Arts and Culture
Arts and culture are the driving forces that fuel insightful dialogue and spur awareness of societal topics while bolstering cultural diversity and mutual understanding. At ASEF, arts and culture have proven to be indispensible as we strive to foster greater understanding between Asia and Europe. Spanning cultural policy to artistic exchanges, our projects and activities create opportunities for people from diverse backgrounds to engage in active discussions and discover new creative and cultural forms via various means including the Internet.
Asia-Europe Culture Partnership Initiative Film:
Human Frames Film Screenings
17 - 20 February 2011
Singapore
The Human Frames Film Screenings follows up from the Human Frames – Trends in Experimental Cinema film forum held in Singapore in 2010 together with the 1st Experimental Film Forum: Experiments in Progress. The Human Frames project was supported by ASEF under the Asia-Europe Culture Partnership Initiatives which was unveiled in 2009.
The Film Screenings boasted over 70 experimental short films by 70 Asian and European filmmakers shown in 10 thematic screening sessions which focused on different human expressions. Showcased at Singapore’s The Substation, over 100 people viewed the screenings which included a presentation by lead curator Silke Schmickl and co-curator Stéphane Gérard from French independent film label Lowave on opening night.
Throughout 2011, it has featured in prominent venues across Europe such as the comtemporary arts centre, Kunst im Tunnel in Düsseldorf, Germany, and the Festival des Cinémas Différents in Paris, France.
In partnership with The Substation (Singapore) and Lowave Ltd. (France).
Asia-Europe Festivals Exchange
Programme: Atelier for Young Festival Managers
14 – 21 May 2011
Singapore
Drawing participation from 34 international festival managers, the Atelier for Young Festival Managers leveraged presentations, group discussions and workshops to ignite an exchange of knowledge and experience. Held for the first time in Asia within the Singapore Arts Festival in May 2011, it evoked a reflection on the role festivals play in the modern landscape while fostering international cultural cooperation.
The intensive week-long training wrapped up on 20 May 2011 with a public talk on “Arts and Festivals: Serving Artists Serves the Public”. The LASALLE College of the Arts auditorium was packed with over 200 enthusiastic people, including Mr Kris Peters, Minister-President of Flanders, Belgium, who graced the event as its guest-of-honour.
In partnership with the Association of Asian Performing Arts Festivals (AAPAF), CultureLink, European Festivals Association (EFA), LASALLE College of the Arts, Singapore Arts Festival.
17th ASEF University
20 June – 01 July 2011
Penang, Malaysia
The 17th ASEF University (AU17) was organised in response to the recommendations and priorities proposed at the 4th ASEM Culture Ministers Meeting in Poznan, Poland in 2010. The meeting placed primary importance on the need to educate and involve the younger generation in heritage protection.
With the theme of “Cultural Heritage: Challenges and Opportunities”, AU17 brought together 41 participants from 31 ASEM countries who took part in active discussions and interactive activities. The group was taken on educational trips around the UNESCO World Heritage Site of George Town, soaked up local customs and joined in an excavation at an archaeological site.
Summing up their experiences, the participants produced a photo and video exhibition entitled “Shared Heritage: As We See It”.
In partnership with the University Sains Malaysia in coordination with the Center for Policy Research and International Studies (CenPRIS).
ASEMUS Executive Committee Meeting, Website and Mapping of Asian Collections Project
18 - 19 July 2011 and 8 - 9 October 2011
Singapore and Stockholm, Sweden
Participants of the ASEMUS Executive Committee Meeting in Stockholm, Sweden discussed future plans for the Network and the new projects to be executed by the organisation. One such project is the Mapping of Asian Collections project. In line with their mission of promoting knowledge and information sharing between museums of the two continents, the project will table the content of Asian collections, professional expertise and on-going collaborative projects spanning Asia and Europe.
At the meeting, the Committee welcomed the new ASEMUS Chair, Dr Kim Youngna, Director General of the National Museum of Korea, as well as the new Vice-Chair, Ms Fionnuala Croke, Director of the Chester Beatty Library, Ireland.
Separately, ASEMUS’ new website (asemus.museum) was launched in 2011 and resides as a special sub-site of culture360.org.
In partnership with the National Museum of Korea, National Heritage Board of Singapore, musée du quai Branly (Paris, France); and the National Museums of World Culture (Sweden)
Asia-Europe Compendium of Cultural Policies
27 – 28 July 2011 and 7 October 2011
Seoul, Korea and Melbourne, Australia
In a bid to encourage greater analysis and engagement in cultural policy among Asian and European experts, ASEF launched the Asia-Europe Compendium of Cultural Policies in 2011. To be developed by an international group of partners including the International Federation of Arts Councils and Culture Agencies (IFACCA), the project will add to the International Database of Cultural Policies (WorldCP), an international online database of cultural policies of the world's regions.
The directions of the research project were charted in two Expert's Meetings in Seoul, Korea and Melbourne, Australia in 2011. Over 40 participants made up of policymakers, researchers and cultural policy experts uncovered common areas of interest and relevance for intra-Asia and Asia-Europe dialogue in arts and culture. Some of the key areas earmarked for future dialogue included the development of creative industries, heritage and arts education.
In partnership with the Korean National Commission for UNESCO, International Federation of Arts Councils and Culture Agencies (IFACCA), Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, Republic of Korea.
Asia-Europe Cultural Exchange Partnership
Initiatives: Creative Encounters
2010 to 2011
Throughout Asia and Europe
Together with partners, Arts Network Asia and Trans Europe Halles, ASEF unveiled “Creative Encounters: Cultural Partnerships between Asia and Europe” a new edition of the Asia Europe Cultural Partnership Initiatives (AECPI) which was first launched in 2009. The new programme is designed to further ASEF’s efforts in uniting artists and cultural practitioners across the two continents in all areas of the arts. Both Asian and European cultural organisations have responded to the call for proposals, jointly submitting creative projects for selection by ASEF and its partners.
From 2010 to 2011, 15 artistic projects were implemented under the programme. Over 200 artists shared their experiences and collaborated in residencies, meetings, production of exhibitions and performances which benefitted 13 countries across Asia and Europe.
In partnership with the Arts Network Asia (ANA) and Trans Europe Halles (TEH).
Connect2Culture at the 5th World Summit on Arts and Culture
4 October 2011
Melbourne, Australia
ASEF marked the completion of its four-year programme, Connect2Culture, with a special dossier, Arts. Environment. Sustainability. How can Culture Make a Difference? Presented at the 5th World Summit on Arts and Culture in Melbourne, Australia in October 2011, it examines arts and culture as catalysts for creative solutions to important global challenges like the environment and climate change. Receiving special mention was the rising interest and awareness of such topics among artists and cultural practitioners, of whom many were united through the programme's many projects and initiatives since 2008.
In partnership with the International Federation of Arts Councils and Culture Agencies (IFACCA).
culture360.org
Throughout 2011
Singapore and Melbourne, Australia
ASEF’s culture360.org is the only online portal dedicated to engendering artistic and cultural exchanges between Asia and Europe. It received prominent mention in the presence of over 500 world cultural leaders, experts and practitioners at the 5th World Summit on Arts and Culture in Melbourne, Australia. The culture360.org booth at the Summit attracted more than 400 participants through an interactive project organised along the event.
Relaunched in April 2010 complete with new features and social media functions, the portal has since enjoyed an 820% increase in visitor numbers. The development of the culture360.org platform included in 2011 the launch of film. culture360.org, a new website for sharing information on film industries with a special focus on independent cinema in Asia and Europe.
In partnership with the International Federation of Arts Councils and Culture Agencies (IFACCA).
