CULTURAL DIPLOMACY OF SMALL COUNTRIES

Pilot Study by the ITI CENTRE OF MONTENEGRO in association with Jordan, Ecuador, Georgia, Ghana and Macedonia.

The concept of cultural diplomacy is not easy to define. Especially today, in the era of globalism, internet communication and inter-national connection, the cultural diplomacy is changing and becoming much more diverse and complex. The changes that moved bipolar-world of Cold War into current multi-polar world shifted cultural diplomacy from “communication between elites” toward “many-to-many approach” and created some additional space for small countries to understand this concept less as “government business” and more in a form of engagement around values and ideas.

The project “Cultural Diplomacy of Small Countries” aims to strengthen the cultural diplomacy through the use of available internationally developed instruments in order to ensure better cultural sustainability, individuality and author creativity.

Whilst the programme is contemplated for a number of small countries from different regions of the world, in the pilot stage, carried out in Montenegro, this project will be promoted through the series of online discussions which will include a number of cultural workers, scholars and artists from different countries in a joint activity of finding the best solutions for cultural communication and cooperation for small countgries.

The online discussions will be gathered around three selected and mostly used instruments of cultural diplomacy as a starting point:

International theatre co-productions

Internationally promoted exhibitions

International and transnational festivals

It is important to point out that in this context the term “small country” does not necessarily refer simply to its geographical size, since some small states such as Vatican City, Andorra and Monaco, have very developed cultural diplomacy. Therefore, the term is rather envisaged for countries that are ready to practice different models of international communication and cooperation and also for countries interested in strengthening their own tools for an enhanced development of their cultural soft power.

Montenegro aims to start the project in August 2021. Others partner countries will join subsequently.

__________________________________________________________________________________________

ADRIATIC-IONIAN FESTIVAL OF THEATRE ON INTANGIBLE HERITAGE

“Adriatic-Ionian Festival of Theater on intangible heritage” was a dense online program of shows, screenings and live meetings on Youtube that concluded the “ADNICH – Adriatic Network of artistic production for the development and enhancement of Intangible Cultural Heritage” project. The international project, funded under the European cross-border program Interreg IPA CBC Italy-Albania-Montenegro, was led by the Royal Theater Zetski Dom of Cetinje in Montenegro, involving Qendra Event and the University of the Arts of Tirana in Albania, the International Theater Institute – Italy and the Department of History, Society and Human Studies of the University of Salento. The Festival was conceived as a moment of comparison and exchange of the theatrical and artistic performances matured during the project. However, due to the current situation due to Covid19, the Festival has changed its skin by moving live online on the Youtube channel: Adriatic-Ionian Festival Adnich project.

1st March 10h30
ADNICH FESTIVAL OVERTURE
Speakers:
Dott. Crescenzo Antonio Marino, MA Managing Authority responsible –
Regione Puglia – Interreg IPA CBC Italy – Albania – Montenegro Programme
Lidija Dedovic, Artistic Director of RTZD
Ilija Subotic, Director of RTZD
Fabio Tolledi, president of the Italian Centre of
the International Theatre Institute
Alessandro Isoni, Scientific Coordinator – University of Salento
Alert Celoaliaj, University of Arts of Tirana
Pjeter Guralumi, Qendra Event

3rd March 10h30
PRESENTATION OF THE MONTENEGRIN CENTER OF THE ITI
Speakers:
Tobias Biancone, Director General of the International
Theater Institute – ITI worldwide
Fabio Tolledi, Vice-President of ITI worldwide for Europe,
President of the Italian Centre of ITI
Natasa Kraljevic, Montenegrin centre of ITI President
Jelena Markovic, Montenegrin center of ITI member

5th March 19h00
IL CANTICO DEI CANTICI PER LINGUA MADRE
Production: ITI Italia -Astràgali Teatro – Ensamble Montesardo

6th March 19h00
MATER MEDEA
Production: ITI Italia

7th March 19h00
FIMMENE!
Production: ITI Italia – Astràgali Teatro

8th March 10h30
SOCIAL AND CULTURAL RELATIONS ACROSS THE ADRIATIC SEA
Round table organized by the University of Salento
Speakers:
Prof. Mariano Longo, Project Manager, University of Salento
Prof. Alessandro Isoni, Scientific Coordinator University of Salento.
Dr. Simone Rollo, Researcher University of Salento.
Dr. Alert Celoaliaj, Associated Professor, University of Arts
Prof. Pjeter Guralumi, Project manager, Qendra EVENT,
Dr. Edlira Celiku, Internal staff of Qendra EVENT – WPT1
Dr. Fabio Tolledi, President of the Italian Centre of the International Theatre Institute

12th March 19h00
THEATRE PLAY “SAILOR`S REBELLION”
directed by Diego De Brea
Inspired by “Sailors from Kotor”
Friedrich Wolf & “The fourth Corner” Radolsav Rotkovic
Production: Royal Theatre Zetski Dom

13th March 19h00
“TIHI DOM”: PREMIERE OF THE DOCUMENTARY,
directed by 3rd year students at the Cetinje Academy of Arts
Production: Royal Theatre Zetski Dom

14th March 15h00
THEATRE PLAY “SON”
directed by Mirko Radonjic
Text: Mirjana Medojevic
Production: Royal Theatre Zetski dom

19th March 19h00
“SOUNDS AND VERSES” ART FUSION
Production: University of Arts of Tirana & Qendra Event

20th March 19h00
“21001 DAYS” SHORT MOVIE
Production: Qendra event

21st March 19h00
“BLOOD HANDCUFFS” TRIPTYCH
Production: University of Arts of Tirana

29th March 16h00
ADNICH CLOSING CONFERENCE
Natasa Kraljevic ( RTZD) & Angelo Villani
Roberta Quarta ( ITI Italy)
Fabio Tolledi ( ITI Italy)
Mariano Longo ( University of Salento)
Alessando Isoni ( University of Salento)
Alert Celoaliaj ( University of Arts of Tirana)
Pjeter Guralumi (Qendra Event)

https://youtu.be/DSPHSPcvfDU

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nR4q02sIETY

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nR4q02sIETY

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5vB1bh_YwZ4&t=2557s

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6A-Ter4IL0A

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-UN3YJfnVu8