Karolina Bieniek, Director of the Art Transparent Foundation, represented the organization during the BEYOND HORIZON: Mobility, Innovation, and Sustainable Cooperation in Arts and Culture conference, held on April 10, 2025, at the Wallonia-Brussels General Delegation in Dakar, Senegal. Organized under the umbrella of the DECONFINING project, the conference aimed to present the initiative to a wider group of public and civil stakeholders while building a dynamic and sustainable network for cultural collaboration between Europe and Africa.
Karolina Bieniek reflected:
“During the global COVID-19 pandemic, we asked ourselves what would happen to artistic mobility and creative freedom. For a moment, it seemed that artistic exchange could be done online. And that’s how we began to plan. But it quickly became clear: cultural diplomacy cannot exist virtually. Nothing replaces human connection.
Conferences like Beyond Horizon in Dakar offer us, cultural managers, a unique space for both interpersonal and intercultural exchange. With the participation of Jean-Marc Pisani (EU Ambassador to Senegal), Jean-François Pakula (Wallonia-Brussels Delegate in Senegal), representatives from UNESCO and the City of Dakar, the DECONFINING consortium came together to discuss how to deepen cultural and sectoral cooperation.
Our Central European perspective sparked great interest—it offers an alternative view that challenges decades-old patterns. I was glad to present our work in international cultural partnership alongside Barna Petrányi of Pro Progressione, and to have a meaningful exchange in Polish with Dr. Stefanie Peter, Director of the Goethe-Institut Dakar, about potential collaboration with the regional EUNIC cluster.
As the international system evolves, we need new, unexpected connections—and cultural diplomacy is the ideal tool to build them. A big thank you to Sara Božanić, Vydia Tamby, and Samba Yonga for the tremendous effort they put into creating new narratives around Euro-African cooperation.”
The conference was organized by the Institute for Transmedia Design (Slovenia) in collaboration with Vydia Tamby, a Senegalese cultural and creative industries manager. The event gathered artists, cultural professionals, organizational leaders, and decision-makers from both continents, who came together to explore how to strengthen intercontinental partnerships, promote mobility, and build a more inclusive and sustainable cultural ecosystem.
Key themes included:
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Mobility and collaboration as tools for innovation
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International opportunities for African artists and creatives
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Presentations of joint artistic projects developed within DECONFINING
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The role of the 2005 UNESCO Convention in shaping cultural policy
The day began with opening remarks by representatives of the European Union, UNESCO, and local authorities. A central part of the program was the presentation of partner activities—including projects by Art Transparent Foundation (Poland), Women’s History Museum (Zambia), and Pro Progressione (Hungary). The conference concluded with panel discussions, research presentations on mobility, and informal networking sessions.
BEYOND HORIZON was a significant step toward building lasting, transcontinental cultural relationships. We thank all participants and partners for their presence, engagement, and inspiring conversations!
