Promoting EU cultures
By Vinusha Paulraj
ccess to the European Union culture should make the EU closer to the people of Sri Lanka,” said Ambassador David Daly of the Delegation to the EU to Sri Lanka and Maldives, speaking at the signing of the EUNIC Convention, Memorandum of Understanding and Charter recently.
The charter is an effort to promote EU values through the promotion of culture and dialogue. The European National Institutes for Culture (EUNIC) convention was signed by representative Directors of the British Council, Alliance Francaise de Kotte and the Goethe Institute on October 23.
Growing rapidly since 2006, there are currently 94 EU National Institutes for Culture (NICs) including the brand new addition in Sri Lanka, Ambassador Daly said. What is meant by “EU culture” he explains, is the “collective culture of the member states.” While culture does not officially fall within the competences of the Union and there has been no harmonisation of rules in this regard, the member states have always recognised and respected each other’s culture. Rather than promoting an amalgamation of these distinct cultures, the NICs have made accessible “the mosaic of cultures from the 28 member states.”The three Institutes hope to continue their individual functions, EUNIC being a common platform for collaboration and adding a different dimension to the cultural exchange they make possible.
Ambassador of France to Sri Lanka and the Maldives, Jean Paul Monchau quipped “culture is a serious matter in Europe.” Having a vibrant cultural service both within and outside of the country besides economic and political diplomacy it has always occupied a place of much prominence. Happy that the three cultural institutes are coming together, he says collaborative efforts have already been a success. From showcasing French and German street art together with the Goethe Institute he says even the recent event-Colombo Scope, was another successful joint venture.
Cultural Policy is a vital component of foreign policy according to Ambassador of Germany to Sri Lanka, Juergen Morhard. The effort to promote the German culture through the Goethe Institute is not merely limited to the promotion of language. The Ambassador felt however that this platform will allow them to “showcase German culture as a part of the EU culture.” This he hopes will contribute to Sri Lanka- EU relations.
British High Commissioner to Sri Lanka John Rankin’s believes the collaborative efforts would result in a greater impact. Relationships between countries transcend that of its governments according to Ambassador Rankin who feels that culture and art in some instances extend to areas outside the jurisdiction of politics. “People all over the world, take part in a vibrant, contemporary EU culture” and EUNIC will include the people of Sri Lanka.
Director, Alliance Francaise de Kotte Claude Alexandre-Martinez, Country Director, British Council, Keith Davies and Director of the Goethe Institute Sri Lanka, Bjorn Ketels were signatories to the EUNIC convention which was inaugurated last week.