The 2023 ENCATC Academy on Sustainable Cultural Management and Policy was held from 24 to 27 April 2023 in Santander, Spain, at the beautiful and historic Palacio de la Magdalena. The City of Santander, capital of Cantabria, is transforming its approach to historical, cultural and urban heritage, adopting a series of innovations designed to promote sustainable tourism and look to the challenges of the future while preserving the legacy of the past. The city is an important centre for culture and leisure in Spain, and it offered its wealth of resources dedicated to the Academy’s purpose of creating new visions for sustainable futures.
Academy participants had an exclusive opportunity to meet and learn from the artists and creators working with sustainability and driving innovation in this city of culture. We enjoyed unique access to the Centro Botín, the flagship cultural space designed by Renzo Piano, and the Archivo Lafuente, an exceptional collection rarely open to the public.
Find the brochure with the final programme here.
Read the 2024 ENCATC Academy Report here to learn more.
This first ENCATC Academy on Sustainable Cultural Management was held in Maastricht from 27 to 30 April 2022, and as an online version, for professional creative careers.
With a highly instructive programme, this 2022 edition addresses some of the biggest environmental and social problems of our day, in order to face common challenges and innovate with new competences and skills. Combining the most recent theory and practice, the ENCATC Academy aims to equip academics, practitioners and policy makers with the best methodologies and practices for embedding environmental sustainability across the operations and artistic programming of cultural heritage and performing arts organisations.
For this edition, ENCATC continued to partner with Goldsmiths University of London as well as Julie's Bicycle, NEMO and Future Religious Heritage to deliver four days of lectures, debates, case studies, and cultural visits to further develop skill sets. ENCATC Academy allowed speakers from a variety of academic and non-governmental organizations across Europe to facilitate pathways for collaborative learning.
Find the brochure with the entire programme here.
The 2021 edition of the ENCATC Academy explored International cultural cooperation and took place online from 12-14 May 2021, with a different focus everyday: Renew, Reimagine and Reconnect. Following its commitment to facilitate a space of exchange and insights, ENCATC enabled participants to share their best tips for a smooth and successful international co-operation partnership/project as well as share ideas, pitch next projects, give examples: joint research projects, case analysis etc.
- Renew: The first session was devoted to discussing roles, mechanisms, mediation and practices helping and enabling academics and researchers to develop international co-operation projects.
- Reimagine: This second session attempted to reflect the implicit and explicit principles guiding cultural co-operation and the structures and processes for their development and implementation; and how these principles are applied in practice.
- Reconnect: This third session discussed the impact of Covid-19 pandemic on international cultural co-operation focusing on the impact of digital and online means for co-operation.
The 2020 ENCATC Academy focused on the Cultural Relations between EU and Latin America and the Caribbean. It took place online the 27 May 2020, alongside the Association of Arts Administration Educators' Conference to enhance exchange and networking between the Academy participants and those of AAAE.
In this edition, the results of the Horizon 2020 project EULAC Focus on the field of Cultural Relations between EU and Latin America and the Caribbean will be presented. ENCATC will also have a presentation of When Cultural Policies Change: Comparing Mexico and Argentina, published in the ENCATC Book Series on Cultural Management and Cultural Policy Education.
This edition is the second joint Academy between ENCATC and TAPS, exploring Cultural Relations and Diplomacy "Anthropocene: Cultural Intermediaries, Cultural Economy and Sustainability", from 3 to 4 November 2019 at the National Taiwan Museum in Taipei (Taiwan Province of China). The Academy strengthened links and fostered project partnerships between Asia and Europe in the areas of cultural policy with a special focus on sustainability, It was co-organised with the Taiwan Province of China Ministry of Culture and ENCATC members The National Taiwan University of Arts, and the Taipei Representative Office in the UK. It was also done in partnership with ENCATC member, Goldsmiths, University of London.
Under the scientific assumption that, since the mid-20th century we are in the Anthropocene, the academy's aim is to learn how can cultural institutions and policymakers respond to shared challenges regarding climate change, raising awareness and recognising the impact culture have on the environment.
Part of the Study Tour programme, ENCATC celebrated its Academy on Cultural Policy & Cultural Diplomacy from 5-6 November at The Europa House in Tokyo. Organised in partnership with ENCATC member, the Goldsmith, University of London, the Academy offered the opportunity to learn, from inside, the cultural management and policy in Japan.
