The Philippine Embassy in Doha marked a milestone in the field of cultural diplomacy with yesterday’s official opening of Sentro Rizal - a learning centre for Philippine arts and culture which is the second to be opened in the MENA region. [...] Hundreds of students from two Philippine schools in Qatar are set to benefit from the newly opened centre.

This year, Ashkenaz Festival presented a new program called The Israeli-Iranian Musical Initiative [...] The ensemble of Iranian and Israeli musicians have brought together traditional music, as well as jazz and western classical instruments, in an attempt to explore a dialogue between Israeli folk and traditional Persian music.

Two secondary teacher education students at the University of Delaware recently studied and taught in Eastern Europe in separate programs that each described as “a fantastic opportunity.” [...] Being immersed in another country and another culture was a valuable experience in itself, Fligor said, but she also gained new perspectives on teaching methods and education systems.

Recently concluded first BRICS film festival  which was held in New Delhi in the run up the to the BRICS summit to be held in Goa next month, has left a very positive impact amongst the film critique and film lovers’ community. [...] it might open up for forging the long-term alliances to enhance mutual cooperation amongst the participating nations in the field of films, art, and culture.

The 2016 Sino-Thai Culture and Tourism Friendship Caravan was co-organized by the China International Culture Association and Thailand Tourism Bureau, in order to promote “Belt and Road” Initiative-guided cultural construction, and give a boost to cultural exchange and cooperation between China and Thailand.

UCSI University Sarawak Campus (UCSI) will be hosting ‘Food Diversity Voyage Kuching 2016’ in collaboration with Global Incubation x Fostering Talents (GiFT) for a group of 19 students from Toyo University Japan starting today. Initiated by GiFT, the one-week programme aims to provide a platform for Japanese youths to explore the land of Borneo and exchange culture with Malaysian youths.

The embassy tours will take place this weekend on a first-come, first-served basis and are part of Heritage Open Days, England’s annual festival of history, which will see thousands of places open their doors. [...] As well as the embassy tours, the trust has launched Europe and Us in 99 Objects and on 17-18 September will hold a weekend of events at Mount Stewart [...] exploring the history and politics of British diplomacy. 

Globalisation may not be as old as the hills but it may be as old as Newgrange. Wholesale cultural exchange has been going on for millennia. Peter Frankopan’s new book, The Silk Roads, makes this point as it reframes our history in the context of dynamic interchange between East and West.