KULTURKLAMMER | centar za kulturne interakcije : The International Summer Academy (UN)Limited Identities

Context _ During the last two decades accelerated globalization together with intensified migrations and complex processes of European integrations have raised the question of authentic cultural identity and its harmonization with emerging unified European identity and brought it into the focus of international relations and diverse scientific disciplines and societal skills.

As a result, the most important task of EU cultural policy(ies) was to devise mechanisms for fostering acceptance of and nurturing all-encompassing European culture and its belonging identities.

In that context, cultural diversity has been recognized as the most important value of contemporary European societies, while multiculturalism and interculturalism were identified as the most adequate approaches in enabling its safeguarding and in promoting its importance.

Being that Serbia has already begin the process of Euro-Atlantic integration and accepted position in which, among many other smaller or bigger countries, it strives to gain unique status within the European cultural space, it is necessary to initiate examination of its contemporary cultural identity and diverse socio-cultural factors that influence it. Moreover, it is also essential to examine methodological approach in communicating and presenting its identity at international level.

Idea _ the International Summer Academy (UN) Limited Identities is aimed at inciting societal dialogue and scrutiny on complex process of the

Serbia

’s contemporary identity formation. Together with this, the Summer Academy is intended to enable identifying appropriate methods and approaches in communicating identity of

Serbia

and it’s repositioning on European and world cultural market, as a country which is attributed numerous negative connotations.

Specificity of the Project reflects in the fact that the Summer Academy and the Project as a whole are focused on Diaspora, as socio-demographic category which in large extent affects the way in which the country is perceived from outside. One of the main aims of the Project is to facilitate devising of methods for integration of Serbian Diaspora in processes of its contemporary identity formation and country’s presentation at international level.

Lecturers _ will be eminent experts/theoreticians in the fields related to the topic of identity, communication, media and marketing, representatives of European institutions in Serbia, experts from countries in the Region, as well as from the EU countries, marketing experts and distinguished individuals – representatives of Serbian Diaspora, artists, cultural operators and experts in the field of tourism.

Participants _ It is envisaged that participants of the Academy (up to 30) should be young experts (graduated and/or final year students) from country and abroad. The professional profile of participants will encompass experts in diverse disciplines and fields that can contribute to

Serbia

’s striving for its own identity and identification of adequate ways of its identity communicating and quality presentation of the country at international level.

An open call for participation was distributed via existing professional, academic and other networks that gather individuals and institutions with common interest, at national and European level.
The selection criteria was application form and motivation letter for participation in the Academy.

The Project realisation is supported by: Austrian Cultural Forum Belgrade and French Cultural Centre in Belgrade

Partners: Museum of Yugoslav History, Gallery O3one, Faculty of Philosophy in Novi Sad, Institute for Cultural Development Research, Tourist Organization of Serbia, University of Arts in Belgrade, Tourist Organization of Novi Sad