The 2018 edition of the ENCATC Academy on Cultural Relations and Diplomacy focused on "The Rising Role of Cities", and covered the complexity of the cultural dimension of city diplomacy. It was held from 14 to 16 February and was part of the study case visit to New York, celebrating the 7th ENCATC International Study Tour.
Given the accelerated rhythm of urbanisation, cities are becoming an important actor in international relations. The ENCATC Academy delivered comprehensive and in-depth knowledge the role cities play in cultural diplomacy, together with the Goldsmith University of London, and hosted by NYU Steinhardt, both members of ENCATC. The result was 36 academics, researchers and cultural practitioners from 7 countries gathered in New York City from 15-16 February for a two day programme offering insights and experiences.
Read the Interview with Gerard Lidstone.
The 6th Edition of the ENCATC Academy was held in Brussels, Belgium, the 27-28 March, on the occasion to the Europe's refugee crisis and ENCATC's commitment to empower and train the current and future generation of European cultural leaders looking at “The Question of Culture in Europe’s Refugee Crisis”.
This edition, grounded to theory and practice, explored the importance of culture to deliver a powerful response to the influx of refugees, migrants and displaced communities coming to Europe. The outcome was the demonstration that arts and culture can be a pillar of strength in our communities, foster ties with those we welcome into our borders, and ensure a safe, bright, and tolerant future. The Academy was held in partnership with Goldsmith University of London and PAN Intercultural Arts, hosted by Inspiring Culture.
The 5th ENCATC Academy formed part of the 2015 International Symposium "Cultural Trajectories: Cultural Governance, What's Next?, focusing on culture in external relations in East Asian countries and their relationships with European countries and the European Union, bringing academics, researchers, cultural professionals, policy makers and artists in East Asia, Europe and beyond. Besides, this edition of the ENCATC Academy is being co-organised with the National Taiwan University of Arts, Taiwan Association of Cultural Policy Studies, and Goldsmiths, University of London.
The aim of the academy is to discuss the broader uses and understanding of culture in external relations and foster transcontinental cooperation, mutual understanding and engagement. This peer-to-peer programme will reinforce international professional networks and establish a strong foundation for future collaborations, projects and partnerships between operators in Asia and Europe.
ENCATC held its 4th Academy focused on North and South America, with an intensive learning programme of 2 days, 8-9 December 2014.
The ENCATC Academy offered academics, researchers, cultural operators and professionals, artists, diplomats, EU officials, representatives from international organisations and Institutes of Culture, and civil servants (national, regional and local levels) a number of lectures enabling them gain better insight into cultural relations and diplomacy between Europe and the Americas.
Countries in the Americas are important players in international cultural relations, from the United States, the world’s superpower, to some of the most important emerging markets, such as Brazil and Mexico. Europe and the Americas are linked by strong historical, cultural and economic ties, but in the 21stcentury context both continents and their relationship are in an accelerated process of change.
ENCATC held its 3rd Academy on Culture in External Relations The 8-9 May in Brussels. The focus of this edition of the ENCATC Academy was on Asia bringing experts from Hong Kong, Singapore, Thailand and Europe for an intensive two-day learning programme. This event was supported by the programme ASEF Creative Networks of the Asia-Europe Foundation (ASEF).
The second edition of the ENCATC Academy on Cultural Relations and Diplomacy took place in Brussels, Belgium, from 21-22 November. This year's edition placed special emphasis on the regions of the Middle East, Northern Africa, and the Arabian Peninsula, attracting participants from esteemed institutions such as the European Parliament, the European Commission, the Hill International for the Grand Egyptian Museum in Giza, the British Council, cultural policy institutes, and European universities.
From 5-7 December 2012, ENCATC inaugurated its inaugural Academy on “Cultural Relations and Diplomacy” in Brussels. This intensive three-day educational program was a collaborative effort between ENCATC, the exclusive European network dedicated to Cultural Management and Cultural Policy Education, and Goldsmiths, University of London, a renowned institution renowned for its postgraduate program in this domain. The primary objective was to provide participants with a concentrated learning and networking experience, enhancing their knowledge and expertise while equipping them to effectively address the complexities of cultural relations and diplomacy.