Levente Székely, representing the Hungarian Heritage House, traveled to Qatar to participate in the 10th General Assembly of the Global Public Diplomacy Network (GPDNet). During the meeting, he presented the Hungarian Heritage House’s digital music education program, which garnered interest from several countries, opening up new opportunities for collaboration.
Each year, the multinational organization holds a General Assembly where delegates from member countries discuss the organization's direction, explore new opportunities for cooperation, and present their latest initiatives. This year's event was a special milestone as it marked the 10th gathering of member state representatives. The anniversary assembly was held in Qatar, where Hungary was represented by Levente Székely as a delegate of the Hungarian Heritage House.
"The basic idea is that the more often people from different cultures meet, the better they understand each other, reducing the likelihood of conflicts. Qatar places particular emphasis on this area, as political tensions in the Gulf region have posed significant challenges for the country. Qatar's motivation was partly reinforced by the 2017 embargo, during which several neighboring countries attempted to isolate it through economic and political sanctions. Since then, Qatar has focused on increasing its international influence and strengthening its positive image," explains Levente Székely.
One of the key topics at this year's General Assembly was the possibility of establishing an educational sub-institution—an academy—that would promote the principles of public diplomacy through various training programs and educational initiatives. This initiative was endorsed by the Qatari presidency, though it is still in its early stages, requiring further discussions before implementation. The ultimate goal is to establish a significant training center.
The meeting also addressed the revision of the organization's operational regulations, which will be reviewed by the board of directors. A draft is expected to be prepared and approved at the next General Assembly. Delegates arrived from all over the world, including Mexico, Malaysia, Kenya, and Albania.
Folk_ME Travels to Qatar
The Hungarian Heritage House has been actively participating in the organization's work for years. Initially, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs handled Hungary’s membership, later passing it on to the Balassi Institute. However, due to its cultural heritage preservation focus, the Ministry eventually entrusted the Hungarian Heritage House with the role. Levente Székely’s participation in the conference was of great significance for Hungary’s cultural relations, as he successfully introduced the institution’s digital music education program, Folk_ME (now known as Folk_Media & Education), to the international audience. The presentation generated significant interest, particularly from representatives of Malta and Cuba, who showed openness to adopting Hungarian methodologies, potentially leading to future collaborations.
"During previous participations, the Hungarian Heritage House already introduced the Hungarian dance house movement and its methodology, which has been adopted by several countries, including Poland and Slovakia. In addition to presenting Folk_ME at this year’s conference, the inclusion of Hungarian folk string ensembles and the csárdás dance on UNESCO’s list was also a key topic," says Székely. He was invited for the task due to his 25 years of diplomatic experience, musical background, and strong relationship with the institution.
"The Qataris are extremely hospitable hosts, always organizing excellent cultural programs, with high-quality accommodations and catering. In terms of country branding, they do it professionally. During our stay, we visited the so-called Katara Cultural Village, a massive cultural center in Doha. The village covers about 99 hectares along the Gulf coast, featuring traditional Qatari architecture and housing numerous museums, galleries, theaters, conference centers, and restaurants. This year’s programs also included desert camel rides, bazaar visits, and open-air tented dinners with local specialties. However, the organization’s international visibility is still in its infancy, though this year, it seemed that the organizers wanted to place more emphasis on global media presence," adds Székely.
A new initiative by the Qatari presidency this year was to invite journalists to the event to enhance the organization's international visibility. They hope this will compensate for past shortcomings in communication and information sharing. Special roundtable discussions and workshops were organized for journalists, although they mainly participated in programs alongside the delegates. This year, Ádám Rebeka Nóra, a cultural journalist from Mandiner, accompanied the Hungarian Heritage House’s delegation.
Future Challenges
Perhaps the greatest challenge for GPDNet is the lack of funding. Qatar remains the only member providing substantial financial support, covering travel and accommodation expenses. As a result, it has taken on the presidency for the third consecutive term, as most participants lack significant budgets. While the Qatari presidency remains committed to the organization’s development, its success largely depends on active participation from member states and securing adequate funding.
Currently, the membership primarily consists of cultural institutions from developing countries, such as the Turkish Yunus Emre Institute, Hungary’s Hungarian Heritage House, and the cultural departments of the Cuban and Mexican foreign ministries, along with various cultural heritage organizations and NGOs.
Cultural diplomacy is of utmost importance for Hungary, as it provides an opportunity to strengthen international relations and promote Hungarian cultural values worldwide. It enables Hungary to actively engage in global dialogue, enhance its political and economic ties with other nations, and ultimately establish itself as a key player in the global cultural landscape.
Image source: GPDNet
