Istanbul 2010 European Capital of Culture Agency discussed “Cultural Policies” -which constitute a primary subject in the agenda of EU countries- in Istanbul the European Capital of Culture of 2010.

Three sessions were held in the last day of the symposium under the following titles: “Cultural Cooperation & Artist's Mobility and Participation of Cultural Actors in Cultural Policy Making”, “The Impact of European Capitals of Culture on Cultural Policy Making” and “Cohesion in Cultural Policies and Cultural Integration”.

Cultural Cooperation & Artist's Mobility and Participation of Cultural Actors in Cultural Policy Making

Claude Frisoni, the Director of Abbaye de Neumünster Centre Culturel de Rencontre, outlined the cultural and political conflict areas in Europe and articulated that the art and artists should be spared a pressure-free domain where the social rights of the artist -are ensured.

Els van der Plas, the Director of The Prince Claus Fund, said that the motto “A nation stays alive when culture stays alive” by Prince Claus guides their foundation all along, adding that culture is a basic human need, and is therefore essential for the psychological survival of people. He also explained the Cultural Emergency Response (CER) initiative launched by the Prince Claus Fund aims to provide “first aid” for cultural heritages that have been damaged or destroyed by man-made or natural disasters and mentioned their support for Aziz Nesin foundation after the flooding.

Anthony Attard, the Cultural Manager at St. James Cavalier Centre for Creativity, argued that mobility immensely contributes to creativity as well as professionalism in the area of culture and arts. Within this context, Attard expressed that many hindrances still stood in front of artists like visas, work permits, taxation and discrimination.

Poet and writer Ziya Şenocak focused on the concepts of alienation and exclusion and stressed that national policies result in alienation in the global system.

Moderator İskender Pala made the closing statement to say that the Yunus Emre Cultural Institute was founded by law to function internationally as a cultural institution and currently operating in 8 countries. With two more countries to be added next year, the Institute will be operative in 10 countries next year.

The Impact of European Capitals of Culture on Cultural Policy Making

The first speaker at the session Prof. Cristian Radu, from Sibiu University and Sibiu 2007 European Capital of Culture General Director, articulated that making a European Capital of Culture was about maintaining balances on strategy and implementation duality.

Gerfried Stocker, the Artistic Director of Ars Electronica Linz, told about the process through which Linz constituted a culture economy and made its way to be a European Capital of Culture from a small populated steel industry city 30 years ago.

Nevzat Bayhan, the General Manager of Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality Kültür Co, outlined that the European Capital of Culture process is an opportunity as well as a challenge for cultural development and urban transformation in Istanbul.