News
Flemish and Walloon festivals commit to intercultural dialogue
24 September 2008
Since the beginning of the year, when the first signing ceremony took place in Ljubljana, the Arts Festivals’ Declaration on Intercultural Dialogue has traveled Europe – and the world. After signing ceremonies in Estonia (Tallinn), Norway (Oslo) Turkey (Antalya), and again Slovenia (Bezice) the last stop of the Declaration was in Ghent, Belgium. On 15 September 2008, Flemish and Walloon Festivals signed the Declaration in the framework of the Flanders Festival and the EFA Board Meeting to engage in intercultural dialogue. Together with Daniël Termont, the Mayor of Ghent, who provided the premises for the ceremony, Gentse Feesten, Lokerse Feesten, Internationaal Filmfestival van Gent, Genk on Stage, Jazz in ‘t Park, Festival van Vlaanderen, Klarafestival, Festival de Wallonie, Polé Polé Festival and Gent Jazz Festival signed the document, committing themselves to the exchange between cultures (see EFA photo gallery). By now, several hundred festivals expressed their support of intercultural dialogue by signing the Declaration. The final Signing Book including all signatory parties will be presented at the Closing Conference of the European Year of Intercultural Dialogue, taking place from 17-19 November in Paris. You can still be part of the project by signing up for this unique Arts Festivals’ Declaration on Intercultural Dialogue. Read what the Flemish press wrote about the event: DeMorgen and Het Laatste Nieuws Find out more about the Declaration here.