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CULTURAL ACTIVITIES

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CULTURAL ACTIV IT IES

EESC

2008 2009

IMPRESSIONS OF INFINITYIMAGES FROMSLOVENIA

CONTEMPORARY ART

EUROPEAN ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL COMMITTEEJACQUES DELORS BUILDING | 6th FLOOR AND GFRUE BELLIARD 99 | B-1040 BRUSSELS

23 JANUARY 2008 – 20 JUNE 2008SUPPORTED BY: SLOVENIAN PRESIDENCY TO THE EU

Under the Slovenian Presidency and as part of the European Economic and Social Committee’s cultural programme, Cveto Stantič, EESC Member and Mr Janez Potočnik, Member of the European Commission responsible for Science and Research, opened the contemporary art exhibition “Impressions of Infinity – Images of Slovenia” on Wednesday 23 January 2008.

As part of the European Year of Intercultural Dialogue, and as a celebration of the EESC’s 50th anniversary which was celebrated in May 2008, leading Slovenian artists were invited to reflect and present their views on the future of Europe. This major exhibition brought together the works of artists from two different generations who provided their own interpretation of what the future holds from a local and a global perspective. It presented young contemporary Slovenian artists – Gašper Jemec, Janez Janša, Alen Ožbolt – as well as living “icons” of Slovenian art: Drago Tršar, Andrej Jemec, Janez Bernik. The selected artists have all held critically acclaimed exhibitions in Slovenia and abroad, including the Venice Biennale and documenta in Kassel.

The project was supported amongst others by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Slovenia.

Approximately 450 guests attended the opening in the EESC Jacques Delors Building. The public included EESC members (such as Cveto Stantič), people from the field of culture as well as from the diplomatic field (Janez Potočnik, Commissioner, Borut Trekman, Ambassador of Slovenia, Dr. Bozo Cerar, Permanent Representative of the Mission of Slovenia to Nato, DG Education-Culture of the European Commission) and a large number of young people interested in contemporary art.

The event garnered positive coverage in local and international media. Agenda announced the opening in a two-page article and various Web pages and other magazines reported the event. TV Slovenia was one of several broadcasters that filmed the exhibition.

INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE

WHO’S AFRAID OF MOBILITY?

EUROPEAN ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL COMMITTEEJACQUES DELORS BUILDING | GROUND FLOORRUE BELLIARD 99 | B-1040 BRUSSELS

23 JANUARY 2008 | 9 AM – 6 PMSUPPORTED BY: EUNIC BRUSSELS | EUROPALIA

Mobility has always been part of the human condition and has therefore helped to shape our culture. With globalisarion gathering pace thanks to trade and tourism and the construction of a borderless Europe, mobility has exploded over the last few years. As such, mobility is a factor which is becoming increasingly important in shaping European culture.

Aiming to explore mobility as a notion that straddles the concepts of culture, space, attitudes, society and economy, the seminar drew on four case studies to examine the impact, repercussions and potential of this phenomenon.

All case studies sought to show how mobility is changing not only our perceptions and opportunities, but also our European way of life and our very understanding of Europe. Each case study was discussed by individuals who have experienced mobility in their daily lives, with a debate on how mobility impacts on our culture and how we cope.

After the discussion, the seminar presented proposals and recommendations on how cultural policies can help to facilitate mobility, and on mobility as an inspiration for policies from local and regional to national and Eu-ropean level.

The conference was co-hosted by the European Eco-nomic and Social Committee (EESC), the European Union National Institutes for Culture (EUNIC) and EUROPALIA.EUROPA.

Detailed programme: http://www.eesc.europa.eu/events/Europalia

INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE

IMMIGRANT LITERATURE WRITING IN ADOPTED LANGUAGES

As part of the European Year of Intercultural Dialogue 2008, the EESC, in cooperation with EUNIC Brussels, organized a conference on “Immigrant Literature – Writing in adopted languages”. The conference discussed the various implications of writing in a second language from the linguistic, literary and intercultural points of view. Why do literary authors choose to write in adopted languages? Does this give an added value to multilingualism and intercultural dialogue? These were some of the key questions raised in the discussion.

