From 2 to 4 November 2022, the UNESCO Transcultura programme, funded by the European Union, hosted the professional forum Bridging Caribbean and European cultural events through professional exchange and networking in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic. Representatives of 28 cultural organizations and cultural events from the Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, the Dominican Republic, Haiti, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Belgium, Bulgaria, France and Germany came together and agreed to foster cooperation and professional networking to enhance synergies, to access new markets and to promote a greater Caribbean participation in European cultural events.
This professional forum represents a great opportunity for all creators and actors in the cultural and creative industries, as it comes to unite and strengthen us through the powerful bond that art represents, which is nothing but a universal network of connection.
The Caribbean has a rich cultural diversity that is reflected in its numerous cultural events and festivals, and it has a great potential to further develop this. During the meeting, cultural stakeholders were given the opportunity to share their experiences and best practices on their organizational and business models.
The Caribbean market is still very small compared to Europe and to the rest of the world. And while we cannot compete in terms of financial strength, we can compete very effectively in terms of density of cultural expressions in this relatively small space.
Participants also talked about international networking and cooperation opportunities for growth and sustainability. They came up with proposals on how to jointly access funding, on the international mobility of artists and organizing teams, and on how to provide spaces for advertising and communication campaigns for reaching broader target audiences.
As organizers of a multidisciplinary arts festival, we are very curious to know more about the scene of the region.
This event continues on from the previous Transcultura initiative, Carnival of diversity: organization, management and creative value of carnivals and festivals in the Caribbean and Europe, held in July 2022. The UNESCO programme Transcultura: Integrating Cuba, the Caribbean and the European Union through Culture and Creativity promotes the strengthening of capacities and the creation of opportunities for young cultural and creatives of 17 Caribbean countries, through cooperation and exchange in the region and with the European Union.
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