Art exhibitions as a tool for international cooperation: the case of the Council of Europe

Abstract

This thesis examines the role of art exhibitions organised by the Council of Europe from 1954 to 2012. The aim is to demonstrate the central role of these cultural events in European cultural diplomacy and the important impact on historiographical research. Notably, the curators want to introduce a new interpretation of history from a more transnational and European perspective. The methodology is based on in-depth bibliographic research and the analysis of catalogues and archives to provide a detailed picture of this not sufficiently studied topic. Starting with the fundamental concepts, the first chapter frames the theme of European identity and the more recent idea of cultural diplomacy and soft power, by tracing the history of exhibitions. The second chapter introduces the Council of Europe's exhibitions in Strasbourg, highlighting their evolution over time, technical and artistic aspects, and their role in fostering an international dialogue among European countries. Finally, the third chapter will focus on the analysis of three exhibitions – La Révolution française et l’Europe (Paris, 1989); Emblémes de la liberté l’image de la République dans l’art (Bern, 1991) ; Art and power, Europe under dictatorships from 1930 to 1945 (London, Barcelona, Berlin 1995 1996)– held in the late 1980s and early 1990s, a crucial moment of change for the entire European continent. This thesis will finally provide an overview of art exhibitions organised by European institutions and their relevance as significant tools for promoting democracy and European values.