Arts, Culture and Intercultural Dialogue

Michael Wimmer

Austria and Migration

- the role of immigrants in the Austrian society

- immigrants in Austrian schools

- What‘s about the cultural sector?

Intercultural Dialogue

Intercultural dialogue is a process that

comprises an open and respectful

exchange or interaction between individuals,

groups and organisations with different

cultural backgrounds or worldviews.

Among its aims are: to develop adeeper

understanding of diverse perspectives

and practices; to increase participation

and the freedom and ability to make choices;

to foster equality; and to enhance creative

processes. (Sharing Diversities)

About the report

- interviews with experts all over Austria

- demographic, legal, political framework

- Assessment of problems/perspectives from the viewpoint of actors

- recommendations

- examples of good practice

When different actors are talking about intercultural dialogue…

- they normally talk about different things

- there is a need to find a place to communicate on the same eye level

Basic message

Intercultural Competence is the competence to deal with conflicts

Educational implications

- Pedagogy between rationality and sensuality

- The importance of the full range of aestetics or There are more languages than just literal ones

- Challenges for Higher Education Institutes

Recommendations

- make use of differences

- learning from each other

- approaching each other

Recommendations for politicians and administrators

- developing respective cultural and educational political priorities

- Safeguarding professional quality

- involving migrant actors in cultural and education policy decision making processes

- evidence based policy

- improving service

Recommendations for arts and cultural institutions

- strategic development together with all levels of staff

- providing intercultural competencies for staff members

- involving migrant artists

- controlling and evaluation

Further recommendations for Arts and

Cultural Institutions

- Audience development

- Community Outreach

- cultural institutions as learning institutions

- Cooperations with educational institutions – Development of common projects

Recommendations concerning cultural initiatives from and for migrants

- public acknowledgement making visible the contributions in cultural life

- making available cultural management know how

- appreciating intercultural competencies

- improving professional services and support

Criteria for Good Practice

- structural anchoring- thematic anchoring- acquisition of intercultural competencies- multilinguality- Innovation: New ways of cooperation- cross-sectoral, inter-institutional- lowering access barriers- participation and activation- sustainability- documentation- public resonance

„There can be no dialogue without words, but there will be no meaningful intercultural dialogue if we do not move from words to action“

Terry Davis, Secretary General of the Council of Europe, July 2008

Thank you very much for your attention!

For questions and feedback Michael Wimmer/EDUCULT michael.wimmer@educult.at www.educult.at