A major cultural convention to coincide with the Olympics, featuring arts ministers from around the world, will be held in Scotland next summer.
Ministers of culture from nations competing in the 2012 Games will attend the first International Culture Summit on August 13 and 14, during the Edinburgh Festival.
The summit, within which arts ministers will debate "culture as an international dialogue" has been set up as a collaboration between the Scottish Government, the UK Government, the Edinburgh International Festival and the British Council.
Fiona Hyslop, the Scottish culture secretary said: "In bringing together overseas ministers in Edinburgh, the summit offers an unprecedented opportunity to discuss the use and value of the arts, culture and the creative industries, and their role in encouraging dialogue among nations.
"It will also provide a fantastic showcase for Scotland's rich creativity and culture against the backdrop of the Edinburgh Festivals."
Ed Vaizey, culture minister for the UK, said: "It provides a wonderful opportunity for fellow Culture Ministers from around the world to come together and focus on the benefits of culture and the role it can play in improving dialogue."
Jonathan Mills, Director of the Edinburgh International Festival, said the convention would be an opportunity to forge new relationships for all those who are attending.
The programme is being devised around three main ideas: "the role of the arts and culture in deepening and broadening our understanding of the complex relationships between cultures and nations", sustaining private and public support for culture and "future skills for the creative industries and the role of technology"..
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