International civil society dialogue and exchange

The EU-funded Cultural Diplomacy Platform (2016-2020) and Cultural Relations Platform (2020-) have aimed to • Support cooperation among cultural and creative sectors in facilitating contacts and networking of different EU and third country cultural actors, including cultural institutions, private foundations, civil society, and other organisations • Strengthen communities and networks of cultural practitioners in developing training programmes for cultural managers in leadership positions both within and outside of Europe In 2017, 2018 and 2019 the Global Cultural Leadership Programme gathered 40 young cultural leaders each year from EU and non-EU countries. https://www.cultureinexternalrelations.eu/2019/11/05/2016-2019-the-global-cultural-leadership-programme/ In 2020 a virtual exchange was held (in light of COVID-19): https://www.cultureinexternalrelations.eu/2020/08/03/gclp-alumni-virtual-exchange/ The 2019 Culture4Future international colloquium brought together 400 experts and professionals to explore how cultural and creative sectors contribute to sustainable development and inclusiveness, culminating in the adoption of a manifesto “Culture for the future”: https://www.eunicglobal.eu/news/published-manifesto-culture-for-future The annual European Development Days organized by the Commission in Brussels have continued during the current reporting period (with the exception of 2020 when the event was postponed in light of the COVID-19 pandemic; the 2021 event takes place entirely online). Bringing together 8,000 participants annually, the EDD programmes are largely defined by the EDD community itself. The 2017, 2018 and 2019 EDDs each featured events and stands on culture and development. These included high-level policy seminars, such as this 2019 session on fostering gender equality in culture and development, attended by the EC Director General for International Cooperation and Development and the Ministers of Culture from Costa Rica and Cuba http://moreeurope.org/event/european-development-days-the-cultural-dimension-of-development/)