Synchronized Cultural Events: a Big Challenge to Promote Your Country's Culture

  

One of the latest trends in the social and cultural life of big cities is the organization of what I call synchronized events, such as the Night of the Museums, the Night of Cultural Institutes and so forth. Basically, several cultural institutions organize simultaneous events for an entire day or night. Personally, I am a big fan of such manifestations, because not only does it keep you rapidly up to date with what happens in your city's cultural life, but it also offers a wide range of shows, workshops, exhibitions, and so much more, to choose from, so that in theory it would be impossible not to find something that you like. 

     

   This evening I attended the Night of Cultural Institutes, which took place in Bucharest. And, as much as I was eager to attend this event, there was definitely some room for improvement. Nevertheless, I realized what a big challenge it is to organize an attractive cultural event, in a situation where fragmentation is a big problem. Tonight, the Cultural Institutes of Great Britain, Czech Republic, Austria, Turkey, Hungary, Spain, Romania, Greece, France, Belgium, Italy, Poland and Germany took part, to a bigger or smaller extent, in the event. Yes, all these Institutes exist in Bucharest, which is a landmark of a multicultural environment. Therefore, so many venues in just one night makes fragmentation unavoidable. Everyone wants to go to each place, and to spend a short amount of time everywhere. This means that it is crucial for each Institute to organize an interesting and lively event, which is able to grab the attention and involvement of the audience in a short amount of time. Nobody can afford to alternate lively sections with "chilling" ones, and this is what, in my opinion, was the big mistake of various institutions. Such events should be permanently upbeat, not just in certain moments. Of course, as a spectator, you will choose some events or sections of events instead of others, and you won't be able to attend everything. But at least you would be sure that no matter where you go and when, you would never be bored. And that would be the ideal Cultural Institute "crawl"! ;)

    So, what does it take? I would say that it is essential to take out the major weapons of your national culture, the most original traditions, lively traditional music and dance, interactive workshops of languages or arts and crafts, theatre and improvisation, and also traditional food and drinks. Whatever is alternative, not typical of your country, or too long to be followed actively should be avoided. In these situations, we look for something that resembles a proper celebration, is interactive, is colourful, and, most of all, gives a proper insight on the cultural identity of your country. Some Institutes succeeded, some others did not - or at least in parts. But let's hope that the following years would take this interesting typology of event to its maximum potential.