Bergen International Summit: Culture at the core of the corona crisis

A new time, new measures, new understanding, new ways of living. A virus outbreak has changed the world. We do not have the final answers to what and how it has changed. But we can be certain that insight, empathy, creativity, communication, knowledge and hard work will be required. With this year's digital version of Bergen International Summit, we want to examine and highlight the role of art and culture in the work that lies ahead of us.

The corona crisis began as a health crisis, a pandemic, and the elderly are a particularly vulnerable group. We are proud to introduce Dr Ipsit Vahia, director of the Technology and Aging Lab at McLean Hospital/Harvard Medical School. Dr Vahia has been brought in to challenge our understanding of and perspectives on ageing and use of technology.

The pandemic is global, and no country or city remains untouched by the crisis. Dr Catarina Vaz Pinto, the Councillor of Culture for the City of Lisbon will share her insights from an international and local perspective.

The Director General of Arts Council Norway, Kristin Danielsen will reflect on the current situation in Norway and the challenges ahead.

The economic and social consequences of the coronavirus outbreak are enormous and difficult to grasp. Pier Luigi Sacco is professor of cultural economics at IULM University Milan and a visiting professor at Harvard University, and his talk will focus on how art and culture can be crucial to how we, as a society, address and resolve the challenges that will mark the world for a long time to come.

The moderator is Harm-Christian Tolden, Director General of the Department of Culture, Diversity and Equality of the City of Bergen.

Bergen International Summit is a collaboration between the City of Bergen, Bergen International Festival and the University of Bergen, and is supported by the GC Rieber Foundations.