"The space of philosophical thought and the space of creativity are no longer limited by national, ethical, religious, cultural or any other environments. With all its diversities, the world has become a uniform space of integration. It is also accepted as such by culture. The phrase 'Re-network!' can, therefore, be considered a re-evaluation of networking. This is also the aim of intercultural dialogue," commented the Slovenian Minister for Culture, Dr Vasko Simoniti, in his address today before participants at the meeting of European Cultural Contact Points.
Cultural Contact Point Slovenia (the Centre for Contemporary Arts ('SCCA-Ljubljana') organised a meeting for representatives of the national European information centre networks under the Culture Programme (2007-2013).
This twice-yearly traditional meeting, hosted on each occasion by the EU Council Presidency country, is being held between 11 and 14 June in Ljubljana and Maribor, bringing together the representatives of networks in 33 European countries. Representatives of the European Commission, the Education, Audiovisual and Culture Executive Agency (EACEA), the national Ministry of Culture, European cultural networks, culture sector professionals and the media are also invited to attend the meeting.
The meeting in Slovenia, while focusing in the first instance on the work of the European Cultural Contact Points and the implementation of the EU Culture Programme, will be devoted to the subject of 'Intercultural Dialogue between South-Eastern Europe and the European Union'.
The meeting programme also includes today's international public conference 'Re-network!' on networking in the cultural sector and the promotion of the free flow of information as a means to encourage intercultural dialogue and international cultural co-operation.