Dialogue in the Med was the First Annual Valletta 2018 International Conference on Cultural Relations in Europe and the Mediterranean. This conference aimed to address aspects of contemporary cultural relations across the Mediterranean in the framework of Valletta as European Capital of Culture 2018.

The conference, held at the University of Malta Valletta Campus in early September 2014 was addressed by a broad range of international and local speakers ranging from people working within the fields of cultural policy, academia and research, to artists and political activists, as well as representatives of the European Commission.

Keynote speeches were delivered by Prof. Mostafa Hassani Idrissi (l’Université Mohammed V Souissi, Morocco) and Prof. Henry Frendo (University of Malta).

The conference thematic areas were:

• Capacity building through networks;
• Overcoming challenges to mobility;
• (Re)defining cultural identity in the Mediterranean;
• Diplomacy through dialogue

The variety of international speakers were invited to reflect on how the Valletta 2018 European Capital of Culture project can contribute to a dialogue and exchange of experiences in terms of cultural experiences and expressions in the Euro-Med area, also in light of the chequered history of super-national initiatives such as the Union for the Mediterranean and the Anna Lindh Foundation.

Conference proceedings will be published in due course.