Strategies
Measures aimed at achieving Austria’s international cultural policy goals
1. Maintaining and developing efficient networks of Austrian cultural institutions abroad.
2. Implementing and supporting cultural and scientific projects presenting Austria as an innovative and creative nation
3. Implementing and supporting projects to promote dialog among cultures and religions both at home and abroad in order to position Austria as a key player in this area and to build trust and secure peace at an international level
4. Incorporating and implementing Austrian cultural interests in the decision-making processes of the EU and of international organisations (especially of UNESCO) and promoting cultural initiatives launched by the EU and by international organisations (especially by UNESCO) in Austria.
On the first measure: Maintaining and developing efficient networks of Austrian cultural institutions abroad.
Austria has a comprehensive network of international cultural institutions abroad (see annex 1), which must be reviewed and adapted on an ongoing basis and in line with changing circumstances. The individual institutions also require sufficient human as well as financial resources to be able to reach the goals defined by Austrian international cultural policy.
On the second measure: Implementing and supporting cultural and scientific projects presenting Austria as an innovative and creative nation.
The main focus of international cultural policy initiatives abroad is on implementing and supporting cultural and scientific projects based on strategic and content-related guidelines defined by the Federal Ministry for European and International Affairs. In this context, the Ministry also supports activities aimed at internationalising Austrian science and research. The quantitative ratio between events organised by Austrian cultural policy institutions and events that are (co-)sponsored by third parties depends on the respective situation. The goal is to cooperate with local partners. In order to help select Austrian artists that will perform at (co-)sponsored events abroad, a system that ensures the highest possible level of objectivity and transparency was set up.
On the third measure: Implementing and supporting projects to promote dialog among cultures and religions both at home and abroad in order to position Austria as a key player in this area and to build trust and secure peace at an international level.
The main goals pursued by intercultural and interfaith dialogue are promotion of fundamental rights and civil rights and liberties worldwide, integration of cultural, religious and ethnic minorities into our modern democracies, raising awareness to and promoting the involvement and contribution of women in the religious and social context and women’s rights in general, fighting prejudices, misconceptions and misunderstandings, promotion of interfaith dialog as an essential element of potential problem-solving and reconciliation strategies, and promotion of cross-border cooperation between young leaders from all areas of society.
On the fourth measure: Incorporating and implementing Austrian cultural interests in the decision-making processes of the EU and of international organisations (especially of UNESCO) and promoting cultural initiatives launched by the EU and by international organisations (especially by UNESCO) in Austria.
Austria’s representation on the level of EU cultural bodies and organisations is based on close coordination and cooperation between the Federal Ministry for European and International Affairs and the Federal Ministry for Education, Arts and Culture. With its cultural fora and representations the FMEIA also contributes pro-actively to EUNIC, the network of European Union National Institutes for Culture (EUNIC). Austria is also an active member of UNESCO and submitted its candidacy for a seat on the organisation’s Executive Board for the period 2011-2015.
