• Target Keystage(s): Key Stage 3, Key Stage 4, Post 16,
• Curriculum Subject(s): Art and design, Citizenship, Modern Foreign Languages,
• Who Do We Think We Are Theme(s): Britishness, national identity/values & 2012 Games,

Above: European Union National Institutes for Culture logo

EUNIC is the European Union National Institutes for Culture.  It is a partnership of national institutes for culture that seeks to improve and promote cultural diversity and understanding between European societies and to strengthen international dialogue and cultural cooperation with countries outside Europe.

EUNIC's four focus themes are:

• Intercultural Dialogue
• Multilingualism
• Migration and the Balkans
• European Union Cultural Policy 2007-2013

As part of the first theme EUNIC is using a range of cultural events and projects to promote intercultural dialogue, particularly between the EU and the rest of the world.

Alter Ego is one of seven projects developed by EUNIC and chosen by the European Commission to celebrate the European Year of Intercultural Dialogue. The project commenced with a European-wide portraiture competition (running between March and July 2008) in at least 22 Member States. As part of the competition young people (aged 14 - 18 years) were encouraged to explore different and varied identities in their local communities by creating a double portrait (video, photo, music etc.) This double portrait consisted of a self portrait shown alongside a portrait of a person from a different background and tradition. Artwork arising from the competition will be exhibited on a central web space and will also form part of a touring exhibition across the EUNIC network throughout 2009.

For further information about EUNIC and the Alter Ego project please select http://www.eunic-europe.eu/EUNIC-website/

Press information about Alter Ego:
http://www.eunic-europe.eu/EUNIC-website/fileadmin/user_upload/Press_info/Alter_Ego.pdf

Contact: Stefania Bochicchio
Alter Ego Communication Consultant
Email: alterego@eunic-london.org
Website: http://www.eunic-europe.eu/EUNIC-website/