Institute for International Relations

Culturelink, the Network of Networks for Research and Cooperation in Cultural Development, was established by UNESCO and the Council of Europe in 1989, in Paris, at the Consultation of Representatives of Regional and Sub-regional Networks for Cultural Development Research and Cooperation.

The Institute for International Relations (IMO) has been the focal point of the Network since its inception. The Department for Culture and Communication coordinates the Network and all its activities.

Culturelink aims to strengthen the communication between networks, institutions and professionals in the field of culture, encouraging the exchange of cultural information, ideas and knowledge, and furthering the development of research cooperation. The Network serves as a collaboration platform for cultural researchers, policy makers and practitioners and through its Internet portal it collects, processes and disseminates information on new concepts, research challenges, trends, experiences and practice in the fields of cultural life and policies and intercultural communication.

The main focus of its research is on the new context of culture in networked society, including issues of cultural identity, cultural diversity, intercultural dialogue and digital culture, creative and knowledge industries, as well as cultural and media transitions in the context of democratic changes and globalisation processes.

The Culturelink Network gathers some 1000 networks and institutions from around 100 countries in all parts of the world which deal with and are interested in cultural development, cultural policies and cooperation.

Culturelink has proved to be an efficient and unique mechanism in this field and with its extensive geographic coverage has become the widest-ranging project of the World Decade for Cultural Development, that has continued its functioning after the termination of the Decade.
The Culturelink Network home page is located at www.culturelink.org .