European projects
Alter Ego - The European Year of Intercultural Dialogue
Alter Ego - a EUNIC project - is one of the seven flagship projects chosen by the commission. It is a European wide competition running between March 2008 and the summer in at least 22 member states . Young people (14-18 years old) are encouraged to explore different and varied identities in their local communities, by creating a double portrait (video, photo, text, music.): a self portrait alongside a portrait of a person from a different background and tradition . The competition will be promoted both by national media, through the web, and directly to schools and youth networks and organisations.
All art works will be gathered on the central webpage www.alterego-europe.eu/, offering the opportunity to vote on the submitted woks. Per country a jury of artists and media professionals, with an emphasis on known artists of a minority or migrant background, will then select two finalists.
After the summer Alter Ego will invite the young finalists to a 5 day Intercultural Workshop where they will be coached by European artists from minority/migrant communities . The young participants will also learn about migration and minorities in Europe.
At the end of the project (January - March 2009), the works generated during this final stage in combination with the works selected from the competition will be part of an exhibition travelling across Europe through the EUNIC network and available through the website as well as on DVD.
The dissemination and follow up strategy developed for Alter Ego uses these products as concrete practical examples and case studies to be included in teachers' kits in tens of thousands of European schools, as well as in the activities of all the partners in this project: cultural institutes, youth organisations and networks as well as community organisations.
The finalists will - based on their recently acquired experience - act as Ambassadors of intercultural dialogue in schools, cultural and community centres but also in political and government institutions.
Media partnerships will cover all three stages of the project: competition and selection of finalists, the Intercultural Workshop and the process of dissemination covered by local, national and European TV and radio networks.
On 8 January 2008 the European Year of Intercultural Dialogue was officially launched in Ljubljana . In his opening speech, Commissioner Jàn Figel pointed out that as a result of globalisation, demography, migration, of European enlargement and internal mobility, Europe is becoming more mixed. Our cultures, our languages, ethnic groups and religions are increasingly in daily contact. We know that this tendency will, if anything, continue to grow. It is part of our world and it is our task to make sure it succeeds . Therefore the European Year of Intercultural Dialogue wants to encourage all those living in Europe to explore the benefits of our rich cultural heritage and opportunities to learn from different cultural traditions.
Following an open call for proposals, The Alter Ego project was selected as one of the small numbers of emblematic actions on a European scale by the Commission of in order to raise awareness of the objectives of the European Year of Intercultural Dialogue 2008,
Practical information
Alter Ego is a project run by EUNIC (European National Institutes for Culture). The project management is based at the Danish Cultural Institute in Brussels Rue Royale 35, 1000 Brussels.
Project manager Lone Leth Larsen, project coordinator Ann Laenen
Tel: +32 2 230 73 26
E-mail: mail@alterego-europe.eu
web address: www.alterego-europe.eu
Europalia.europa
"From 3 October 2007 until 3 February 2008, Europalia will play host to 27 guest countries! In one spectacular cultural festival, Europalia.europa will present the culture of Europe and its 27 Member States.
Over four months, in Brussels, the whole of Belgium and surrounding areas, you will be able to appreciate many top artworks originating from every corner of Europe. You can discover our European cultural links but also learn what makes each of the 27 countries in the Union unique."
Koningsstraat 35 Rue Royale- B-1000 Bruxelles - Belgien
tel: +32 (0)2 230 73 26 - fax: +32 (0)2 230 55 65
www.dkibenelux.org - info@dkibenelux.org