Inclusion, active citizenship, arts and culture

Round table discussion, 1 March 2011
New Danish Youth Council, Copenhagen

Anwar Akhtar from the Samosa, a UK NGO promoting human rights and equality

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In Denmark, as in the UK, the question of active citizen participation and inclusion of people with immigrant and refugee background plays an important part in the public debate. In both countries arts and culture must contribute constructively to ensuring an inclusive society for all, regardless of ethnicity, religion and cultural background.

The New Danish Youth Council and the British Council organised an open meeting discussion to share Danish and British experience in this area and to look for solutions how the creative and cultural sector can help to build social cohesion. Two inspirational speakers – one from the UK and one from Denmark - set up the context and audience members provided valuable input into the debate.

Anwar Akhtar, the Director of the Samosa, a UK NGO promoting human rights and equality, shared his observations from setting up RichMix, a national arts and media center in East London. RichMix is a place where members of diverse communities come together to experience and make world class art and feel that it is a place where they belong.

Ali Sufi, the Vice President of the New Danish Youth Council, an initiative by and for young people from different cultural background set up to promote active citizenship, spoke of the importance of putting inclusion and diversity on the agenda across the Danish society – not only in the public sphere but also in the private sector.

This event has been organised in partnership with the New Danish Youth Council.