ASEF Cultural Policy Dialogue Programme

Overview

In the area of cultural policy, the Asia-Europe Foundation (ASEF) aims to stimulate analysis and facilitate conversations on issues of common interest for Asia and Europe, as well as demonstrate close alignment with priorities of the Asia-Europe Meeting (ASEM).

ASEF attends the biennial ASEM Culture Ministers’ Meetings (ASEM CMMs) and closely follows the discussions at these Ministerial meetings. Further, ASEF facilitates dialogue among cultural professionals and government officials as well as with other sectors such as health, development, and education. These dialogues currently take the form of ASEF-supported Policy Panels and Public Forums, and particularly emphasise the sharing of good practices from Asia and Europe. ASEF Policy Panels regularly take place at ASEM Culture Ministers' Meetings (ASEM CMMs) including most recently at the 8th ASEM Culture Ministers' Meeting in Sofia, Bulgaria (2018) and the 7th ASEM Culture Ministers' Meeting in Gwangju, Korea (2016). They also take place at international platforms such as the World Summit on Arts and Culture and the UCLG Culture Summits.

ASEF Public Forums on cultural policy issues of common relevance have taken place in Gwangju, Korea (2015),  Amsterdam, the Netherlands (2014), Hanoi, Viet Nam (2013),  Yangon, Myanmar (2013), Yogyakarta, Indonesia (2012), Melbourne, Australia (2011), Seoul, Korea (2011) and Amsterdam, the Netherlands (2010). The outcomes of these dialogue sessions - which take the form of policy recommendations and compilation of good practices - are subsequently channeled to ASEM governments through the ASEM CMMs. ASEF's role in supporting knowledge exchange between Asia and Europe has been consistently acknowledged in all Chair's Statements of the ASEM CMMs (2016, Republic of Korea), 2014, Netherlands; 2012, Indonesia; 2010, Poland; 2008, Malaysia; 2005, France; 2003, China).

ASEF also supports research on arts and culture in ASEM countries through the WorldCP-International Database on Cultural Policies initiative, which aims to make such information comprehensive, up-to-date and publicly accessible.

Goals 

• To facilitate conversations & networking among cultural practitioners
• To channel civil society inputs to the ASEM intergovernmental dialogue process
• To make relevant arts & culture information from ASEM member countries publicly accessible