AUDIOVISUAL AUTHORITIES, EXPERTS AND PROFESSIONALS FROM AROUND THE WORLD TO STUDY WAYS TO FOSTER CULTURAL DIVERSITY IN THE CONTEXT OF GLOBAL OPERATOR ACTIVITY

THE MEETING, TO BE HELD AT BARCELONA FORUM 2004, WILL DISCUSS RENEWING THE POLICIES OF CULTURAL EXCEPTION


Representatives from the 98 audiovisual authorities in the world, together with operators, producers and experts will meet at Barcelona Forum 2004 to discuss the role that regulators can play in fostering cultural diversity. The new concept of cultural diversity is challenged by the activity of global operators and cultural industries.

The meeting, to be held on 28 and 29 May, is promoted by the Catalonia Broadcasting Council (CAC), the radio and television regulatory authority in Catalonia. The meeting will be held at Barcelona Forum 2004 and titled “Global Audiovisual Communication, Cultural Diversity and Regulation”.

The meeting of regulators and experts from the audiovisual sector is aimed at offering a plural view that represents the different countries in the debate on cultural diversity. The proposals on the agenda include a Unesco initiative that follows through on the organisation’s 2001 Universal Declaration on Cultural Diversity and the Plan of Action to apply it. The plan of action supports each country having its own discourse and promotes the exchange and coexistence of cultural products.

The meeting will also discuss renewing the policies involved with the so called ‘cultural exception’, a established during the previous World Trade Organization rounf of negotiations (1994) which represented the face off between Europe on the US in respect of cultural products and services.

The goal of the organisers is to study the role that audiovisual authorities can play in defending cultural diversity. Audiovisual authorities are organisations independent from governments and broadcasters, created in the wake of the deregulation of television markets to ensure a neutral organisation able to regulate the sector and guarantee pluralism.

Speakers at the meeting will include representatives from the audiovisual authorities of Belgium, Catalonia, Chile, China, France, Israel, Jamaica, Mali, Mozambique and the United Kingdom, as well as broadcasters including the BBC, Tele-5 and the Catalan Radio and Television Corporation, heads of Unesco and the Motion Pictures Association of America (MPAA), experts and university professors. Another speaker will be the former French Minister for Culture and member of the National Assembly, Jack Lang.


The Unesco Federico Fellini Medal

Within the framework of the meeting, the Federico Fellini Medal will be awarded on 29 May. This is a prize Unesco concedes each year to directors, actors and other people involved in films from around the world in recognition of their contribution to the respect for and dissemination and recognition of cultural diversity.

Previous winners include Samira Makhmalbaf (Iran, 2000), Gerard Depardieu (France, 2001), Im-Kwon Taek (South Korea, 2002) and Clint Eastwood (US, 2003).

The Barcelona Forum, to be held from 9 May to 26 September 2004, is an international meeting conceived as a way for citizens from around the world to come together and reflect on three basic areas: cultural diversity, sustainable development and the culture of peace. The Forum is expected to attract five million visitors and includes exhibitions, shows and 49 sector conferences.