Detailed programme: http://dev.www.eesc.europa.eu/events/migration/index-en.asp

EUROPEAN ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL COMMITTEEJACQUES DELORS BUILDING | GROUND FLOORRUE BELLIARD 99 | B-1040 BRUSSELS

24 APRIL 2008, 10 AM – 6 PMSUPPORTED BY: EUNIC | BULGARIAN EMBASSY | PRO HELVETIA | LITERATURE HOUSE HET BESCHRIJF

50TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE EESC

EUROPEAN ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL COMMITTEEJACQUES DELORS BUILDING | 6th FLOORRUE BELLIARD 99 | B-1040 BRUSSELS

5 MAY 2008

The Commemorative Plenary Session

In keeping with the message the Committee wished to convey via the fiftieth anniversary celebrations – “An active EESC celebrating fifty years of dynamic activity” –, this extraordinary session sought to highlight the Committee’s continuous role in implementing the European project and its future. By bringing former Committee presidents, current EU players and potential EU players of tomorrow together at the same event – and giving them the chance to exchange their experiences, ideas and expectations –, the event was intended to highlight the dynamic continuity of EESC activities and the Committee’s role over the years as a platform for social dialogue. International Debate “Dialogue with Civil Society”

with Benjamin Bejbaum, Jacques Delors, Erri de Luca, Nana Mouskouri, Martin Rogard and Susanne Justesen. The debate was chaired by Pat Cox.

Evening Reception

Presentation of the EESC’s anniversary book and an exhibition on the EESC’s history.

SUMMER AT THE EESC LITERATURE LUNCHES 2008

LITERARYREADINGS

EUROPEAN ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL COMMITTEEJACQUES DELORS BUILDING | 6th FLOOR AND TERRACERUE BELLIARD 99 | B-1040 BRUSSELS

12, 19, 26 JUNE AND 3 JULY 2008SUPPORTED BY: FRENCH PRESIDENCY | GOETHE-INSTITUT | DEBUREN | BRITISH COUNCIL

In May 2008, the European Economic and Social Committee (EESC) celebrated the fiftieth anniversary of its first plenary session. This anniversary symbolised the long-standing dialogue between the EESC and civil society organisations. As part of its cultural programme, the EESC marked both this important anniversary and the Year of Intercultural Dialogue, by organising a series of readings of prominent works of contemporary European literature.

This second “Literature Summer at the EESC” was dedicated to an aspect of mobility. In our society “mobility” is imbued with a positive meaning; we associate being mobile with being able to actively shape our lives in line with our own individual interests. In the world of work, in which emphasis is increasingly being placed on flexibility, mobility has become part of the job description applied in many sectors in order to comply with new conditions and requirements whilst simultaneously safeguarding things such as stable employment and a secure position in society. Being mobile is, quite simply, an attractive attribute.

Immigration – an often vitally essential form of mobility involving movement in the “other” direction – is, on the other hand, widely seen as a threat. For this reason, therefore, the EESC invited four leading European writers, whose backgrounds all involve migration, to present a sample of their literary work. All of these authors had one point in common, namely that they have chosen to write their literature in the language of their place of residence - a wonderful demonstration of cultural integration which views diversity of experience not in terms of conflict, but rather in terms of enrichment.

12 June | Soraya Nini (FR)

19 June | Ferdinu Zaimoglu (D)

26 June | Abdelkader Benali (NL)

3 July | Nii Ayikwei Parkes (GB)

INTERNATIONAL DEBATEINTERNATIONAL DEBATE

THE EUROPEAN WAY TO INTEGRATIONINTERCULTURAL DIALOGUE AND MUTUAL RESPECT

The debate on “The European way to integration: intercultural dialogue and mutual respect” was held on Friday 21 November 2008 from 11.30 a.m. to 1.30 p.m. at the Committee building in Brussels. It was one of the first initiatives put forward by Mario Sepi, the new President of the European Economic and Social Committee.

The need for a change in relations between minority and majority communities, the integration of minorities and the improvement of their socio-economic situation calls for a long-term dual approach. Integration is not a one-way but a two-way process requiring an effort from minority as well as majority communities. As a result, solutions found at EU level will not suffice; they must involve Member States and the local and regional authorities, which means strengthening cooperation and partnerships.

The EESC has already contributed substantially in this area through quality consultative documents and numerous meetings on integration and diversity. Social inclusion, citizens’ rights and solidarity will be at the heart of the Committee’s work in the years ahead. Rights and solidarity as a joint project involving reciprocity and give and take, care for other people and active sharing were central to President Sepi’s priorities in 2008.

Detailed programme: http://www.eesc.europa.eu/events/intercultural2008/Programme_EN.doc

EUROPEAN ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL COMMITTEEJACQUES DELORS BUILDINGRUE BELLIARD 99 | B-1040 BRUSSELS

21 NOVEMBER 2008, 11 AM – 1 PM

CONCERTCONCERT

L’ORCHESTRA DI PIAZZA VITTORIO

CONCERTCONCERT

… a musical collective that travels

convincing communal pathways

between disparate cultures... The group’s

performance was a mesmerizing display

of beyond-boundary music making.

