The need
Stemming from several conferences and seminars amongst policy makers and cultural practitioners from the Asia Europe Meeting (ASEM) member countries in recent years, it became clear that there was a need to facilitate information flow and cultural cooperation amongst member countries. Studies showed that there were no comprehensive and multi-disciplinary resources that focused on Asia and Europe - one that targeted at cultural co-operation and acted as an interface between the interests of governments and cultural organisations, between policy makers and artists.
Though cultural information is available, it is still very disparate and not readily accessible. Much information is offline, and the quality and relevance of the information varies considerably from country to country. In addition, the language differences hinder co-operation between the two regions. The problem is even more acute in Asia.
The process
As such, there is a general lack of awareness and appreciation of what Asia and Europe have to offer. That is why, the idea to create a multidisciplinary Asia-Europe cultural portal was planted during the 1st ASEM Conference on Culture and Civilisations (Culture Ministers’ Meeting) in December 2003, and reinforced at the Asia-Europe Cultural Policy Seminar in 2004. Culture360 was finally endorsed at the 2nd ASEM Culture Ministers Meeting in 2005 and acknowledged as an important initiative.
Conceptualised with the Ministry of Information, Communication and the Arts (MICA, Singapore), a feasibility study was carried out, entitled Cultural Partnership Mapping. In 2005, a vision group meeting culled feedback and ideas about practical steps towards the creation of this portal from various stakeholders. The process placed emphasis on research, consultation, utility and sustainability.
For full account on the process please download 'Cultural Partnership Mapping-Towards the Development of a Multidisciplinary Asia-Europe Cultural Portal' here.
In 2006 a Culture360 Partners' Coordination Meeting was set up in partnership with with the Ministry of Culture, Arts and Heritage of Malaysia. This set the beginning of the Asian Mapping Excercise aimed to redress the disparity in the availability and visibility of cultural resources between Asia and Europe.
The development
It was finally decided that an incremental development strategy was the best approach for the creation of Culture360. Starting with this pilot site, it would take into account the priority of the stakeholders and be developed in phases. This way, feedback can be taken and incorporated to improve the site as it grows.
The development of Culture360 is part of a process of stimulating cultural engagement between Asia and Europe, and not an end in itself. For this to be achieved, face-to-face meetings of practitioners, seminars and debates between policy makers and other offline collaborations will help to better mutual understanding between Asia and Europe.