Culture unites us but at the same time highlights the differences in our approaches and beliefs, our stories and our families, our desires and our fears. It invites us to question the world in which we live. In recognizing and assuming that culture and the arts are central to our societies we are given the assurance of a future in which we are bound by a common story. Investing in culture throughout life helps to develop societies which are creative, innovative, democratic and rich in their diversity. But unfortunately this investment is not always obtained, so we must fight to obtain it!

Two speakers from distant horizons invite us to look at our own stories, to identify our differences as well as what brings us together. These stories should help us develop a strong and coherent discourse with which to convince our contemporaries, our societies, the importance of cultural rights and the resources they require to ensure diversity, quality and access to culture for all.

Speakers: 
Sarat Maharaj, research professor at Goldsmiths’ College in London and is currently professor of Visual Art and Knowledge Systems in Lund, Sweden and Howard Ross, founder and senior cosultant of Cookross, U.S.