Europe

Europalia: The Arts Festival that Encourages Dialogue between Different Cultures

Music, Art, Theatre and Literature Promote Indonesia´s Cultural Heritage

September 16th, 2016
Valentina Mazzone, CD News
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From the 10th of October 2017 to the 21st of January 2018, Belgium will host Europalia Indonesia, the major international Arts Festival that for this edition decided to select Indonesia as its guest to present Indonesian traditions and its culture in numerous events.   

Being Europe´s biggest biennale Festival, Europalia has performed festival of the arts of culture of each guest country since 1969 and it is now in its 25th edition. For four consecutive months the festival will fill numerous locations both in Brussels and other Belgian cities but also in neighbouring countries.

Europalia aims to promote better understanding between nations and stimulate cultural exchange between people by giving to guest countries the opportunity to present their cultural heritage. The main goal is to contribute to the cultural dimension of European construction by promoting Europe´s diverse cultures and encouraging their dialogue with the world´s great cultures through a comprehensive programme of music, fine arts, photography, cinema, theatre, dance and literature.

Since the Festival was born in Europe, in the beginning just members of the European Union hosted the festival but from 1989 also other countries, recognised as important partners of EU have been invited to present their country. Next year will be Indonesia’s turn.   

The choice of Indonesia, made by the Prime Minister and Minister for Foreign Affairs and European Affairs of the Kingdom of Belgium Didier Reynders, was announced in May 2015 after the signature of the official agreement in December. The Festival will be launched and inaugurated by the President of Indonesia with the King of Belgium and it will present various disciplines with the hope to augment mutual respect and understanding between the people of Indonesia and Europe.

Furthermore, the presence of high rank officials of the European Union is scheduled for during the inauguration, including the President of the European Commission, the President of the European Council and the President of the European Parliament. 

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Cultural Diplomacy News