(Los Angeles Times)

THÉÂTRE SAINT-MICHEL

31 NOVEMBER 2008 | 6.30 PMSUPPORTED BY: THE ITALIAN CULTURAL INSTITUTE | REGIO LAZIO AND SINTESI

The European Economic and Social Committee’s (EESC) closing event of its activities during the European Year of Intercultural Dialogue was the concert of the Orchestra di Piazza Vittorio, a musical project which has at its very heart the idea of integration and dialogue among cultures. Giving immigrants and minorities a voice, L’Orchestra di Piazza Vittorio has become the new face of a multicultural Europe in which people of all origins mix.

The orchestra has given, as a best practice example of European integration, more than 300 concerts all over the world, each a blend of social engagement, combative spirit and the desire to have fun. More than 1400 people responded to the EESC’s invitation to the concert marking the closing event of its engagement in intercultural dialogue.

EXHIBITION

SUSTAINABLE ARCHITECTURE

EUROPEAN ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL COMMITTEEJACQUES DELORS BUILDING | 6th FLOOR AND GFRUE BELLIARD 99 | B-1040 BRUSSELS

22 JANUARY – 13 MARCH 2009SUPPORTED BY: CIVA | CITÉ DE L’ARCHITECTURE ET DU PATRIMOINE | GAUDI | VEOLIA

In partnership with the Cité de l’Architecture et du Patrimoine in Paris, the GAUDI programme and the Global Award for Sustainable Architecture, the EESC organised an exhibition on sustainable architecture in cooperation with the CIVA (Centre International de la Ville, l’Architecture et le paysage in Brussels). The project showcased the ten top Global Award winners from 2007 and 2008, alongside teams of young architects selected for the sustainable architecture competition that had been launched in connection with GAUDI.

The exhibition was inaugurated in September 2008 at the Venice International Architecture Biennale and was shown in Belgium at the EESC after having toured internationally. The exhibition with the EESC was opened by President Sepi, European Commissioner Jàn Figel’, EESC Member Stephane Buffetaut and Christophe Pourtois, Director of CIVA.

The exhibition was accompanied by a catalogue published and produced by the EESC.

PHOTO EXHIBITION BY SWISS PHOTOGRAPHER YVES LERESCHE

INTEGRATION OF MINORITIES

PHOTO EXHIBITION BY SWISS PHOTOGRAPHER YVES LERESCHE

THE RROMA

EUROPEAN ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL COMMITTEEJACQUES DELORS BUILDING | 6th FLOOR AND GFRUE BELLIARD 99 | B-1040 BRUSSELS

11 JUNE – 17 JULY 2009SUPPORTED BY: MUSÉE D’ELYSÉE LAUSANNE

Over the last twelve years, Swiss photographer Yves Leresche has repeatedly visited and lived with the Rroma in Albania, Macedonia, Romania, Serbia and Kosovo. He has met with Rroma politicians, radiopresenters, cardboard collectors, musicians, beggars, refugees and businessmen. Over time, Leresche became, if not a friend, at least a well respected Gadje, the Rromani word for others. This status allowed him to depict the Rroma from an insider’s perspective. There are no poses, but rather snapshots of people’s daily lives. What impressed him the most were their strong family ties, their survival skills and the great dignity of Rroma living under difficult circumstances.

The exhibition was opened at the EESC on 10 June 2009 at 6.30 pm.

INTEGRATION OF MINORITIES THE RROMA

INTERNATIONAL DEBATE

EUROPEAN ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL COMMITTEEJACQUES DELORS BUILDING | 6th FLOORRUE BELLIARD 99 | B-1040 BRUSSELS

10 June 2009 | 2 PM – 6 PM

The purpose of the event was to give EU officials, civil society representatives and wider EU audiences a special opportunity to learn about the impact of selected EESC opinions on European, and in particular Rroma, integration. The event brought together several actors whose experience and involvement in Rroma integration has been crucial in different sectors of society.

The speakers provided real examples of how culture – as a belief system based on shared values – plays an essential role in communicating highly relevant European issues and raising awareness of the social condition of the Rroma in Europe.

