The Pandemic as a Game-Changer in Hybrid Cultural Diplomacy

NURTURING RESILIENCE THROUGH THE PANDEMIC

THIRD CONFERENCE OF ROMANIAN AMERICAN PROFESSIONALS

Opening Plenary Session: June 4th 2021

The third speaker was the Director of the Romanian Cultural Institute (RCI) in New York, Mr. Dorian Branea a steadfast supporter of IRF’s work who participated as an observer in the past annual conference and used the opportunity to reach out and collaborate with many of the participating community-based organizations. He remarked on the pandemic being a tragic time of huge challenges but also a time of opportunity to innovate, accelerating the transition to a hybrid cultural diplomacy with an accentuated online presence. RCI expended the portfolio of collaborations making a strategic priority the relationship with Romanian American organizations in the US and delivered more projects together. The lesson learnt was that there is a huge potential in the virtual world just as there is huge competition for attention. Creatively handled, the tragic experience of the pandemic can be a game changer for cultural diplomacy.