SICA Newsletter November 2010

In a series of four meetings, SICA and EUNIC Netherlands will present interesting cultural projects from nine European countries. All these projects had an impact on public debates about multicultural society and were also successful from an artistic perspective. Publicist Bas Heijne asks international artists and curators how the changing social context in their countries has enriched their work, what audiences they have targeted and what debates they have triggered.

The third meeting on 15 November will include the speakers Fabrice Guillot of the Compagnie Retouramont (France) and Nav Haq of the Arnolfini Gallery in Bristol (United Kingdom). Further information and registration

For the Café Mediterranée series, SICA invites artists from the Mediterranean region and the Middle East to explore the culture of the Arabic and Islamic world. On 1 December, writer Abdelkader Benali will talk to Amin Maalouf – a leading Lebanese journalist-author. His latest book to hit the book stores is The Dissalution of World Orders, which depicts a growing sense of alienation over a world that, he believes, has gone off the rails and that worries almost exclusively about the economy, climate change and slipping moral values in society. Read more

Brazil and the Netherlands share a long cultural, diplomatic and economic history. A large number of Brazilian and Dutch partners are eager to promote cultural collaboration between Brazil and the Netherlands and to put a range of projects and programmes into effect. In Sao Paolo SICA presented the website Cultural Exchange Brazil – The Netherlands.This site provides a platform for cultural collaboration. Producers, government agencies and the public are invited to contribute to this site. Read more

Since the summer of 2007, the Netherlands China Arts Foundation  has supported, initiated or organized various cultural projects in China and the Netherlands, including the Dutch Culture Centre in Shanghai. On 14 October, SICA took stock of 3.5 years of NCAF and half a year of Dutch Culture Centre. At an expert meeting, SICA joined all Dutch players plus a number of Chinese guest to discuss how the cultural exchange between the Netherlands and China is progressing and what the Netherlands can do to further move matters forward. Read more

On 11 and 12 November, the partners in the European PRACTICS project will meet in Amsterdam. Funded by the European Commission, PRACTICS is a pilot project in which various existing advisory organizations are exploring opportunities for setting up a reliable network of Mobility Infopoints. These are practical starting points from which you should be able to easily find your way within a particular country’s culture-and-arts sector. Read more

Performing artists from the Netherlands or the Netherlands Antilles working in the world of music, (musical) theatre and/or dance can take part in a sponsorship programme designed to promote international cultural exchange between Los Angeles, the Netherlands and the Netherlands Antilles. Several Dutch people specialising in the performing arts will have the opportunity to work in Los Angeles. In return, Dutch organisations will host performing artists from Los Angeles.
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With the German Ruhr Area being one of this year’s European Capitals of Culture (RUHR.2010), Muziek Centrum Netherland has compiled a varied Dutch music program, in close cooperation with the Dortmund Symphony Orchestra, jazzwerkruhr and other NL-RUHR partners. A large number of venues here will host performances of Dutch contemporary music and jazz. And it is not only music that will fly the flag for the Netherlands. Dortmund will also see a Dutch ballet gala, while the Schauspielhaus in Bochum will offer Dutch theatre productions the whole autumn long. Read more

Each year, the Cultural Contact Point organizes the Europe Day in December – this year on 15 December. You will then be informed on all aspects of cultural cooperation in Europe, in the form of a varied program consisting of lectures, workshops, individualized speed dating and an information market. More information will follow soon.