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Luxembourg - Culture

Culture.

After centuries of foreign rule, it should come as no surprise that Luxembourg's population is composed of about 30% foreigners - the highest ratio of any EU country. Today's invading hordes, however, cross the borders quietly, caps in hand, nurturing sweet dreams of employment opportunities rather than pillage and plunder. Luxembourg's per capita GDP was the world's highest in 1997, its standard of living consistently rates among the best and its workforce boasts a remarkably low unemployment rate. Not bad for a country with a population about 30 times less than that of Los Angeles.

Squashed in between two major historical world powers (and having been conquered at times by both of them), Luxembourg takes a good deal of its identity from its neighbours' contributions. This shows itself both in the generally amicable relationship between the countries and their citizens and in their shared linguistic traits. Multilingualism is universal among Luxembourgers, and both the German and French languages are used in the press, in politics and in daily life. French is most common in government and schools, though Luxembourgish is the language you'll hear most frequently on the street. English is widely understood in tourist areas.

Luxembourg's cuisine is similar to that of Belgium's Wallonia region - plenty of pork, fish and game - but also features some heavy German influence in local specialties like liver dumplings with sauerkraut. Its beer (like that of neighbouring Belgium) is not too shabby; neither are the Moselle Valley's fruity white wines.

Few Luxembourg natives are internationally famous in the arts, which probably explains why Edward Steichen, a pioneer in American photography, is held in such high regard in his homeland. While the capital has a few good museums and galleries, few of the native artists seem to exhibit beyond the country's border. Expressionist painter Joseph Kutter brought modern art to Luxembourg. Roger Mandersheid is a respected contemporary writer who often publishes in Luxembourgish.

‘Cultural Tourism: the Challenge of European Integration’

A conference entitled ‘Cultural Tourism: the Challenge of European Integration’ is scheduled for the 21st and 22nd of April 2005 at the Abbaye de Neumünster in Luxembourg in the frame of the Luxembourg Presidency of the E.U.
It will form a part of the Festival of Cultural Routes which will take place in Luxembourg between the 19th and the 24th of April 2005 and has the financial support of the Luxembourg Government. Attendance is expected to exceed 200 delegates, drawn from the member countries of the European Union and the Council of Europe.

The conference will address a range of issues within the concept of integration, ranging from the assimilation of the new EU countries, through the recognition of contributions to European culture made by minority groups, to reconciliation of historic differences between regions and countries. The detailed programme will be available early in 2005.

But reconciliation and understanding are not the only purposes of the conference.

Tourism is a major element in the economies of most European countries and, whilst it undoubtedly contributes significantly to a nation’s wealth, it may also damage the most valuable sites, bring problems of congestion and trivialisation of cultures. As an aid to achieving a responsible but viable tourism industry, the conference will concentrate on examples of good practice in development, drawing on the experiences of countries within the EU and those which are expected to join within the next ten years.

Speakers ranging from heads of state to project managers are being invited to address the conference and to participate in round-table discussions. It is intended that the final plenary session will produce a definitive statement on cultural tourism which, will inform and advise those who wish to promote a sustainable tourism economy.

The Abbaye de Neumünster, which was constructed in the 17th and 18th centuries, has been carefully restored by the Luxembourg Government and now houses the newly established Centre Culturel de Rencontre.

In recognition of its significance, UNESCO has awarded the Abbaye World Heritage Site status and, as such, it offers a most appropriate setting for the conference.

The European Institute for Cultural Routes has been given the task of organising the conference as one of the key events to mark the Luxembourg Presidency of the European Union in the first half of 2005.

Michel Thomas-Penette, the Director of the Institute, said: ‘I am delighted that the Luxembourg Government has asked the Institute to undertake the task of co-ordinating this prestigious event which, I hope, will contribute to a wider understanding of the importance of the richness and variety of European culture.’


Conditions of participation
If you want to know more of the various stages of the preparation and content of this event please send a mail or a letter to the project manager:

Geoff Wolstencroft
Insight Consultancy
Cober View
Old Hill
St Johns
Helston
Cornwall
TR13 8HT
United Kingdom

+44 (0)1326 565766
+44 (0)7747 886037 (Mobile)
insight@wolstencroft.org.uk
 

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