At the Arts & Cultural Management Conference, we believe that meaningful discussions and creative exchanges should have no boundaries. Our online events are designed to bring together thinkers, creators, and leaders from across the globe to explore the evolving landscape of arts and culture.
Upcoming events
Cultural Diplomacy, Transgression and Collaboration: a Global Perspective
With Dorian Branea, Hans van den Berg and Catherine Wallace, Moderate by Gabriela Mocan
Join us for an engaging panel discussion that explores the many facets of cultural diplomacy with a truly global lineup of experts from both the practical field and academia! We are honoured to welcome distinguished guest speakers Dorian Branea (Director – Romanian Cultural Institute, New York), Hans van den Berg (Founder & Director – The Young Diplomat, The Hague) and Catherine Wallace (former diplomat and S.A. Associate Professor – Hitotsubashi University Business School, Tokyo), in a conversation moderated by ACMC President Gabriela Mocan.
Effective cultural diplomacy, relying on collaboration to transcend cultural differences and foster mutual understanding, utilizes collaborative arts projects as powerful tools for connecting communities and bridging divides. Our third online event to precede ACMC 2024 aims to foster a dynamic exchange of ideas by highlighting diverse perspectives from across three continents, reflecting the global nature of cultural diplomacy today and the role of artistic transgression in shaping diplomatic discourse. Whether you are a practitioner, scholar, or simply passionate about the role of culture in international relations, this panel is sure to spark your interest.
Dorian Branea, cultural diplomat and author. Read English at the Western University of Timișoara, followed by graduate work in International Relations at Georgetown University’s School of Foreign Service and Negotiation at Oxford University’s Said Business School. Ph.D. in English and American Studies. Fellow of Central European University (2003-2004). Founding director of the Romanian Cultural Institute in Warsaw (2006-2010) and director, between 2010 and 2018, of the Romanian Cultural Institute in London. President of EUNIC London (the association of EU cultural institutes, 2012-2014) and of EUNIC New York (2021-2022). From August 2018, director of Romanian Cultural Institute in New York. Awarded the Order of Merit for Cultural Promotion in the rank of Knight by the President of Romania in 2018. Author of The United States of Romanians (Humanitas, 2016) and The Homeland for the Others. Diplomacy, management, nation-branding (UVT Press, 2023).
Hans van den Berg works at the Center for International Legal Cooperation (CILC) on projects on strengthening the rule of law, countering terrorism and diplomacy in Eastern Europe, the Balkans, Middle East and North Africa. As Founder and Director of the Young Diplomat he teaches on (international) negotiation and diplomacy, specifically Eastern Europe and its relation with Russia at Oxford University, Leiden University, the Armenian Diplomatic Academy, the College of Europe, and other diplomatic academies and institutions. Previously, Hans was chair of the University Council and lecturer at Erasmus University Rotterdam. He uses his experience in the field and from his academic research to build a bridge between theory and practice in the field of diplomacy and negotiation. He has trained Israeli and Palestinian Young Professionals in how to conduct a constructive dialogue, worked with Ukrainian diplomats on enhancing their understanding of negotiation strategies and with young professionals from all over the world on different topics.
Catherine Wallace is a seasoned professional with more than 30 years’ experience in government, diplomacy, business and academia. As a professor and ethics specialist at top-ranking Japanese business school Hitotsubashi ICS, she has for over a decade been guiding emerging global leaders in ethical decision making for enhanced corporate performance and sustainability. Resident for over 20 years in Japan, where she served as an Australian diplomat and a senior analyst at an international political and economic consultancy, Catherine is passionate about strengthening Australia-Japan relations and fostering policy and practice to support long-term enterprise success. Her expertise and networks position her as an effective cross-sector and cross-cultural connector as well as an advocate for sustainable societal vitality.
Past events
Borderless Fashion Practice: Collaboration, Community, and Disruption
With Vanessa Gerrie
The ACMC is pleased to announce the second online event in the lead up to our 2024 conference titled Transgression and Collaboration. Join us to hear from Vanessa Gerrie as she presents an online talk Borderless Fashion Practice: Collaboration, Community and Disruption. Twenty-first century fashion practice has become increasingly borderless and diverse in the digital era, calling into question the very boundaries that define fashion in the Western cultural context. Borderless Fashion Practice engages the work of fashion designers whose work intersects with other creative disciplines such as art, technology, science, architecture, and graphic design.
Togetherness and Becoming: Culture as Survival
With Bayo Akomolafe and Nick Hunt
Join philosopher, writer, activist and academic Bayo Akomolafe, travel and fiction writer, editor and storyteller Nick Hunt, and ACMC President Gabriela Mocan in a conversation centred on transgression, cultural exploration, human identity and the quest for connection. This is sure to spark transformative ideas and inspire change, don’t miss it!
Culture wields immense influence, pushing boundaries and reshaping societal norms. Creativity, balancing disruption with cooperation, serves as a catalyst for change and unity. How can writers and artists challenge norms and offer fresh perspectives on society? Through Nick’s exploration of nature and human identity, Bayo’s views on global crises, activism, and social change, alongside Gabriela’s insights, we’ll delve into societal and ecological responsiveness, cultural exploration, and our connection with the world around us.