The Language of Art and Music 2011

"The Language of Art and Music" is an international symposium taking place in Berlin from 17th – 20th February 2011 to explore the potential for art and music to provide a neutral platform for cultural exchange. Artists and practitioners from the fields of film, performance art, literature, and music, will share their perspectives alongside renowned academics and leading figures from international politics, diplomacy, civil society, and the private sector.

The use of culture and art to promote dialogue and understanding is a field that, though the subject of much scholarly attention, has had little impact on the behaviour and activities of national governments and other stakeholders in international relations. Moreover, whilst there is a widespread agreement of the value of culture and art in raising awareness of cultural differences, there is less understanding of the potential for culture and art to offer a neutral platform for mutual cultural exchange, to transform cultural differences and unite people through emotions. "The Language of Art and Music" will work to bridge the gap between theory and practice by bringing together artists with academic experts from the field and key figures in international relations to discuss the importance of these artistic disciplines.

In addition to the exploring the theory of cultural and artistic exchange, "The Language of Art and Music" will provide an opportunity for in-depth analysis of relevant case studies from across the world. By including both empirical and theoretical analyses, and by hosting an interdisciplinary panel of speakers from across the world, the program will provide a thorough and innovative examination of the language of art and music.