International Council for Cultural Centers (I3C)

 The International Council for Cultural Centers is accepting participants for the First World Summit of Community Arts Centers and Networks, between September 24-27th, 2014,  in the old historic city of Veliko Tarnovo.

For more information and signing up for the event, please visit our special website for the World Summit at worldsummit.international3c.org, or directly contact us at office@intl3c.org. 

The realization of the First World Summit is under the official patronage of the President of the Republic of Bulgaria, Mr. Rossen Plevneliev. We are expecting the participation of about 50 countries from 5 continents. 

The theme of the event is “Creativity and Well-being for All: Changing the Future!”, inspired by the overall impact of these networks to society and as a continuity to an international project where I3C is a partner. The topic addresses the role of the arts and creativity for sustainable community development and the rising demand for policies, including cultural policies, supporting what people themselves characterize as their well-being. In a time of economic and moral crisis, the Summit aims to contribute concrete new approaches and programs that enhance the role of the networks of community arts and cultural centers towards social well-being as direct mediators between people’s demands and public politics.

The First World Summit aims to bring together experts from Africa, Asia-Pacific, Europe, Latin America, and North America, as each participating country could bring two or more representatives, who are: a) representatives of Ministries of Culture, which coordinate the sectors of community arts and/or if there is a national network of community cultural centers (often called “house of culture”); and b) representatives of thenon-governmental organizations, associations, or networks of the above-mentioned community cultural centers/community arts organizations. These networks may be: 1) governmental institutions; 2) NGOs; or 3) a hybrid system of two coordinating bodies (both NGO and Ministry), in which case we invite representatives of the two organizations per country.

The accommodation and food for all participants is covered by the generous support of the Municipality of Veliko Tarnovo.

The goals of the event are:

- To bring together for the first time and establish beneficial contact and sustain cooperation between national networks/associations of community cultural centers

- To provide a platform for the exchange of good practices in the field of intangible cultural heritage safeguarding and community arts for social transformation

- To help strengthen and capacity-build each national network by facilitating new national programs and joint projects across countries

- To facilitate the meeting and strengthening of 3 continental cultural networks (European Network for Cultural Centers, African Arterial Network, Latin American Network of Arts for Social Transformation) and support the development of new national and continental networks (such as Asian and North-American)

- Contribute to the development of policies towards better future and wellbeing

- Develop the principles of membership in I3C’s inter-continental network/platform

- Initiate the development of a long-term program for strategic international cultural cooperation in the field of community arts and social transformation and their respective cultural policies

The International Council for Cultural Centers (I3C) is looking forward to welcome you at the First World Summit of Community Arts Centers and Networks!

Please do not hesitate to contact us if you are interested in participating or could recommend a relevant partner!