In September 2000, ISPA executive director David Watson was invited to moderate a discussion group on "The Role of Non-Governmental organizations in Promoting Culture" at a conference on "Europe: The Cultural Dimension," organized by the Wilton Park Conference Center (photo right) outside London, in association with the British Council and the Goethe Institute.

The conference opened with a keynote speech from Baroness Helena Kennedy, QC, chair of the British Council on "Achieving Cultural Cohesion While Supporting Cultural Pluralism," followed by a dialogue between Romanian Minister of Culture Ion Caramitru and Miklos Marschall, executive director of Transparency International in Berlin.

More than a dozen presentations and symposia followed over three days, under the rubrics of "Culture and Identity," "Cultural Policy," and "Culture and Economics," all as they related specifically to the EU. Conference participants included leaders of both private and governmental cultural policy organizations from every EU country, as well as from a substantial number of countries looking forward to EU membership. Watson was the only North American participant.

Click here to go to the rapportage of the sessions.

On an organizational note, we're pleased to report that a number of those attending requested information on ISPA membership, and that at least two of the participants are expected to attend the December 2000 ISPA Conference in New York.

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