Europe and Latin America promote cultural relations to address global challenges

Under the label of EULAT4Culture, the European Union together with the Spanish Presidency of EUNIC (European Union National Institutes for Culture) and the Ibero-American Cultural Network RIDCULT of the Ibero-American General Secretariat (SEGIB)  highlight the role of cultural dialogue in EU-Latin America relations to face global challenges and build peace.

The #EULAT4Culture initiative builds on a global initiative financed by the Government of Spain in the framework of its presidency of EUNIC and co-sponsored by the EU. Over the next six months, nearly a hundred cultural activities will be organised in 20 world capitals: Abuja, Algiers, Ankara, Bogotá, Brasilia, Brussels, Buenos Aires, Hanoi, Madrid, Manila, Maputo, Mexico City, New Delhi, Santiago de Chile, Paris, Beijing, Pretoria, Tel Aviv, Tokyo and Washington D.C. More than 200 partners will cooperate in these initiatives, including embassies, cultural centres and other organisations.

The objective is to strengthen the creative links between Europe and Latin America, as well as to contribute, through the proposed activities, to promoting shared values such as democracy, human rights and freedom of expression. This fits the two regions’ shared interest in establishing a stronger bi-regional partnership in the face of changing global and regional realities.

The proposed activities cover a wide range of disciplines: from music to theatre, literature, architecture, gastronomy, information and communication technologies, cinema, art, museums and archaeology. The key themes have been inspired by common priorities and the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development: Identities and inclusion; Migration: rooting and uprooting; Democratic values and citizenship; Connectivity; Environment and sustainability: action for Climate; Gender and Youth. More information on the 20 projects here.

Brussels will host the kick-off event on 1 June with the EEAS support. #EULAT4Culture will be launched with the Agora, a one-day event with a wide range of policy makers, cultural managers, artists, creators, "artivists", closing the day with a Fiesta Latina concert by the Brussels Philharmonic Orchestra (open to the public).

Following the opening event, EUNIC Brussels together with international and local cultural organisations based in Brussels will offer a wide range of contemporary cultural and artistic activities in all disciplines from 2 to 14 June (programme). Presentations, debates and discussions will take place in the spirit of “La Cooperativa”, with a special focus on exchanges with Latin American actors worldwide, and links between Europe and Latin America, including local diasporas.