My personal interpretation is based on my experience as part of the EON network - The European
Off Network of independent theatre companies and artists - I have attended two meetings, one
in Austria and one in Italy, where artists from a wide range of cultural backgrounds have come
together to share practice watch, make and discuss theatre, and to eat, drink, sing, party,
and generally spend time together. Artists from cultures, ethnic groups or countries which
have had historic barriers between people have met and made friends at these events - we have
seen Turks and Greeks sharing a dance session - people from the former Yugoslavia discussing
drama and drinking wine together, and arabs and israeli jews sitting and eating together -
However Intercultural dialogue is not about people agreeing with one another - It is about
people listening to one another - Once you are prepared to listen, you have the potential to
learn, to share and to discover another perspective on life.
My personal interpretation is based on my experience as part of the EON network - The European Off Network of independent theatre companies and artists - I have attended two meetings, one in Austria and one in Italy, where artists from a wide range of cultural backgrounds have come together to share practice watch, make and discuss theatre, and to eat, drink, sing, party, and generally spend time together. Artists from cultures, ethnic groups or countries which have had historic barriers between people have met and made friends at these events - we have seen Turks and Greeks sharing a dance session - people from the former Yugoslavia discussing drama and drinking wine together, and arabs and israeli jews sitting and eating together - However Intercultural dialogue is not about people agreeing with one another - It is about people listening to one another - Once you are prepared to listen, you have the potential to learn, to share and to discover another perspective on life.

In dialogue we live. When we decide consciously how we desire to live our relationship to
dialogue is determined. Openness, invitation, inquiry are the pieces we easily name. But sincerely
the test is in the times of difficulty. . . when our identities and convictions are contested,
when we are afraid, insecure, uncertain, challenged. At that point intercultural dialogue
means being prepared and willing to 'rewire' our thoughts, tendencies, habits and instincts.
It means being 'ready-made' for the event of a new encounter without presuming that it will
be comfortable, convenient, safe. In those moments we need to be self-aware and wholly committed
to keeping peace inside and out. Intercultural dialogue is always, all the time, if we think
thoroughly, but too often we dont. Intercultural dialogue can be the revealer of our deepest
doubts, or the gift of having thought beyond what comes 'natural.' The choice is ours to make,
the work is ours to do, but the gift of it is what we share.
In dialogue we live. When we decide consciously how we desire to live our relationship to dialogue is determined. Openness, invitation, inquiry are the pieces we easily name. But sincerely the test is in the times of difficulty... when our identities and convictions are contested, when we are afraid, insecure, uncertain, challenged. At that point intercultural dialogue means being prepared and willing to 'rewire' our thoughts, tendencies, habits and instincts. It means being 'ready-made' for the event of a new encounter without presuming that it will be comfortable, convenient, safe. In those moments we need to be self-aware and wholly committed to keeping peace inside and out. Intercultural dialogue is always, all the time, if we think thoroughly, but too often we dont. Intercultural dialogue can be the revealer of our deepest doubts, or the gift of having thought beyond what comes 'natural.' The choice is ours to make, the work is ours to do, but the gift of it is what we share.