“We must not retreat into our national shells”
John Whitehead, Director of British Council Germany, believes in cultural networking to overcome the crisis.
Mr. Whitehead, is Europe facing not only a financial crisis, but also a crisis of cultural identity? Shouldn’t the time have now come for culture, the time for a big idea?
Undoubtedly, cultural cooperation plays a key role, especially at times of crisis, because that is when social problems escalate and old prejudices return to the surface. We are therefore taking our duty to promote the exchange of knowledge and ideas all the more seriously – that is the only way to prevent an intellectual crisis. As a result, I do not believe the time has come for a big, overarching idea. Cultural organizations must help people to broaden their own horizons. Then they can independently find answers to social questions themselves.
What is actually the unifying element in European culture - if we leave aside the historical lines of communication for once?
Often the first step is completed by creating an environment in which personal exchange can take place. The more we engage in exchange, the easier mutual understanding and trust can grow. And ultimately, a unifying culture evolves which opens up new opportunities for everyone involved. That is shown, for example, by our experience in Northern Ireland: it is important to help people to disengage from their very “one-sided, isolated” identity; otherwise even more barriers are built that do not permit any influences from outside.
High unemployment and a lack of prospects. What can culture achieve in a climate like this?
Overcoming the crisis requires continuing investment in cultural work. Nevertheless, it is always difficult to measure and put a figure on the effects of cultural work. Cultural projects need time to bear fruit. I hope that politics remains convinced of the importance of our work.
Héctor Abad, the Colombian writer, is afraid Europe has lost the enthusiasm of its early years. He believes that this contains the danger of populists leading the EU back to nationalistic nightmares. Is that a typical view “from outside”?
That is quite possible. It is for precisely that reason that cultural networking in Europe is so crucial. We must not retreat into our national shells, but must promote and cultivate exchange. Quite apart from the European crisis, globalization has also caused a social, political transformation in many countries.
Do you have a concept of Europe as a cultural place of yearning?
The fascinating thing about Europe is that there are so many different voices, opinions and manifestations of culture. It is a place of change, of diversity and of discourse. Nevertheless, some within the community wonder whether and how we should continue this discourse. The situation remains exciting and I eagerly look forward to the future.
How do you see the mood in the UK? And how do you respond to it in your programming for Germany?
Of course, there are a number of sensitivities with regard to the EU, among other things, prompted and strengthened by the euro crisis, but also because the EU finds itself at a crossroads. It is in the process of examining how it should move forward. Each of the European cultural institutes represents its own national interests. At the same time we all know that Europe is a continent with a common history and common values. As one of the founding members of EUNIC, the association of European institutes for culture, we support the diversity of European culture. And finally, we also build bridges with the aid of language.
JOHN WHITEHEAD is Director of British Council Germany in Berlin. Following British Council postings in the UK, Latin America, North Africa, Europe and latterly in Thailand, John Whitehead moved to the German capital in 2010. www.britishcouncil.de
