The Wawel Royal Castle in Krakow and the Victoria and Albert Museum in London inspiring culture and international collaboration

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The Wawel Royal Castle in Krakow is set to host an innovative seminar on “Collecting, Curating, Conservation and Collaboration” in partnership with the Victoria and Albert Museum (V&A) in London.

This landmark event, organised by the Centre for Democracy and Peace Building’s Cultural Diplomacy Programme and the Polish Cultural Institute in London, supported by the Polish Ministry of Culture and National Heritage, under the Inspiring Culture programme, will bring together over seventy participants from various cultural institutions, including delegates from China and Ireland.

The V&A seminar is a part of the five-day study trip and will provide a unique platform for cultural exchange and knowledge-sharing, featuring visits to major Polish institutions and museums in Krakow and Warsaw. Participants will engage in insightful meetings with curators, artists, and designers, fostering meaningful dialogue and collaboration within the global cultural community.

Led by a team from across the V&A, the seminar at the Wawel Royal Castle will offer a comprehensive overview of the museum’s working practices and future ambitions. Attendees can expect to gain valuable insights into the lifecycle of museum objects, with a focus on 4 Cs: Collecting, Curating, Conservation and Collaboration. Additionally, the programme will highlight the V&A’s forthcoming major expansion in East London, with V&A East. V&A East is dedicated to creative opportunity and its power to bring change. Two free cultural destinations – V&A East Storehouse and Museum – will open on East Bank in 2025.

Professor Andrzej Betlej, Director of Wawel Royal Castle said:

“This seminar represents a significant milestone in fostering international collaboration and knowledge exchange within the cultural sector. We are thrilled to partner with the V&A and other esteemed organisations to facilitate meaningful discussions and inspire new ideas that will shape the future of museums and cultural institutions worldwide.”

Through a combination of presentations, talks, and group activities, participants will have the opportunity to delve into the latest thinking in museum practice, explore innovative approaches to working with new and non-traditional objects and media, as well as learning about the power of collaborations with artists, creative practitioners, and audiences.

The V&A study visit is supported by the Polish Ministry of Culture and National Heritage, under the Inspiring Culture programme. It has been developed in partnership between the Polish Cultural Institute in London, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and the Centre for Democracy and Peace Building’s Cultural Diplomacy Programme.

Supported by the Polish Ministry of Culture and National Heritage, under the Inspiring Culture programme

Cultural Diplomacy and the Art of Soft Power seminar proudly hosted by CDPB

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As part of Imagine! Belfast, CDPB proudly hosted the seminar Cultural Diplomacy and the Art of Soft Power on March 21st at Black Box theatre in the heart of Belfast’s Cathedral Quarter.

We were thrilled to be joined by keynote speaker Evgeniya Ravtsova, International Programmes Manager at Victoria and Albert Museum, whose speech on the museum’s unique history and role in cultural diplomacy and exchange, as well as the art of soft power, was riveting.
Our panel discussion was equally insightful, covering topics such as: future opportunities for cultural diplomacy; the influence of narratives of identity in cultural diplomacy; and, Ireland and Northern Ireland’s cultural diplomacy initiatives.

Thanks are owed to our brilliant panellists: Sheena Barrett, Head of Research and Learning at the Irish Museum of Modern Art; Dr. Kim-Marie Spence, Lecturer in Arts Management and Cultural Policy at Queen’s University Belfast; and Richard Williams, Chief Executive of Northern Ireland Screen.

We would also like to thank Black Box and Imagine! Belfast for their help in hosting and facilitating such a successful event.

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John Smith Trust Belarusian Fellows visit London

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In March, the CDPB team were honoured to work with the John Smith Trust’s Belarusian Fellows, facilitating a residential trip to London.

The John Smith Trust offers individuals from Eastern Europe, the Caucasus, and Central Asia working in sustainability, governance, and diversity, a fellowship programme which includes giving Fellows valuable insight into the workings of UK institutions, leadership development, and a residential trip to London.

The Belarusian Fellows travelled to London in March for a jam-packed schedule of events, which CDPB helped to facilitate.
The week included a meeting with the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth, and Development Affairs, Lord Cameron; a meeting with CDPB Fellowship alumnus Conleth Burns who gave an overview of his work at More in Common and research into UK policy concerns; a visit to the Guildhall, meeting with Alderman Professor Emma Edhem; a trip to Oxford to meet for a session on Systems Thinking with Professor Harvey Maylor from Säid Business School; and a day in Parliament featuring a trip to PMQs and a open conversation hosted by CDPB Emeritus Chairman, Lord Alderdice.

Thank you to all involved in the fabulous and constructive week, as well as the wider fellowship programme, and good luck to the Fellows in their future endeavours.

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CDPB hosts first alumni event

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CDPB was delighted to launch the first event for our alumni network on January 19 with conflict management consultant and mediator Dorcas Crawford.

Dorcas offered valuable and practical insight on mastering difficult conversations drawing from her vast experience. It is certainly a skill all leaders from across Northern Ireland can continually improve on.

We would like to extend our thanks to chief financial office of Allstate NI Christina Bates and Allstate Northern Ireland for helping to host the event.

We look forward to sharing further updates on how we intend to grow and develop our alumni network as we seek to equip and facilitate leadership development to bring about benefit for all in Northern Ireland.

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