ECP / TAD FORUM ’24 – Where culture is brewed, not empty-talked

The Transatlantic Dialogue is back! Born out of the idea of the founder of Uni.lu's Espace Cultures some 18 years ago it reaches adulthood this year, celebrating its coming of age with a Forum in May, in Esch-sur-Alzette. ROUX sat down with François Carbon, initiator & chair of the original Transatlantic Dialogue (TAD) to talk about the late-spring event.

Before talking about the conference, I would like to introduce you to our readers. You were the first strategic advisor for cultural affairs to the rector and name giver to Espace Cultures. You helmed that office for eighteen years. During that time, you also initiated TAD and became a member of the European Cultural Parliament. Can you tell us more about the timeline of all this?

Around the birth of Uni.lu, twenty years ago, I met the rector in his office and told him that the university should have an office that would establish connections between cultural institutions in Luxembourg and our university. The idea was given the green light, so I started working on these connections. The work then involved very little office work and a lot of travelling and meeting with people who work in Luxembourgish culture.

In 2006, I welcomed a European study tour delegation coordinated by Dr. Judy Rogers of the Miami University in Ohio, where I met some truly remarkable people. We have agreed to do something together; something related to culture.

In two years' time, in 2008, the first TAD was put together. We started small: there were 40 people from the US and 40 from Europe. Then we grew. Events took place triennially: the 2011 TAD had 170 participants from twelve networks, 30% of which were students, the rest were high profile academic and cultural personnel, etc.

In 2014 there were 362 participants. In 2017 there were 620 participants from 32 networks; the guests included ambassadors, public officials, and government representatives. Then, unfortunately COVID hit, and I decided to retire – both from the university and from TAD.

But now you're back! What should we know about this year's event?

We have managed to pick up the threads where we had left off. We have received 35 proposals for presentations. We will have numerous plenary and breakout sessions with international speakers presenting and doing workshops in two days and an openair concert! Once again, half of the participants are from the US, the other half from Europe. The event is free – one only must register* on our website and commit to showing up!

What is TAD about?

First and foremost, TAD is for students. Secondly, the events are interactive in the strongest sense of the word: the presentations and the workshops are not simply about listening to talks. The events include interactive methodologies touching brain and human emotions; TAD is about cultural dialogue, but cultural dialogue is not talking about culture – it is doing and experiencing the essence culture together. So, that is what we do. On the conference events, we create culture from scratch, together, thus making an inclusive and intercultural lifelong learning process happen.

What, Where, and When?

ECP / TAD FORUM ’24

Where: Esch-sur-Alzette, Bâtiment 4
When: 30–31 May 2024

*You can register here: https://www.transatlanticdialoguelu.com/

Full name of the event: Soft Power in Uncertain Times is about 'Building Bridges for Culture, Diplomacy, Peace, Trust, & Compassionate Leadership in an ongoing Changing World'

European Cultural Parliament: http://www.kulturparlament.com/

Roux Magazine

Roux Magazine is made by students at the University of Luxembourg. We love their work, so we decided to team up with them and bring some of their articles to our audience as well. You can find all of their issues on Issuu.