ASEF, in partnership with the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, the Republic of Korea, Gwangju Metropolitan Government, and Chonnam National University, is organising the 8th ASEF Public Forum on Creative Cities in Asia and Europe on 24 November 2015 in Gwangju, Korea. Titled “Cities: Living Labs for Culture?” this forum will provide an opportunity for civil experts, practitioners and government officials to exchange ideas and insights on the role of the arts and culture in shaping creative cities.
The forum, held alongside the opening of the Asian Culture Complex in Gwangju, will also mark the launch of two publications: Cities: Living Labs for Culture? Good Practices from Asia and Europe, a compilation of essays and case studies, as well as Creative Responses to Sustainability (Korea Guide), which maps cultural initiatives across the country engaging with social and environmental issues.
Among the speakers are leading voices from Asia and Europe: Ms Fionnuala CROKE, Director, Chester Beatty Library; Ms Catherine CULLEN, Chair United Cities and Local Governments’ (UCLG) Committee on Culture; Ms Arundhati GHOSH, Director, India Foundation for the Arts; Mr Ridwan KAMIL, Mayor of Bandung; Mr Yusaku IMAMURA, Director, Tokyo Wonder Site; Mr Phloeun PRIM, Executive Director, Cambodian Living Arts; Mr Joe SIDEK, Artistic Director, Georgetown Festival; and Mr Karsten XUEREB, Executive Director, Valletta 2018 Foundation.
The 8th ASEF Public Forum is part of a long-running dialogue series on policy issues of mutual interest and common relevance for Asia and Europe. Past Experts’ Meetings and Public Forums have taken place in Amsterdam, Netherlands (2014), Hanoi, Viet Nam and Yangon, Myanmar (2013), Yogyakarta, Indonesia (2012), Melbourne, Australia and Seoul, Korea (2011) and Amsterdam, Netherlands (2010).