What is the International Network on Cultural Policy?

The International Network on Cultural Policy (INCP) is an international forum where national ministers responsible for culture can explore and exchange views on new and emerging cultural policy issues and to develop strategies to promote cultural diversity in an informal venue.

INCP Goals

The INCP aims to strengthen cultural policies so that governments, together with civil society, can create an international environment that values diversity, creativity, accessibility and freedom by:

• offering a means through which countries can share their expertise, exchange views and information and strengthen domestic and international partnerships;
• raising awareness of the importance of cultural diversity and identity to social and economic development;
• demonstrating the links between national cultural objectives and international development;
• advancing dialogue on cultural policy issues by ensuring that culture is "on the table" in international, national and local fora.

INCP Scope

As the INCP evolves, the scope of issues that ministers address continues to broaden. Among those issues, INCP members are discussing and examining how to address the many challenges and opportunities associated with the growing issues of cultural diversity and identity in an increasingly globalized world. Although globalization -- through the increasing mobility of people, trade liberalization, new communication technologies and industry consolidation -- offers great opportunities for cultural expression, it also poses fundamental challenges to governments, civil society and the private sector in nurturing this diversity.

The policy challenge is to find the means by which to remain open to the best the world has to offer, while nurturing domestically rich and diverse cultural expression. INCP members are exploring how diversity can be integrated into a common approach to global development, including the challenges and opportunities of promoting and protecting cultural heritage for social and economic development.

INCP members strive to

• promote cultural and linguistic diversity as fundamental elements to global thinking on development, access, governance and identity issues;
• encourage full participation in the global society, while at the same time explore means to ensure that unique identities are not lost;
• exchange views on the central role that culture plays on the international agenda including the sharing of views and best practices on cultural policy;
• bring informed expertise to other international organizations through continuous dialogue;
• contribute to an inclusive broad based dialogue on issues related to culture.

INCP Contact Group

The Contact Group serves as the steering committee for the INCP, and sets its policy direction. The group furthers themes discussed at the annual meetings, exchanges views about ongoing activities and discusses future INCP activities. Contact Group meetings are held at both the officials and ministerial level.

INCP Working Groups and Special Policy Research Teams (SPRTs)

Individual INCP Member States can chair Working Groups and/or SPRTs to provide a venue for specialized work on particular subject areas, identified as priorities by INCP members.

Interested INCP Members Countries are invited to send experts to Working Group meetings to help further research and discussions, and can also offer to host such meetings.

Special Policy Research Teams are open to the participation of all members in order to conduct short-term research that focuses on answering specific questions raised by INCP ministers at the Annual Ministerial Meeting.

Both Working Group and SPRT meetings are held on an ad hoc basis at the discretion of the respective chair.

How to Become an INCP Member

To become an INCP member, a country must:

1. Be a member of UNESCO;
2. Have a national minister of culture or its equivalent

No membership fees are required from member countries. However, each country is responsible for paying its own costs and fees to participate in INCP meetings and activities. Each country is also invited to contribute intellectually to the Network, by attending working group meetings, or financially, by translating documents.

To join the INCP, the minister of culture must send a letter in this regard to the Liaison Bureau at the address below. To ensure effective working relationships between Network members, we ask each minister to designate a senior official as a contact person.

Financial Assistance

The INCP is an organization that does not fund projects or activities.

Employment

The INCP's Liaison Bureau is housed by the Department of Canadian Heritage. Staffing for the Liaison Bureau takes place in accordance with the standards established by the Public Service Commission of Canada. Therefore, we invite you to visit their website to find out about the terms and conditions of employment and job opportunities in the Government of Canada: http://jobs.gc.ca

Research

• The INCP does not provide for the placement of student internships
• If you are interested in the ongoing activities of the INCP, please consult our sections on INCP Annual Ministerial Meetings (AMM), Working Groups and Special Policy Research Teams (SPRT) for their latest documents.

INCP Contact Information

Ms. Giuliana NATALE
Director, Liaison Bureau
International Network on Cultural Policy (INCP)
25 Eddy Street, 13th Floor
Gatineau, Quebec K1A 0M5
CANADA

Tel:         +1 819 953 5327
Fax:         +1 819 953 8439
Email:    giuliana_natale@pch.gc.ca