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Edinburgh hosts cultural summit Edinburgh hosts cultural summit
(about 9 hours later)
Culture ministers and leading commentators from 40 countries are gathering in Edinburgh for a major cultural summit.Culture ministers and leading commentators from 40 countries are gathering in Edinburgh for a major cultural summit.
They will take their seats in the Scottish Parliament for two days of debate and discussion.They will take their seats in the Scottish Parliament for two days of debate and discussion.
The summit is taking place with Edinburgh's famous festival season in full swing.The summit is taking place with Edinburgh's famous festival season in full swing.
Scotland's culture secretary Fiona Hyslop and UK minister Ed Vaizey will welcome the ministers to the city.Scotland's culture secretary Fiona Hyslop and UK minister Ed Vaizey will welcome the ministers to the city.
The opening ceremony will feature Scotland's Makar Liz Lochhead reading from Robert Burns's "A Man's A Man For A' That".The opening ceremony will feature Scotland's Makar Liz Lochhead reading from Robert Burns's "A Man's A Man For A' That".
There will also be a performance by the National Youth Choir of Scotland.There will also be a performance by the National Youth Choir of Scotland.
The representatives will then get down to business with a series of discussions about universal themes such as raising and maintaining public and private funding as well as skills training for the creative industries.The representatives will then get down to business with a series of discussions about universal themes such as raising and maintaining public and private funding as well as skills training for the creative industries.
The inaugural Edinburgh International Culture Summit is a collaboration between the Scottish government, the UK government, the Edinburgh International Festival and the British Council.The inaugural Edinburgh International Culture Summit is a collaboration between the Scottish government, the UK government, the Edinburgh International Festival and the British Council.
Some of the world's major economic powerhouses - including Brazil, Japan, Russia and the USA - are expected at the two-day Summit.
They will be joined by delegates from developing nations, including Malawi, Bangladesh, Tanzania and Zambia.
Countries with current or recent experiences of conflict - including Iraq and Northern Ireland - will take part in debates on how culture can act as a bridge between divided communities and assist in reconciliation.
Delegations are also expected from the European Commission, Croatia, Cyprus, Estonia, Germany, Guernsey, Ireland, Jersey, Jordan, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nigeria, Pakistan, Poland, Romania, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, Slovenia, South Africa, Uganda and Wales.
Among the speakers on the first day will be EU culture commissioner Androulla Vassiliou, who will discuss the role of the arts in fostering international dialogue between cultures and nations.Among the speakers on the first day will be EU culture commissioner Androulla Vassiliou, who will discuss the role of the arts in fostering international dialogue between cultures and nations.
The theme will be developed further by Amir Nizar Zuabi, one of the leading theatre directors in the Middle East, and Haris Pasovic, artistic leader of the East West Centre in Sarajevo, who continued to produce plays during the bloody and long-running siege of the city in the 1990s.The theme will be developed further by Amir Nizar Zuabi, one of the leading theatre directors in the Middle East, and Haris Pasovic, artistic leader of the East West Centre in Sarajevo, who continued to produce plays during the bloody and long-running siege of the city in the 1990s.
On Tuesday, one of the themes will be sustaining private and public support for culture.On Tuesday, one of the themes will be sustaining private and public support for culture.
Harold Mitchell, media mogul and philanthropist, will discuss his involvement in music education in schools in East Timor, since the island state's independence in 2002.Harold Mitchell, media mogul and philanthropist, will discuss his involvement in music education in schools in East Timor, since the island state's independence in 2002.
Ian Livingstone, co-founder of wargames company Games Workshop, will take part in a debate on the central role of technological skills in the creative industries alongside other major figures such as Richard Harper, principal researcher at Microsoft Research.Ian Livingstone, co-founder of wargames company Games Workshop, will take part in a debate on the central role of technological skills in the creative industries alongside other major figures such as Richard Harper, principal researcher at Microsoft Research.
Scotland's Culture Secretary Fiona Hyslop said: "The calibre and status of these internationally-renowned speakers augurs well for the quality of the rich debate I hope they will stimulate in the Scottish Parliament building during the summit.Scotland's Culture Secretary Fiona Hyslop said: "The calibre and status of these internationally-renowned speakers augurs well for the quality of the rich debate I hope they will stimulate in the Scottish Parliament building during the summit.
"In the Year of Creative Scotland, the summit is a unique opportunity for culture ministers and other experts from around the world to gather and discuss the power, profile and positive impact of the arts, culture and creative industries."In the Year of Creative Scotland, the summit is a unique opportunity for culture ministers and other experts from around the world to gather and discuss the power, profile and positive impact of the arts, culture and creative industries.
"The summit will also promote Scotland as a trusted nation to collaborate with culturally, encouraging tourism and developing our creative sector.""The summit will also promote Scotland as a trusted nation to collaborate with culturally, encouraging tourism and developing our creative sector."
Jonathan Mills, director of the Edinburgh International Festival, said: "In bringing together such a distinguished and varied line up of leading thinkers and operators across the areas of culture, technology, politics and industry we are reaffirming the key role that culture plays in the success of nations today."Jonathan Mills, director of the Edinburgh International Festival, said: "In bringing together such a distinguished and varied line up of leading thinkers and operators across the areas of culture, technology, politics and industry we are reaffirming the key role that culture plays in the success of nations today."