Leadership in Cultural Relations

Image credit: Rita J. King

Since we've started working with the British Council, I've been amazed to learn the scope and depth of their cultural relations programs.

There is a key difference between how the British approach cultural relations, from which many countries could learn in their approach to cultural engagement. Simply put: They focus on issues and topics of our day such as Climate Change, not on the merits of their culture per se. It sounds simple but it's a critical difference. In this capacity they are authentically facilitating intercultural dialogue around the critical issues of our time rather than pushing forward political agendas.

The last two days they have published poignant, moving blogposts, including a first person account of what it felt like to monitor the elections in Iraq by Tony Reilly, Director British Council Iraq and an Afghani teacher's story about teaching in the UK as a Muslim woman.

And take a look at what the British Council did just last week:

Launched a $500,000 Fund to Develop US-UK Higher Education Partnerships
"Despite strong higher education relationships between the two countries, the international education market is changing and the UK needs to re-invest in strategic higher education partnerships with the US in order to realize the full potential of UK-US cooperation."


Collaborated with NATO to explore the role of Cultural Relations in Conflict Prevention
This conference, which was part of the British Council's TransAtlantic 2020 (TN2020) initiative (Rita J. King launched The Imagination Age in an essay she contributed to a TN2020 book). This week's NATO convened young US leaders in Brussels with Martin Howard, Assistant NATO Secretary General (Operations); Martin Davidson, British Council CEO; Marietje Schaake, Member of the European Parliament and TN2020; Brigadier Hamza Visca, Bosnia and Herzegovina Armed Forces; Afifa Azim, Executive Director for the Afghan Women's Network; and Professor John Sugden, Director Football4Peace.

Robin Davies has a nice write-up.

In Rome, the first TN2020 debate explored the transatlantic relationship between Europe and North America in the context of the new administration in the US and the recent ratification of the Lisbon Treaty in Europe. The second debate, "Social Entrepreneurship and Innovative Technologies for a Sustainable Future," considered how Europe and North America might work together to tackle issues which are increasingly global in nature, but which need local implementation. The debates were presented in partnership with the British, American and Canadian Embassies in Rome.

Launched "Long Horizons," a collection of personal reflections about art, artists and climate change.
"Arts, Climate Change and Sustainability is a British Council programme aimed at harnessing the inspirational qualities of the arts, along with the trust felt towards artists, to demystify and energise the debate about climate change. By energising and invigorating others, it will help find creative and local solutions to the challenge of climate security and encourage the necessary behavioural change in the UK and internationally. Art and artists can help move the climate change agenda from intellectual understanding to emotional engagement, and then on to action."