IFA: Overview

02.02.10
Central Asia’s giant and Germany

• After a year of promotion of Kazakh culture in Germany, now it’s Germany’s turn to show off its culture in Kazakhstan, with the launch this week of the Year of Germany in Kazakhstan 2010.

28.01.10
Promoting international study

• A new prize has been announced for the German university that best promotes international study and exchanges for foreigners as well as its own students and staff.

26.01.10
German Year in Vietnam

• Germany and Vietnam have launched a year of jointly-run cultural events to celebrate 35 years of diplomatic relations between the two countries.

21.01.10
Design as poetry of the functional

• In a year marking 90 years since the inception of the Bauhaus movement, an international competition is promoting a rebirth of poetic yet functional design.

19.01.10
Rekindling German-Italian relations

• German and Italian journalists and cartoonists are to take part in a two-year-long initiative aimed at renewing good cultural relations between Italy and Germany.

14.01.10
A cultural capital between two worlds

• Six thousand people will be involved in celebrations this weekend to officially launch Istanbul as the 2010 European Capital of Culture.

12.01.10
With the energy of youth in 2010

• Harnessing the imagination and initiative of the world’s youth in working to overcome worldwide problems is the aim of the United Nation’s International Year of Youth.

14.12.09
Claiming Human Rights in Africa

• An English and French website aimed at helping Africans to pursue cases of human rights abuse has been given a facelift.

10.12.09
Demonstrating China’s soft power

• Chinese cultural experts from 87 countries will be discussing China’s cultural influence around the world at the 4th Confucius Institute Conference in Beijing this month.

01.12.09
Investigative journalism in the Balkans

• A Croatian journalist has won a prize for journalistic excellence; a prize aimed at supporting in-depth reporting work and better journalism in the Balkan states.

24.11.09
Film prize for intercultural dialogue

• Fourteen intercultural encounters on film, one special prize: the Institut für Auslandsbeziehungen has announced a new film prize to be awarded at a Berlin independent film festival.

17.11.09
A space for dialogue in Gaza

• The Goethe Institute has opened a meeting room for reading, German language courses and intercultural dialogue in Gaza City in the Palestinian Territories.

How we love to fear downfall

• The printed page is giving way to digital media formats. Yet to call this the beginning of the end for written culture is perhaps a little hasty, says Rüdiger Wischenbart. Here, the first of a series of articles from ifa’s Culture Report, Edition III, on literature in Europe.

Turkish Soft Power

• It’s keen to enter the European Union; it’s keen to remain a bridge between Europe and the Middle East. Kaitlin MacKenzie talks to Sedat Laciner from the Ankara-based International Strategic Research Organization about Turkey’s foreign policy strategies.

Talking to enemies

• Mark C. Donfried, director and founder of the Berlin-based Institute for Cultural Diplomacy, calls for a paradigm shift in foreign policy in this interview with Global View magazine.

Culture as a ‘calling card’

• Germany’s new Foreign Minister, Guido Westerwelle, has given assurances that foreign cultural work will remain an important part of Germany’s overall foreign policy. Here is an excerpt from his first speech to German Foreign Office staff.

Two Cities, One Lasting Cultural Exchange

• Shanghai Celebration Festival in San Francisco

Thr New York Times, 06.02.10

Ancient Sphere Where Cultures Mingled

• Arts of Ancient Vietnam in San Francisco

The New York Times, 04.02.10

Artist of the week 73: Michael Rakowitz

• Relationship between the West and Iraq

The Guardian, 03.02.10

The Sour Notes of Iran’s Art Diplomacy

• Tehran Symphony Orchestra on tour across Europe

The New York Times, 03.02.10

English drilling kills the fun

• Foreign language instruction should help building bridges

Global Times, 03.02.10

Armenia: 2009’s best articles covering women’s achievements to receive British Council awards

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PanArmenian, 01.02.10

Parlez-Vous Francais?

• Exercising Cultural Diplomacy in the year of Russia in France

Russia Profile, 01.02.10

Jordan International Biennial for Children’s Art launched

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The Jordan Times, 01.02.10

Korea, Spain on meaningful date

• A Forum to strengthen bilateral ties

media.daum.net, 01.02.10

The Republic of Korea in the running to host IIFA Awards 2010

• International Indian Film Festival

Glamsham.com, 28.01.10

Korea keen to host IIFA Weekend & Awards 2010

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Business of Cinema.com, 28.01.10

Confucius Institute brings everything Chinese to Edmonton

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canada.com, 28.01.10

China and US Soft Power Play: Internet, Games, and Media

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ChinaStakes, 27.01.10

Coming to US in 2011: A 'Festival of India'

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rediff.com, 27.01.10

Banner Year For 'Brand America'

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Forbes.com, 27.01.10

China’s First Shamanism Culture Teaching and Research Institution Founded

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Changchun China, 27.01.10

Cultural Exchange

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Nouse.co.uk, 26.01.10

Art can help urbanization, speakers say

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The Daily Free Press, 26.01.10

"Internet freedom" and "smart power" diplomacy

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People's Daily Online, 25.01.10

Chinese literature heads overseas

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sina English, 25.01.10

China film festival launched in Ethiopia

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Ethiopian Review, 25.01.10

At Festival in India, Books Are the Buzz

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The New York Times, 24.01.10

"Germany Year in Vietnam" 2010: Economic Cooperation in the Limelight

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VIB Forum, 23.01.10

China Spring Festival Fair 2010 inaugurated in Bangladesh

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People's Daily Online, 23.01.10

Delegates to Azerbaijan-Russia cultural forum meet president, first lady

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News.Az, 23.01.10

In Europe, the Arts Ask for Alms

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The New York Times, 21.01.10

Poland - Statement explaining rationale behind the closure of the Polish Institute in Sofia

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ISRIA, 20.01.10

The Soft Power Solution in Iran

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The Wall Street Journal, 20.01.10

Press Review EXTRA
• Venice Biennale 2009
• Cultural Offensive USA
• Confucius the world over