Photo (c) CoBA

Together with Susan Curtis, Director of Istros Books, and moderated by Dr Ana Russel-Omaljev, on October 5th, 2018 Dr Aleksandar Brkić from ICCE participated on a panel titled “Cultural Diplomacy and National Branding: The Role of Arts, Literature and Creative Industries”. The panel, that opened the Southeast European Future Festival (SEEF), was held at the Embassy of the Republic of Serbia in London, and it was organised by Contemporary Balkan Art (CoBA) from London.

Some of the questions that were being discussed were connected with the possibility of Serbia and other countries from the post-Yugoslav space to reposition themselves through culture; prejudices that the countries from the Balkans are facing on the international cultural stage (market); role of the international festivals such as Belgrade International Theatre Festival (BITEF) in international relations; and other topics related to soft power and cultural diplomacy from the perspective of the Balkans/South East Europe.

A number of diplomats from the South East European countries were present at the event, as well as academic researchers interested in the region.