Conflict can be defined as a strong or even violent response to a difference in needs or values. Because culture shapes all human values, behaviours and desires, culture and conflict are inextricably linked. Culture is deeply implicated both in the substance of conflicts and in the way we deal with conflicts in our societies. Actions such as the destruction of cultural heritage, burning of books and imprisonment of poets are part of larger conflicts of values. Such actions clearly demonstrate the power of the arts. They also point to the role of the arts as an effective tool for conflict resolution. Throughout history, creative men and women have helped to transform conflict into peace through their cultural practices and actions.
Culture and conflict resolution
By enabling shared experience and cross-cultural understanding at deep psychological levels – through stories, metaphors and images – cultural works and practices create space for debate and rethinking, for the refashioning of cultural dogmas. Art productions, publication of books and other cultural acts can support and uphold a threatened community and open doors for better understanding by other peoples. 2004 Prince Claus laureate Mahmoud Darwish transforms his personal experience of the harsh realities of the Palestinian situation into poems of exile, loss, love and struggle that bring comfort and greater understanding to millions of people across the world.
Exposure
Cultural practices can bring injustice to light, reveal underlying issues in a conflict and break down barriers to understanding and dialogue. Stereotypes are confronted and misunderstandings unravelled when musicians from Palestine and Israel work together and give public concerts. Journals, art centres and the electronic media offer spaces for exchange of ideas, enabling minority voices to reach a larger audience. Cartoonists and filmmakers raise global awareness of under-reported or little-understood conflicts like South African cartoonist and 2005 Principal Prince Claus laureate Jonathan Shapiro alias Zapiro does for the problems concerning Aids in South Africa.
Inspiration
Cultural expression can keep the human spirit from breaking and inspire people to withstand terrible circumstances. Video artist Lida Abdul highlights the sadness and senselessness of destruction and women’s role in reconstructing life in Afghanistan. Despite threats of violence and imprisonment, Amakhosi Theatre performs plays that support human-rights activists and encourage democratic behaviour in Zimbabwe.
Documentation and commemoration
Through culture, people’s experiences of conflict can be documented for younger generations, contributing to the hope of preventing future conflict. Acknowledging “the duty of the African writer to remember” and breaking the silence on human-rights violations on the continent, African writers and filmmakers are working to preserve memories of the Rwandan genocide to assist in healing people, preventing the recurrence of violence, and contributing to reconciliation. In Argentina, Memoria Abierta records testimonies of past horrors and sustains debate on the ever-present dangers of dictatorship.
Regeneration
In post-conflict situations, banned, forbidden or destroyed cultural practices can be re-introduced and encouraged. Cultural activities are a source of healing for people traumatised by violent conflict. Regenerating textile or musical traditions can assist people living in refugee camps to regain their dignity and build new lives.
Conflict and development
Violent conflict undermines and threatens development. By challenging the dangerous and fearful conditions in which they live, artists create possibilities for change and development in the wider social context. They can reduce and transform conflict by opening up perceptions, demonstrating alternative beliefs, creating bridges within communities and between nations, enabling debate and contributing to cross-cultural understanding. Who are the artists in Asia, Africa, the Middle East, Caribbean and Latin America dealing with conflict in an outstanding and positive way? Which cultural practices are helping to build a culture of peace and supporting positive development? What can the world learn from them?
Within this broad framework, the Prince Claus Fund is looking at Culture and Conflict as a field of special interest. The Fund through its Awards programme, seeks to identify and celebrate artists, cultural groups and organisations in Asia, Africa, Latin America and the Caribbean, who are doing outstanding work to expose, analyse, reduce and resolve conflicts through their innovative cultural actions.
White House by Lida Abdul (Afghanistan) The work of 2006 laureate Lida Abdul reflects the 2007 theme of Culture & Conflict
read more about the book launch and the publication
Since 1997 the Prince Claus Awards are presented annually to artists, thinkers and cultural organisations in Africa, Asia, Latin America and the Caribbean.