Participants

Mario SepiEESC President

Vladimír ŠpidlaCommissioner for Employment, Social Affairsand Equal Opportunities

Yves Leresche Photographer

Santino SpinelliMusician, artist and lecturer on Rrom culture

Madi SharmaEESC Member

Moderation

Anne-Marie SigmundEESC Member and former EESC President

MY EUROPE

EXHIBITIONEXHIBITION

CONTEMPORARY CZECH DESIGN

EUROPEAN ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL COMMITTEEJACQUES DELORS BUILDING | 6th FLOOR AND GFRUE BELLIARD 99 | B-1040 BRUSSELS

23 JUNE – 31 JULY 2009SUPPORTED BY: THE CZECH CENTRE

As part of the activities under the Czech Presidency and as part of the European Economic and Social Committee’s cultural programme, EESC President Mario Sepi and Ambassador Milena Vicenová, Permanent Representative of the Czech Republic to the EU, opened the contemporary art exhibition ‘My Europe – Contemporary Czech Art and Design’ on Monday 22 June 2009 at 6.30 p.m. in the EESC headquarters in Brussels.

As part of the European Year of Creativity and Innovation (2009) the EESC, in cooperation with the Czech Centre in Brussels, invited forty Czech artists, designers and architects to create art objects that convey their understanding of Europe and how they relate to the European project. The exhibition offered highly creative and innovative interpretations of Europe and will be displayed in Prague’s DOX Centre for Contemporary Art following its EESC inauguration.

“When I was choosing artists for “My Europe”, writes exhibition curator Eva Eisler in her introduction to the catalogue, “my idea was to form a community of strong individuals working in various art disciplines who would tackle a common theme and create a work that differed in form and substance from what they usually did. At the same time, however, it would preserve the artist’s signature and convey how he or she looked at Europe.“

None of the exhibited works was superficially simple: each demonstrated a multitude of layers in both form and meaning, itself a characteristic aspect of modern art. Through their diversity, the works not only represented the current situation on the contemporary arts scene, but also symbolised the state of play of the European project itself – yet to be completed jigsaw of individual but vital pieces which together are slowly creating a future unified Europe.

LITERARYREADINGS

SUMMER AT THE EESC LITERATURE LUNCHES 2009

EUROPEAN ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL COMMITTEEVAN MAERLANT | 3rd FLOORRUE BELLIARD 99 | B-1040 BRUSSELS

12, 19, 26 JUNE AND 3 JULY 2009SUPPORTED BY: SWEDISH EMBASSY | GOETHE-INSTITUT | DEBUREN | ITALIAN CULTURAL INSTITUTE | POLISH EMBASSY

The 1989 peaceful revolution paved the way for the EU’s eastward enlargement. As part of its cultural programme, the European Economic and Social Committee marked this major anniversary by a series of literature readings by contemporary European writers. The aim was to demonstrate that the values we so often take for granted today – such as freedom, prosperity and peace – were achieved only gradually, even in the “New Europe”.

12 June | Jonas Hassen Khemiri (SE)

19 June | Grazyna Plebanek (PL)

26 June| Clemens Mayer (DE)

3 July | Michele Santeramo (IT)

PALETTE HOUSE EESC EVENT ON SUSTAINABILITY

This public event was centred on a temporary sustainable building, the so-called Palette House from Austria, which won the 2008 GAUDI competition (a European Student competition on sustainable architecture) and which lends itself perfectly to communicating the contents of the recast directive on the energy efficiency of buildings, energy innovation and employment and the role of energy policy in the economic recovery.

The house was introduced by EESC’s Section for Transport, Energy and Infrastructure who was organizing EESC events around ‘Global Overshoot Day’ which took place on September 25th. The events and especially the architecture received extensive media coverage.

PLACE FLAGEY | B-1040 BRUSSELS

22 SEPTEMBER – 3 OCTOBER 2009 SUPPORTED BY: TEN | CIVA | AUSTRIAN EMBASSY | DG COM | DG ENV

INTERNATIONAL COMPETITION

EESC DESIGN ZERONINE EUROPEAN DESIGN AWARD FOR A SUSTAINABLE PRESENT

EUROPEAN ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL COMMITTEEJACQUES DELORS BUILDING | 6th FLOOR AND GFRUE BELLIARD 99 | B-1040 BRUSSELS

NOVEMBER 2009SUPPORTED BY: DESIGNED IN BRUSSELS

Energy efficiency and environmental protection are of fundamental importance to the quality of life of current and future generations. The challenge is to combine energy supply, energy consumption and environmental protection with sustainable economic growth so as to achieve long-term sustainable development. This challenge is becoming more pressing in the face of climate change. The European Union’s environmental policy is based on the conviction that rigorous environmental protection rules stimulate innovation and business opportunities and that energy, economic, industrial, social and environment policies are closely linked.

