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long nights 2018 opening

The first edition of ICDO’s Long Nights of Interculturality officially kicked off at the Wiener Rathaus with 'Costumes of the World' show and symposium

September 8

Rathaus Opening Ceremony

Vienna City Hall-Rathaus

The first edition of ICDO’s public, annual festival under UNESCO patronage was opened with a spectacular ‘Costumes of the World’ show in a stunning display of more than fifty handcrafted, traditional costumes from around the globe.  The costumes emphasized the importance of safeguarding diversity and presented Vienna’s multiculturalism.

Josipa Palac-ICDO President and Founder greeted the guests with a welcoming speech, highlighting why it is important to safeguard diversity through festivals like this one:

“We are here to promote and educate on the differences between cultures. We are here to promote the message of equality of individuals in every society. We are also here to support multiculturalism in society and every form of diversity as an enhancing factor in society. We are trying to present the role of migrants as participants in society for the purpose of changing the general perception of migrants.”

Josipa Palac with ‘Costumes of the World’ participants

A symposium followed, during which attendees were able to hear from experts in various fields and join in the discussion titled, ‘Collaborating Minds: Diversity’s Role in a Modern Society’. The symposium was moderated by Jürgen Peindl, the news presenter and editor-in-chief of Puls4, with the speakers: Dr. Hermann Mückler, an expert on cultural and social anthropology with a focus on historical topics; Rubina Möhring, president of the Austrian section of “Reporters without Borders”; Dr. Anthony Löwstedt, media communications professor and advisor to ICDO; Tomislav Stipic, Partner and tax consultant at ARTUS; and Anne-Marie Avramut, vice-president of the Eurasian Academy of Arts. Subsequently, the attendees had an opportunity to mingle with the speakers and participants alike, to discuss the various festivities of the day.

ICDO thanks everyone in attendance and moderators: Heather Wokusch and Philipp Grüll.