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Chairperson’s Remarks

We find ourselves in a cultural moment of uncertainty as domestic and global challenges persist. Whether it is the cost of living crisis, Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, or the war and humanitarian crisis in Gaza, leadership is required more than ever and the importance of peace building critical. This year has been dubbed the year of voting, with more than two billion people heading to the polls in 2024. Quite simply, it is the biggest election year in history. And yet, democracy has never felt so fragile; it seems to be on the ballot itself.

Nevertheless, we have welcomed the restoration of the democratic institutions here in Northern Ireland, reminding the world of the imperfect Irish peace process; the hope it offers to peacebuilders around the globe and the potential it has to play a meaningful in peace processes that are yet to come to fruition.

The Centre for Democracy and Peace Building (CDPB) continues to be involved in vital work across these islands, most notably with the Fellowship Programme.

Now going into its fourth year, the Fellowship Programme has over seventy alumni, including Finance Minister Caoimhe Archibald MLA, Comptroller and Auditor General for Northern Ireland Dorinnia Carville, and Jason Bunting, whose participation in the programme contributed to his enrolment at the prestigious Blavatnik School of Government, University of Oxford. The Fellowship Programme invites twenty-four ambitious leaders on a seven month journey to reimagine and pave a new, prosperous future for Northern Ireland. The programme seeks to support the peace process, foster innovation and capacity building, and encourage collaborative decision-making so that leaders across society are strengthened and equipped to navigate complexity and deliver real change for the benefit of all. A special note of thanks must go to John Healy who stepped down as advisory board chair in March upon his appointment as chair of Invest NI. We are delighted to have CEO and Founder of FinTrU, Darragh McCarthy, assuming the role.

This year’s work also included the launch the Good Friday Agreement Online Course, the delivery of various cultural diplomacy symposiums, and our continued partnership with the John Smith Trust. We were also delighted to welcome Ciarán Ó Cuinn to the CDPB board. Ciarán is head of mission at MEDRC, the sole surviving institution of the multilateral Middle East peace process.

Baroness Margaret Ritchie of Downpatrick

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