For this reason, the EESC is taking on a double challenge: that of fostering sustainable, innovative and creative design, and investing in sustainable public procurement by promoting a new, environmentally-friendly form of promotional gift.

The EESC, in cooperation with Designed in Brussels, launched EESC Design ZeroNine in March 2009 in all 27 EU Member States. The purpose was to create an innovative design product with packaging for a modern, mobile and international audience, aged 30+, which would be officially adopted by the EESC as a promotional gift for its president, vice-presidents and members to use during official visits and on other selected occasions. The winning design will be produced in a limited edition in 2010 as part of the EESC’s communication strategy.

An international jury chose the winning design on 28 September and it was presented to the international press on 29 September.

The Award Ceremony, presenting the winners and selected entries in an exhibition and catalogue, took place on 9 December 2009.

INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE

FAMILIES IN EUROPE TODAY FAMILY, MARRIAGE AND PARTNERSHIP – A GAP BETWEEN CULTURE AND LEGISLATION

Europe is currently undergoing a clash between cultures and legislation. It can be difficult to define marriage and family in such a diverse area and this can often lead to confusion and misunderstanding. It is essential to move beyond this stalemate, and find a solution for it. This can be accomplished with understanding and cooperation, but it is crucial to promote awareness on the subject.

EUROPEAN ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL COMMITTEEJACQUES DELORS BUILDING | 6th FLOOR AND TERRACERUE BELLIARD 99 | B-1040 BRUSSELS

8 OCTOBER, 9 AM – 5 PMSUPPORTED BY: EUNIC | CENTRE FOR EQUAL OPPORTUNITIES

INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE

FOCUS 89

EUROPEAN ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL COMMITTEEJACQUES DELORS BUILDING | 6th FLOORRUE BELLIARD 99 | B-1040 BRUSSELS

28 OCTOBER, 9 AM – 6 PMSUPPORTED BY: EUNIC

2009 is the year of the 20th anniversary of the fall of the Berlin wall.

On November 9th, the fall of the wall not only reunited Germany but fundamentally changed the whole of Europe socio-politically, culturally and economically.

The conference, organised by EUNIC, the European National Institutes of Culture, in cooperation with the EESC, the European Economic and Social Committee, explored the socio-cultural dynamics of the end of the cold war and the challenges of a new Europe. It looked at the State’s role in culture and at the role of culture in undermining the State. It investigated how successfully Europe opened up to new forms of culture and explored the increased role and influence of the cultural sector in an ever-changing environment.

INTERNATIONAL FILM WEEK

FOCUS 89

Starting on the very day the Berlin Wall came down 20 years ago, FOCUS ’89 festival was a week-long tribute by EUNIC Brussels to the shaping of a new Europe. Through a selection of films and accompanying debates, the festival explored the build-up to 1989 and its far-reaching consequences on contemporary European culture and society.

Each film was introduced by its director or scriptwriter or main actor.

Speakers in the debates were famous personalities and commentators from across Europe who have made a significant contribution to our understanding of the events before and after 1989.

The film programme was curated by renowned critic Louis Danvers and EUNIC Brussels, in consultation with Cinematek.

FLAGEY CULTURAL CENTRE

9 – 15 NOVEMBER 2009SUPPORTED BY: EUNIC | FLAGEY | SWEDISH PRESIDENCY | EC

CONTEMPORARY ART

PUBLICATIONS

WHAT NEXT? SLOVENIA

Exhibition Catalogue in English and Slovenian140 pages

THE EUROPEAN ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL COMMITTEE50 YEARS OF PARTICIPATORY DEMOCRACYRepresentative publication on the evolution and history of the EESCPublication in French, English and German185 pages

SUSTAINABLE ARCHITECTUREExhibition Catalogue in English64 pages

MY EUROPEContemporary Czech DesignExhibition Catalogue in English and Czech140 pages

˝Visits and Publications˝ UnitTel. +32 25469604 • Fax +32 25469764

Rue Belliard/ Belliardstraat 991040 Bruxelles/Brussel

BELGIQUE/BELGIË

www.eesc.europa.eu

Catalogue number: EESC-2010-17-EN

In 2009, the EESC was awarded the prestigious «Ecodynamic Enterprise» label by the

Brussels Institute for Management of the Environment (IBGE), obtaining 3 stars, the highest

level possible. This label rewards organisations for good environmental performance.