• The Council for Cultural Diplomacy will be made up of twenty prominent Mexicans who represent the best of our cultural identity.
• Foreign Secretary Marcelo Ebrard and Secretary Alejandra Frausto signed a collaboration agreement in the Fine Arts Palace (Bellas Artes).
As part of Mexico's new policy of cultural cooperation and promotion abroad, the Foreign and Culture Ministries presented the Council for Cultural Diplomacy, which will help promote Mexico's culture and art around the world.
The event was led by Foreign Secretary Marcelo Ebrard and Culture Secretary Alejandra Frausto, who highlighted the power of culture to transform society and create public policy.
In his remarks, Foreign Secretary Ebrard said we must remember that we are the heirs to one of the world's greatest civilizations. He reiterated that we need no additional resources over and above our determination, dialogue, respect, a common cause and the facilities and networks we already have--which include diplomatic offices in 80 countries and a presence in more than 250 international organizations--to promote our culture around the world.
Secretary Frausto said, "Today, all of us are putting together a project that will help Mexico to move forward, based on the country’s greatest strength, which is the cultural power and diversity that represents us throughout the world. For many millennia and still today, our many forms of artistic expression put us on equal terms with the entire world. We have always been a cultural power."
Twenty prominent Mexicans were invited to be part of the Council for Cultural Diplomacy:
- Elisa Carrillo Cabrera
- Rafael Lozano Hemmer
- Jorge Sánchez Cordero
- Gabriela Cámara
- Margo Glantz
- Daniel Garza Usabiaga
- Sari Bermúdez
- Alondra de la Parra
- Enrique Norten
- Silvia Giorguli
- Patricio Hidalgo
- Lourdes Arizpe
- Laureana Toledo
- Horacio Franco
- Ernesto Contreras
- Sabina Berman
- Patricia Arriaga
- Manuel Felguérez
- Magos Herrera
- Juan José Bremer
The two secretaries also signed a collaboration agreement to create a regulatory framework for shared public policy strategies that weave a network of cooperation to promote Mexico's many cultural identities. The diplomatic representations accredited in Mexico and other nations' academic and cultural institutions in our country will play key roles in supporting this network.
The collaboration agreement includes aspects such as the creation of a digital platform to plan projects and for communication. This will enable Mexico's cultural attachés; the network of Mexicans living abroad; the cultural community; agents; state governments; and specialists in cultural diplomacy, to make proposals and join together to strengthen Mexico's presence in the world.
