Culture plays important role in bridging gap among nations
Monday, February 18, 2008
THE Culture Department at the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sports has said that cultural preservation is important in bridging the gap to understand the differences in the level of development, political and economic systems, history, lifestyle and religion among different nations.
With the Ministry packing in its schedule for the upcoming National Day celebrations with cultural performances and activities, one of the consistent endeavours of the Ministry is to preserve the traditional Brunei performing arts.
A spokesperson from the Culture Section said: "We can benefit greatly through the involvement of culture, or to be more precise the manifestation of cross-cultural communications, as a means of bridging the gap among different nations."
When speaking of the initiatives, the Ministry is committed to working closely with the other Asean member countries, under the Asean-COCI flagship, all of which are designed to enhance the understanding of culture in terms of individualism as well as the similarities that often arise. "Cultural events have often been just random, one-time events, where cultural understanding was seen on a surface level and hardly went beyond that level. This has led to a proposal to set-up an experts' Task Force designed to handle the management of enhancing cross-cultural relations among Apec member countries," said the spokesperson.
One of the successful programmes under the Asean-COCI is the Asean-COCI People to People Exchange programme in particular, where each person or participant experiences first hand the host country's culture and lifestyle.
"The agenda of giving priority to activities that promote educational exchanges among youth in the arts, strengthening networks among professionals and to promote dialogue on cultural policy are worthwhile investments in the preservation of cultural heritage," she said. "They help to give an open-minded view on how to perceive things and instill respect for our own, as well as other cultures," she added.
The Brunei Times
With the Ministry packing in its schedule for the upcoming National Day celebrations with cultural performances and activities, one of the consistent endeavours of the Ministry is to preserve the traditional Brunei performing arts.
A spokesperson from the Culture Section said: "We can benefit greatly through the involvement of culture, or to be more precise the manifestation of cross-cultural communications, as a means of bridging the gap among different nations."
When speaking of the initiatives, the Ministry is committed to working closely with the other Asean member countries, under the Asean-COCI flagship, all of which are designed to enhance the understanding of culture in terms of individualism as well as the similarities that often arise. "Cultural events have often been just random, one-time events, where cultural understanding was seen on a surface level and hardly went beyond that level. This has led to a proposal to set-up an experts' Task Force designed to handle the management of enhancing cross-cultural relations among Apec member countries," said the spokesperson.
One of the successful programmes under the Asean-COCI is the Asean-COCI People to People Exchange programme in particular, where each person or participant experiences first hand the host country's culture and lifestyle.
"The agenda of giving priority to activities that promote educational exchanges among youth in the arts, strengthening networks among professionals and to promote dialogue on cultural policy are worthwhile investments in the preservation of cultural heritage," she said. "They help to give an open-minded view on how to perceive things and instill respect for our own, as well as other cultures," she added.
The Brunei Times
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