Helena Dalli (European Commission) Taco Dibbits (Rijksmuseum) June Sarpong (BBC) Noel Curran (EBU)
Leaders Talk: A culture of diversity and our responsibility to all audiences
To mark European Diversity Month, the EBU brought leaders together for a thought-provoking discussion that shined a light on our own cultural diversity, explored diversity through art, culture and inclusion, as we emerged from lockdown.
Noel Curran, EBU’s Director General, hosted the session. He was joined by some of the most powerful voices in Europe when it comes to creativity and inclusion: Helena Dalli, EU Commissioner for Equality, June Sarpong, Director of Creative Diversity at the BBC and Taco Dibbits, Director of the Rijksmuseum, Amsterdam.
This conversation covered arts and culture as an expression of diversity, European cultural identities and diversity during the global lockdown. We also discussed how culture can be rebooted post-pandemic and who culture is for.
Speakers
Helena Dalli
European Commissioner for Equality
European Commissioner for Equality
The European Union’s first Commissioner for Equality, Helena Dalli commenced in her role in December 2019. Her portfolio is to deliver on the Union of Equality chapter within the Political Guidelines of President von der Leyen, by strengthening Europe’s commitment to equality and inclusion in all of its senses.
Prior to taking her role as Commissioner, Dalli held various political roles in Malta including Member of Parliament (1996 to 2019), Minister for European Affairs and Equality (2017 to 2019), and Minister for Social Dialogue, Consumer Affairs and Civil Liberties (2013-2017). She was also opposition Shadow Minister for public administration, equality, public broadcasting and national investments (1998-2013) and Junior Minister for Women's Rights in the Office of Prime Minister (1996-1998). Dalli holds a PhD in Political Sociology from the University of Nottingham, and lectured in Economic and Political Sociology, Public Policy, and Sociology of Law at the University of Malta.
Taco Dibbits
Director of the Rijksmuseum, Amsterdam
Director of the Rijksmuseum, Amsterdam
An influential art historian, Taco is the director of the world-famous Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam. When he assumed the helm in 2016, he was no stranger to the museum, having first joined the museum as a junior member of staff in 1995.
Since joining the Rijksmuseum, Mr Dibbits has played a key role in developing the layout of the new Rijksmuseum (re-opened in 2013), guiding the museum’s acquisition activities, and establishing the multifaceted exhibition programme.
He led a team of paintings curation, sculpture, applied art and Asiatic art at the Rijksmuseum. Taco was instrumental in many of the museum's acquisitions, including Jan Steen’s remarkable Burgomaster of Delft and Gerrit Berckheyde's View of the Herengracht, Amsterdam. He was closely involved in the successful Rembrandt-Caravaggio exhibition of 2006 as well as the Late Rembrandt exhibition of 2015.
Prior to his return to the Rijksmuseum, Taco worked at the auction house Christie’s as director of Old Master Paintings.
Taco Dibbits is a contributing author to the books on Dutch art and artists of the 16th and 17th centuries. He has also published on the drawings of the 16th-century Italian artist Girolamo Muziano.
To commemorate coronavirus victims the Rijksmuseum been donated a much coveted 16th century painting "The Body of Christ Supported by Angels" by Flemish master Bartholomeus Spranger.
A thought leader in diversity and inclusion Taco has supported the opening of an exhibition on slavery billed as a way to tell stories that are more complete than ever before. Exploring the Dutch colonial period of the 17th -19th century through the stories of 10 personal real-life stories rather than abstract concepts. Asked if the museum was engaging in ancestor worshipping, he said “Of course we all worship our ancestors but we just need to add more ancestors."
June Sarpong
Director of Creative Diversity, BBC
Director of Creative Diversity, BBC
June has enjoyed a 20‐year career, in which she has become one of the most recognisable faces of British television. Beginning her career at Kiss 100 and she later became a presenter for MTV UK & Ireland. Becoming a household name through her work on Channel 4’s. In 2005 she hosted the Make Poverty History event and presented at the UK leg of Live Earth in 2007. Hosting Nelson Mandela’s 90th birthday celebrations in front of 30,000 people at London’s Hyde Park in 2008. June has also interviewed and introduced some of the world’s biggest names including HRH Prince of Wales, Bill Clinton, Al Gore and George Clooney.
The co‐founder of the WIE Network (Women: Inspiration & Enterprise). This acclaimed conference has featured leading speakers including Sarah Brown, Melinda Gates, Arianna Huffington, Donna Karan, Queen Rania, Nancy Pelosi and Iman.
The author of 3 books, ‘Diversify: Six Degrees of Integration’; The Power of Women and the Power of Privilege.
June was appointed the first ever Director of Creative Diversity at the BBC, having been appointed in the role in 2019. She is working to increase representation throughout the organization and to ensure that the BBC’s content reflects the public it serves.
Noel Curran
Director General (EBU)
Director General (EBU)
Noel took up the role of Director General of the EBU in September 2017.
Noel is the former DG, Managing Director of Television and Editor of Current Affairs of RTÉ, Ireland's national television and radio broadcaster. As Director General, he radically restructured RTÉ following the financial crisis that began at the end of 2008 and successfully positioned RTÉ as a robust digital media organization.
A strong and long-time advocate of public service media, Noel is also an award-winning investigative journalist and producer. As an editor and producer, Noel's programming won numerous awards for journalism. He was Executive Producer on a range of live television events, including the Eurovision Song Contest in 1997, general election coverage, live entertainment series and factual programming.
Details
Date:
Register by: 27 May 2021
Online
Members Only
Working Languages: English
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