Cultural networks are emerging as an increasingly significant channel of international collaboration in arts and culture. Recognising the potential of this growing phenomenon to nurture sustainable professional linkages between Asia and Europe, the Asia-Europe Foundation (ASEF) launched the ASEF Creative Networks initiative in 2013. This initiative encourages the establishment of new networks linking Asia and Europe as well as the development of sustainable projects by existing bi-regional networks. Selection is through a competitive open call for proposals.
3 projects from a pool of 54 proposals have been selected for support in 2014 through the first edition of ASEF Creative Networks. These projects are briefly described below:
1) The Asia-Europe Network of Urban Heritage for Sustainable Creative Economies will be established as a cross-disciplinary network of experts on cultural heritage in Asia and Europe. This network will facilitate knowledge exchange and capacity building with a focus on creative economies for the sustainable management of historic environments. Founding members include Europa Nostra, the Indian National Trust for Art and Cultural Heritage (INTACH), the International Institute for the Inclusive Museum, the International National Trusts Organisation (INTO) and the Yangon Heritage Trust.
2) The European Network of Cultural Administration Training Centers (ENCATC), the Asia Pacific Network for Education and Research (ANCER) and the Hong Kong Institute of Education will organise a series of events – in China, the Czech Republic, Singapore and Slovakia – aimed at capacity building for cultural managers and researchers.
3) The Asia-Europe Creative Residency Network will be established as a sub-network of Res Artis, the largest existing network of artists’ residency programmes, to specifically promote more cultural exchange between Asia and Europe. The first meeting of the new network will take place in Melbourne, Australia. Project partners include the Res Artis Foundation, the Japan Foundation Information Center, Asialink (Australia) and the National Association for the Visual Arts (Australia).