Network-building has multiple meanings in cultural diplomacy. It is the act of cultivating relationships between various actors, such as individuals, organisations, and governments. Network-building is also a strategy for building global networks to operationalise and localise the programmes managed by international flagship cultural institutions.
Network-building is utilised in different ways. Local arts and cultural organisations see international networks as an opportunity to mobilise resources, expand their audience and develop a reputation. National governments develop and maintain their global networks to support and adjust to changing foreign policy priorities. Despite its versatility and significance in cultural diplomacy, network-building is facing unprecedented compounding challenges brought on by numerous international factors including COVID-19, Brexit and armed conflicts.
Hosted by the University of Manchester, this 1-day symposium invites discussion on the challenges facing network-building in cultural diplomacy, reflects on and learns from the practices that have (not) worked, and searches for approaches to understand, establish, and evaluate the network-building practice in cultural diplomacy.
Speakers include Biyun Zhu University of Manchester; Jonathan Vickery, University of Warwick; Yudhishthir Raj Isar, American University of Paris; Margaret Wyszomirski, Ohio State University; Rebecca Shoesmith, British Council; Charlotte Faucher, Université Paris 3 Sorbonne Nouvelle; Mohammed Aleinzi, University of Sheffield; Nadine Patel, Creative Consultant; Jay Wang, University of Southern California.
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