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International Network on Cultural Diversity (INCD)
Founding Statement
The International Network for Cultural Diversity comprises artists, creators,
cultural workers, producers and those who bring the artistic creation
to local and global audiences. We are non-governmental organizations and
individual activists working for cultural diversity. We represent the
world's arts and cultural communities and its living heritage, our past
and our future.
Founding Principles
- Expression through arts and culture is a fundamental part of human
society
- Cultural diversity strengthens us all and must be maintained and promoted
as an important part of sustainable development
- The fruits of artistic creation are more than conventional goods and
services, each is unique and all are an integral part of human societies
- Cultures should have the opportunity to interact with each other,
enriching artistic expression and expanding choices
- Market forces alone cannot ensure cultural diversity at the national
and international levels
- States and citizens have a right and a responsibility to implement
policies and programs that support diverse artistic and cultural activities
and to protect these from unwanted interventions from outside political
or economic forces
- Recognition and preservation of the cultures of indigenous peoples
and traditional cultures requires special attention.
Culture and Trade
Current trade agreements do affect the arts and cultural expression and
"exempting" culture from their terms appears to be insufficient
to permit states and citizens to retain the broad scope of policy making
necessary in the era of globalization. We need to redress the imbalance
between concerns for cultural diversity and economic imperatives. We need
to promote the full social, human and economic development aspects of
a commitment to cultural diversity.
Culture is broad, it touches all aspects of society. But there is a particular
challenge at this moment, between culture and commerce, culture and trade.
The pivotal role of the recorded media for cultural expression in today's
world means the challenge is most acutely felt in this area.
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We Believe:
- Governments must not enter into any agreement that constrains local
cultures and the policies that support them
- The implementation of a new international agreement will give a permanent
legal foundation for cultural diversity.
Membership:
The Network is a citizen's movement, open to all non-governmental organizations
and individuals that support our Principles and share our objectives.
In order to finance the work of the Network, we will ask our members
to contribute financially, according to their ability, in Canadian or
American dollars:
- Individual members - 25
- Local Organizations - 50
- National Organizations - 100
- International Organizations/National Coalitions - 150
Steering Committee:
The Network will be governed initially by a Steering Committee, which
will seek input as required from the members by means of the Website.
The Committee will be comprised of the following members:
- Alexander Cacavas General Secretary, Scriptwriters Guild of Greece
- Luciana Castellina Valencia Forum, Brussels/Rome
- Peter Curman President, Swedish Joint Committee of Literary and
Artistic Professionals, Stockholm
- James C. Early Director, Cultural Heritage Policy, SmithsonianInstitution
Center for Folklife and Cultural Policy,Washington, D.C.
- Mireille Gagné Director, Canadian Music Centre Quebec, Montreal
- Richard Letts Executive Director, Music Council of Australia
- Nitis Jacon La Red Performers Network of Latin America and the
Caribbean
- Japan Mthembu General Secretary, Performing Arts Workers Equity,
Johannesburg
- Yolanda Schweri General Secretary, Suisseculture, Zurich
- Megan Williams Director, Canadian Conference of the Arts, Ottawa
The Steering Committee is empowered to add members in order to achieve
an appropriate balance of regions and disciplines. As a priority, the
Steering Committee is charged with the responsibility to find appropriate
representatives from Latin America and Asia.
The Steering Committee will investigate issues of governance and financing
of the Network and report to the members through the Website and at future
meetings. In particular, the Steering Committee will develop an appropriate
democratic electoral system.
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Setting our Agenda
The Network has launched a dialogue that we will extend to others in
our communities. The INCD will develop its agenda and an Action Plan to
support our objectives. We will work parallel to the culture ministers
organized in the International Network for Cultural Policy, intervene
in appropriate forums, link with citizens movements in other sectors,
and work to ensure our Principles are reflected in the new cultural agreement.
We will encourage governments to recognize the central role of the individual
artist and to nurture artistic expression.
To further its work, the INCD will implement a system of national contacts,
individual members who can act as a primary liaison in each country.
The function of the national liaison will be to facilitate communication
between the INCD and members and other interested groups in that country,
and between the INCD and governments.
Monitoring Developments and Advocating our Positions
The primary function of the Network is to monitor developments of interest
to the members, ensure that information about them is exchanged and to
advocate the agreed positions in the appropriate forums.
The Network will seek appropriate standing with key intergovernmental
agencies, including the United Nations, UNESCO, the World Trade Organization,
World Intellectual Property Organization, and others.
Next Meetings
The members of the Network will meet again in Lucerne, Switzerland in
September 2001 and South Africa in 2002. The Steering Committee will meet
as required by teleconference, e-mail and otherwise between these full
meetings to carry out the work. The secretariat, which continues for the
time being to be housed at the Canadian Conference of the Arts will convene
these meetings.
www.incd.net
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