IGCAT was invited to the 1st Asian Network of Cultural Intermediaries Forum in Taiwan, 2-3 November. The invitation came from the Graduate School of Arts Management and Cultural Policy, National Taiwan University of Arts. It was an opportunity for IGCAT’s President, Dr. Diane Dodd to meet the Deputy Minister for Culture and to present the Regions of Gastronomy project.
The Forum brought together intermediaries from the cultural sector in Taiwan including artists residencies, arts spaces, festival managers, research bodies, university departments and students.
In addition, international representatives joined the meeting from the Japan Foundation; the National Arts Council Singapore; Korea Culture and Tourism Institute and Mihidol University.
A specific meeting took place inside the forum to ask if an Asian Network of Cultural Intermediaries (ANCI) is needed and if participants would like to sign-up to such an initiative. This came from a recognition of the growing prominence of cultural intermediaries in international cultural cooperation. Although the final mission is still to be established, the participants agreed the need to empower the arts and cultural sector across Asia by moving the conversation forward in areas of concern including:
- sharing good practises
- taxation for international cultural working
- creative networking opportunities
- funding for international exchange
… and others…
Questions of membership and organisation will still need to be discussed further but the network was looking for endorsement from all the international partners present. IGCAT’s Board will now be consulted on their interest to endorse such a partnership.
The initiative was received positively by those present as a “possibility to unlock the potential of cultural and expert exchange.”
About IGCAT
IGCAT is a non-profit institute established in 2012, working with regional stakeholder consortiums in the fields of gastronomy, culture, arts and tourism. It counts on the expertise of a worldwide network of experts and works in partnership with specialised intergovernmental organisations.
IGCAT aims to empower local communities by guiding, facilitating, and supporting leaders in regions to understand the potential of their distinct food, culture, arts and sustainable tourism assets.
IGCAT provides the Region of Gastronomy Award and is the official secretariat for the European Region of Gastronomy Platform. Furthermore, the Institute has developed the European Young Chef Award the Local Food Gift Challenge, the Top Food Experiences of the Year and the Food Film Festivals project.