Amsterdam welcomes European cultural summit

On 18 and 19 June, Amsterdam will host the annual General Assembly of EUNIC, the European network of national cultural institutes and ministries. The meeting, hosted by DutchCulture, will take place at the H’ART Museum. Over the course of two days, directors, policymakers, and representatives from 30 European countries will gather to shape a shared vision for international cultural cooperation. A key moment during this edition is the appointment of DutchCulture director Kirsten van den Hul as the new President of EUNIC.

At a time of rising global tensions and growing pressure on international collaboration, EUNIC convenes in Amsterdam to underscore the role of culture as a bridge builder. The General Assembly takes place just ahead of the NATO summit in The Hague, highlighting that alongside hard power, soft power – and thus culture – plays a vital role in international relations.

Van den Hul: “Especially in a time of growing polarisation, this gathering demonstrates how culture connects people and fosters mutual understanding. I’m honoured to take on the presidency of EUNIC for the coming year.”

EUNIC (European Union National Institutes for Culture) represents 38 members and is active in more than 140 cultural clusters worldwide. The organisation is a strategic partner of the European Union in embedding culture within European foreign policy and is committed to knowledge exchange, partnerships, and reciprocity in cultural cooperation as a means of addressing global challenges.

The programme in Amsterdam includes a panel on resilience and inclusion in international cultural cooperation, with contributions from the City of Amsterdam, the Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and various European institutions, as well as opportunities to engage with local cultural organisations. Delegates are also invited to visit Domo – Home for International Cultural Collaboration in Amsterdam, a joint initiative by DutchCulture, European Cultural Foundation, Prince Claus Fund and Cultural Emergency Response.