UK Forum on Cultural Diplomacy
“Strengthening Democracy, Women’s Leadership, Impactful Development and Security”
Forum Overview
Over the past decade, the world has confronted a range of significant challenges. Geopolitical tensions continue to shape international relations, while environmental changes and social issues including inequality, migration, public health concerns, and community cohesion present ongoing strains for societies.
Communities are navigating economic transitions, political debates, and evolving social norms, with questions of inclusion, civic engagement, and public trust highlighting the importance of dialogue and cooperation. Contemporaneously, societies are undergoing profound technological, economic, and cultural transformations. At the same time, advances in artificial intelligence, digital infrastructures and the cryptocurrency markets, are redefining labour, communication, and governance. While these innovations offer prospects for human advancement, they also compel reflection on information integrity, data sovereignty, and the preservation of individual and collective autonomy.
In this context, the UK Forum on Cultural Diplomacy has been founded to examine how cultural diplomacy can contribute to addressing these multifaceted challenges through dialogue, compromise, and the mitigation of tensions, thereby promoting democracy, development, and security. The Forum will address a broad spectrum of subjects and will feature a variety of initiatives, including those focused on Africa, Central Asia, women’s empowerment, security, development and contemporary economies, all designed to complement its overarching objectives.
By fostering understanding and collaboration, the Forum seeks to generate tangible benefits for the UK and the wider Commonwealth, whilst supporting communities and international partners in navigating complex political, social, security, and economic landscapes.
The Scotland Forum »
The event will take place in the framework of “The Scotland Forum”. The Scotland Forum is an initiative aimed at enhancing Scotland’s international engagement across economic development, intercultural relations, and academic collaboration. Grounded in inter-parliamentary cooperation and supported by public-private partnerships, the initiative brings together lawmakers, academics, and business leaders to deepen ties and foster collaboration. More
Speakers & Delegates
Speakers during the forum will include leading politicians, diplomats, governmental officials, senior academics, and artists. These speakers will include individuals from the ICD Advisory Board. To learn more about the ICD Advisory Board, please click here.
Locations
Based in Westminster, London, the Forum will be hosted across a number of significant political, historic, and cultural venues throughout the city.
Participants »
Participation in the Forum is open to government and diplomatic officials, academics, artists, representatives of civil society, members of the private sector, as well as young professionals and students.
If you would like to reserve a position and participate in the forum, please click on the link below and fill out the online application form:
Participant Papers »
The Forum Committee encourages rigorous academic research and analysis on issues related to the objectives of the Forum. Accordingly, the Committee warmly invites Forum participants to submit papers for consideration, both for presentation during the Forum and for inclusion in the proposal document that will be issued following the event and distributed to governments and leaders of the international community worldwide.
