Summit Special Edition 2020
The Transformational Power of Culture
When the global impact of decades of economic and social behaviour is being so abruptly overturned, the 2020 Special Edition of the Edinburgh International Culture Summit considered how imaginative perspectives, creative endeavours and cultural experiences can help sustain us and take us beyond our current predicament.
Begin with the Welcome and Introduction to the Summit which brings together in a succinct format, an overview of the different components of the Special Edition.
Delve into the page below where Summit Themes on Culture and Education; Culture and Social Cohesion and Culture in Vibrant Communities
Here you will find films focusing in on the Summit Themes of Culture and Education; Culture and Social Cohesion and Culture in Vibrant Communities, which examine more deeply these areas of focus interlaced with digital performances.
Watch the Special Messages prepared by artists, colleagues and Ministers of Culture.
Explore our Contributors, where you can hear from each speaker in greater depth.
And immerse yourself in the full range of digital Performances assembled and recorded for this Special Edition.
WELCOME & INTRODUCTION
SPECIAL EDITION OF THE EDINBURGH INTERNATIONAL CULTURE SUMMIT IN 2020
Full film (26:00)
Opens with insights from Contributors to the Summit
Video Contributors:
Special Messages from Ministers of Culture (07:32)
Malika Bendouda
People’s Democratic Republic of Algeria
Paul Fletcher
Commonwealth of Australia
Her Majesty Gyalyum Dorji Wangmo Wangchuck
Queen Mother of Bhutan
Steven Guilbeault
Canada
Consuelo Valdés Chadwick
Republic of Chile
Anna Laura Orrico
Republic of Italy
Kōichi Hagiuda
Japan
Aktoty Raimkulova
Republic of Kazakhstan
Park Yang-woo
Republic of Korea
Giovana Elizabeth Jaspersen García
State Government of Jalisco, Mexico
Shafqat Mahmood
Islamic Republic of Pakistan
Rosa Daniel
Republic of Singapore
Oleksandr Tkachenko
Ukraine
Marie Royce
United States of America
Performance by Edinburgh Festival Chorus (17:40)
Fergus Linehan
Edinburgh International Festival
Edinburgh International Festival Chorus
Edinburgh Festival Chorus, Edinburgh, UK
Culture in Vibrant Communities
As people across the world shelter in private, we begin to lose touch with the physical structures and markers of everyday life. What are the places we miss and what are the policies, funds, and ideas required to sustain them? This theme examines our understanding and organising of cultural and urban space, looking to the future of cities and how environmental and social factors impact their design. Contributors consider a holistic approach to architecture and urban planning, and reflect on the post-pandemic power of galleries, museums, performing arts centres, and libraries to rebuild trust and preserve cultures.
All contributors have recorded more in-depth interviews which can be found on the profile page. Or click on their name to the right of the film.
(35:39)
Please select subtitles to turn on English, Chinese or Spanish captions.
Contributor(s):
Ismail Serageldin (01:40)
Library of Alexandria, Egypt
Carla Hayden (08:34)
The Library of Congress, Washington DC, USA
Tristram Hunt (13:06)
Victoria and Albert Museum, London, UK
Cameron Rashti (17:32)
Aga Khan Trust for Culture, Geneva, Switzerland
Farrokh Derakhshani (23:24)
Aga Khan Trust for Culture, Geneva, Switzerland
Rahul Mehrotra (26:45)
RMA Architects, Mumbai, India and Harvard University, Cambridge, USA
Clara Miller (31:15)
Heron Foundation, New York, USA
Culture and Education
As governments and educational institutions grapple with how to adapt to a new reality, what might the future of education be like? This theme presents a growing body of economic, social and scientific research about how culturally rich experiences from early childhood can enhance skills such as empathy, language, memory, and creativity. Contributors come together in performance and dialogue, investigating how education systems and arts organisations can work together to unlock and invest in human potential.
All contributors have recorded more in-depth interviews which can be found on the profile page. Or click on their name to the right of the film.
(30:55)
Please select subtitles to turn on English, Chinese or Spanish captions.
Contributor(s):
Assal Habibi (01:59)
Brain and Creativity Institute, University of Southern California, USA
Youth Orchestra Los Angeles (11:42)
Youth Orchestra Los Angeles, USA
Sistema Scotland – Big Noise Scotland (11:42)
Sistema Scotland, UK
Daisy Fancourt (14:35)
University College London, UK
Andy Haldane (19:48)
Bank of England, UK
Daniel Lubetzky (25:15)
KIND & Empatico, USA
Culture and Social Cohesion
At a time of physical distance, how can art provide connection and inspire hope? This theme reflects on the power of art in times of crisis and the role of a trusted culture sector in reimagining the future. The universal nature of this pandemic reminds us of our similarities while simultaneously exposing global inequalities. Engaging artists and human rights specialists dedicated to tackling displacement and prejudice, this theme focuses on the importance of international cooperation to nurture greater cultural understanding and resilience.
All contributors have recorded more in-depth interviews which can be found on the profile page. Or click on their name to the right of the film.
(30:12)
Please select subtitles to turn on English, Chinese or Spanish captions.
Special Messages
The Queen Mother of Bhutan
Special Messages from Ministers of Culture
The Summit would like to express its thanks to the offices of the Ministers for arranging and producing the films as Special Messages to the Summit.
The Edinburgh International Culture Summit gathers together speakers, artists and policy makers from around the world and from across political and ideological spectrums. Our intention is to create a space for dialogue and discussion; all views represented are the speakers own and not necessarily endorsed by the Summit Foundation or its partners. For further information on the Edinburgh International Culture Summit please see our About page.