On Monday, November 6th, 2023, the launch of EUNIC Cluster Indonesia (European Union National Institutes for Culture) will take place at the Erasmus Huis, initiated by the British Council, Embassy of Austria, Embassy of Ireland, Embassy of Poland, Embassy of Spain, the Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, Goethe-Institut Indonesien, Institut Francais d’Indonesie, and Istituto Italiano di Cultura.
Leveraging the longstanding relations established in Indonesia, the cluster aims to promote cultural connections and collaborations between Europe and Indonesia. Working in conjunction with local partners, EUNIC endeavors to facilitate dialogue in the arts, culture, and education sectors, contributing to the development of inclusive and sustainable programs.
With an extensive presence in over 100 countries worldwide, EUNIC champions the significant role of culture in international relations and serves as a strategic partner of the European Union, actively contributing to the implementation of European cultural policy. Furthermore, EUNIC operates as a platform to facilitate knowledge sharing and capacity building among its members and partners.
Considering this context, the EUNIC Cluster Indonesia aims to fulfill several key roles, including facilitating knowledge exchange through international seminars, policy advocacy, and expertise missions. Additionally, the cluster will focus on enhancing the sector’s capacity through training and residency programs, fostering international co-productions, and identifying opportunities to consolidate efforts for a more substantial collective impact. By offering unified access to the European cultural sector and amplifying their collective voice, EUNIC seeks to increase its influence on shared matters and cultivate a mutual learning experience with Indonesian culture and approaches.
EUNIC Cluster Indonesia will be particularly focusing on the following topics : arts, creative industries, development cooperation, digitalisation, education, gender, museology and heritage, human rights, language and multilingualism, social inclusion, sports, sustainability, climate change, youth, and others.
The target partners for EUNIC’s cultural relations efforts include relevant ministries such as the Ministry of Tourism and Creative Economy and the Ministry of Education, Culture, Higher Education, Research, and Technology.
Moreover, the cluster aims to engage with regional government institutions and other geopolitical entities, such as the ASEAN Secretariat. At the grassroots level, EUNIC also intends to collaborate with youth organizations, local community groups, civil society organizations, the Indonesian Arts Coalition, and the EU delegation, among others to achieve its objectives.
“The launch of the EUNIC Cluster Indonesia marks a pivotal moment for cultural cooperation between Europe and Indonesia. At the British Council, we are excited to contribute to this new collaborative endeavour and bring together partners across Europe and Indonesia to strengthen the role of culture in international relations and tackling social issues and global challenges”. – Summer Xia, EUNIC Cluster Indonesia Co-President, Country Director Indonesia and Director South East Asia, British Council.
“We are thrilled to be part of this dynamic collaboration that fosters cultural exchange and mutual understanding between Europe and Indonesia. Through the EUNIC Cluster Indonesia, we look forward to nurturing a vibrant space for intercultural dialogue and cooperation, further enriching the cultural fabric of both regions.” – Charlotte Esnou, EUNIC Cluster Indonesia Co-President, Director of Institut français d’Indonésie in Jakarta and Cultural attaché at the French Embassy.
