This event will mark the launch of a new Demos pamphlet, in partnership with the British Council, the British Library, the British  Museum, the Natural History Museum, the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, the Royal Opera House and the Victoria and Albert Museum.

It will take place in the spectacular Raphael Gallery at the Victoria and Albert Museum.

The pamphlet argues that culture plays an important role in building and sustaining relationships between different countries – in both good times and bad. But, too often, these types of activities are under-valued, under-resourced and are not integrated into the work of the government, especially the Foreign Office and its public diplomacy partners. The report will argue that culture is more important than ever before and will set out a series of practical policy recommendations for the Foreign Office, the Department of Culture, Media and Sport, cultural institutions and others.

Cultural Diplomacy is the result of a 12 month research project which has included fieldwork in China, India, US, Norway, Ethiopia and France and intensive research into Iran to provide a comparative perspective on how different countries use culture to project their image overseas.  The report’s authors are Kirsten Bound, Rachel Briggs, John Holden and Samuel Jones of Demos.

Attendance is by invitation only. For more information please write to culturaldiplomacy@demos.co.uk.