"Meeting the other: borders, identities and cultures in Europe"
Cultural expressions are fundamental to fight prejudices. And today, migrant population in Europe are too often perceived through the glass of social conflict, terrorism, fundamentalist backwardness or criminality. Tired of these growing preconception, Babelmed, has conceived a European editorial project to put the emphasis on the cultural expressions coming from Migrations.
The project is developed in the framework of the "European Year for Intercultural Dialogue". This multidisciplinary project covers several areas including journalism, research and cultural productions.
Through articles posted online on several existing websites (Babelmed, IEMed, IRFAM, Paralleli, Qantara.de), the project seeks to give greater visibility to the cultural expressions and artistic productions from immigrant communities. A decentralised committee of young, European and local journalists was created to write articles and cover a wide range of issues on intercultural dialogue.
"Meeting the Other" starts with an intellectual questioning of term of “Interculturality” and “Dialogue” by the two European magazines, La Pensée de Midi from Marseilles and Lettera Internazionale from Rome. They will both publish special issues on the theme.
The IRFAM in Belgium coordinates a collective research book on intercultural dialogue to fight intercommunity antagonisms.
The creative component of the project will take place from the 1st to the 10th of August through a creative forum for young European artists of the performing arts and organised by Astragali Teatro. It will include the production of a performance.
Finally, a series of documentaries on “Memory, migration and intercultural dialogue” selected by CMCA is accompanying all the main co-ordination event.
From the kick off Meeting in Turin the that took place on the 27th and 28th of April and was organised by the Istituto Paralleli and the Barcelona conference that will take place in October.
The project also includes the creation of a virtual festival on intercultural dialogue. This Internet-based festival will be a virtual showcase to give added visibility to young artists and journalists.
