and selected experts, coming grant schemes, not to mention flagship projects proposed in each of the thematic area (eg. Media, Religon and spirituality, Cultural production).
2010
Next annual of the Heads of the Networks is planned on December 2-4, 2010 in Brussels.
Annual Meeting of the Heads of National Networks of the Anna Lindh Euro-Mediterranean Foundation for the Dialogue Between CulturesMeeting of the Higher Officials of the Ministries of Foreign Affairs of the Union for the Mediterranean
Krakow, October 20-23, 2011
The International Cultural Centre in Krakow, the coordinator of the Polish network of the Anna Lindh Foundation, hosted an annual meeting of the national coordinators of the Anna Lindh Foundation representing 43 countries of the Union for the Mediterranean from October 20 to October 23, 2011. Several factors contributed to the event’s unique character. First, the meeting was officially enlisted in the calendar of the Polish Presidency by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs following a formal submission issued by the International Cultural Centre in 2010. Secondly, the International Cultural Centre seat welcomed the representatives of the Ministries of Foreign Affairs of the before mentioned 43 states – the Higher Officials of the Union for the Mediterranean and the members of the ALF Board of Governors who, from October 20 to October 22, held a simultaneous meeting which addressed the most important issues related to the Union for the Mediterranean. Thirdly, for the first time in the history of the Anna Lindh Foundation, the Heads of Networks meeting had been organised in a Central European, post-Communist country.
The aim of the meeting was to wrap up the activities of the period about to end and to prepare an action plan for the upcoming period covering the years 2011-2014. However, the International Cultural Centre (with the financial help of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ministry of Culture and National Heritage, Mayor of Krakow Office as well as the ICC own resources amounting to over 50 000 euro) decided that a conference formula (plenary sessions and workshops) should be fleshed out with a rich and varied cultural programme and high-quality artistic productions – all highlighting some of the Polish achievements in the field of intercultural dialogue.
The following events were organised within the framework of the 10th Heads of Network Meeting:
1) “Sounds of Dialogue” – a concert of classical music held at the Stary National Theatre, Sinfonietta Cracovia conducted by Gabriel Chmura and Haba Percussion Group. Krzysztof Penderecki - Concerto per viola e orchestra, Anders Koppel - Toccata and Edward Freytag - Cuban Concerto. October 21, 2011.
2) “Culture for Social Change” – an international debate on the role of culture in fostering social transformations held at the Krakow City Hall. Moderator: Prof. Raj Isar. Speakers: Dr Monika Smoleń, Minister of Culture and National Heritage, Grzegorz Klaman, President fo the “Wyspa” Progress Foundation and Mohamed El Sawy, President and Founder of “Sawy” Culture Wheel, with a video specially prepared by Joanna Rajkowska. October 22, 2011.
3) “ The Sejny Chronicles” – a play by a theatrical company of the Borderland of Arts, Culture and Nations Centre in Sejny held at the Stary National Theatre. Directed by Bożena Szroeder. October 22, 2011.
4) Tour of Wieliczka Salt Mine – UNESCO World Heritage site. October 22, 2011.
5) Visit to the Auchwitz-Birkenau Museum – UNESCO World Heritage site. October 23, 2011.
The meeting both in terms of its content and organisation was unanimously praised by all the participants. It was also positively assessed by the International Cultural Centre supervising institutions – Ministry of Culture and National Heritage and Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Photo (P. Mazur): Koncert "Sounds of Dialogue" (21.10) Sinfonietta Cracovia conducted by Gabriel Chmura; Stary National Theatre in Krakow.
Anders Koppel - Toccata
Edward Freytag - Cuban Concerto
Photo (P. Mazur): "The Sejny Chronicles" (22.10), Borderlands Centre Theatrical Company, directed by B. Szroeder, Stary National Theatre in Krakow.
Photo (P. Mazur): International debate "Culture for social change” (22.10), City Hall.
Participants: dr Monika Smoleń, Grzegorz Klaman, Prof. Raj Isar, Mohamed El Sawy
Poto (P. Mazur): Bestowal Ceremony of the „EuroMed” Award
Organiser: International Cultural Centre in Krakow, Euro-Mediterranean Foundation for the Dialogue Between Cultures
Partners: Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ministry of Culture and National Heritage
The meeting, as an experts meeting, was part of the Polish Presidency agenda. It was financially supported by the Polish government.
