EU-LAS (League of Arab States) CULTURE

Europe and the Arab world have a long and rich history of cultural, economic, commercial and political exchanges and partnerships and are two rapidly changing world regions. Serving as a bridge between both regions, the project “EU-LAS (League of Arab States) CULTURE” will be implemented by the Goethe-Institut together with BOZAR - Centre for Fine Arts Brussels in 2021-2022 in light of the EU-LAS Summit in Europe scheduled for the end of 2022. The overall objective of the project is to strengthen and raise awareness on the EU-LAS partnership in the field of culture as a driving force for socio-economic growth and regional stability that will ultimately contribute to strengthening the cultural diplomacy across borders.

We will promote EU-Arab cultural relations in a contemporary reality characterized by an enormous hybridity, cultural flows, diversity and manifold entanglements – both past and present - through a collaborative and cooperative approach to art practice that allows for sharing cross-border experiences and knowledge. Among the cross-cutting issues at the heart of the project, we will focus on good governance and human rights, youth integration and support and gender equality and mainstreaming. Our project consists of a series of interlinked activities aiming at providing safe, vibrant and lively spaces and platforms (both virtual and physical) for creative experimentation and intercultural dialogue, fostering collaboration and synergies among curators, cultural operators and artists using innovative and participative formats and promoting access and exposure to diverse artistic disciplines to a broad audience in both regions. To do so, starting in spring 2021 and culminating in a multiday festival in the framework of the 2022 EU-LAS summit, we will organize on- and offline cultural manifestations in Brussels with local partners from Belgium and as well as from the Arab world (public showcase events at BOZAR, residency programmes and experts roundtables) across four different artistic disciplines: cinema, music, performance and visual arts. The project’s outcome will also comprise of a set of recommendations for shaping future EU-LAS cultural cooperation that will be presented through a high-level conference and publication during the festival.

Co-funded by the European Union